News
Quaker attention on peace in Israel and Palestine
Initiatives around the FWCC EMES Section in response to the war in Israel and Palestine.
Among Friends Issue 159 Spring 2024
Among Friends Issue 159 Spring 2024 is now ready to be downloaded.
EMES Hubs for the FWCC World Plenary Meeting 2024
Through our work on the World Plenary Meeting Tech Working Group, EMES is available to help hubs around our Section participate in the WPM 2024
Among Friends Issue 158 Autumn 2023
Among Friends Issue 158 Autumn 2023 is now ready to be downloaded.
Epistle from the EMEYF Spring Gathering 2024
Read the epistle from the Europe & Middle East Young Friends Spring Gathering
Epistle from the QCEA General Assembly March 2024
Read the epistle from the Quaker Council for European Affairs General Assembly held on the 22-23 March 2024
Quaker Service Norway appeal for Gazan kindergarten community
We are reminded daily of how terrible the situation is for the people of Gaza. Quaker Service Norway has maintained contact with our partner in Gaza, the Palestinian Early Childhood Education Program (PECEP), ever since the war started on 7 October last year and offers Friends to the chance to contribute to programmes for kindergarten families and staff.
FWCC EMES Annual Report 2023
The FWCC EMES 2023 annual report is available for download. The report, which covers activities across the Section from January to December 2023, leads with information about FWCC EMES activities during the year.
Some thoughts about stillness
A reflection by the Swedish author Jeanna Oterdahl on stillness, translated by Solveig-Karin Erdal and including the original text from the Nordic Quaker Journal 1957.
Russian speaking gathering of Friends held in Tbilisi, Georgia - October 2023
In mid-October I travelled to Tbilisi to attend a gathering of Russian speaking Friends organised by Friends House Moscow (FHM).
EMEYF Annual Meeting November 2023 - closing minute
Read the closing minute from the EMEYF annual meeting 2023
Epistle from the QCEA General Assembly November 2023
Read the epistle from the Quaker Council for European Affairs General Assembly held on the 17-18 November 2023
Successful joint campaign raises support for the Ramallah Friends School
Ramallah Friends School head Rania Ma’ayeh extends her thanks to donors in the joint fundraising campaign for RFS via QuIET.
Epistle from the All Poland Gathering 2023
Read the epistle from the All Poland Gathering 2023.
Travelling to Quakers in Italy gathering
Executive Secretary Michael Eccles reflects on his train journey to the Quakers in Italy gathering in November 2023.
Epistle from the Italian Friends Annual Gathering 2023
Read the epistle from the Italian Friends Annual Gathering 2023.
EMES Youthgroup gathers in Heerlen - 2 reports
Read about the EMES Youthgroup gathering in September 2023, in English and Czech.
Epistle from EMEYF Spring Gathering 2023
Read the epistle from the EMEYF Spring Gathering 2023.
Welcome to our new EMES Assistant Treasurer
At our Annual Meeting 2023, we named a new Assistant Treasurer and she has now begun her work. We welcome her and invited her to write a short introduction, similar to remarks she delivered at Annual Meeting.
Peace and Service Network Member reports on Ukraine Peace Summit
Peace and Service Network member reflections on the Ukraine Peace Summit held in Vienna, June 2023
Report from IPC and CEC meeting in South Africa
Executive Secretary Michael Eccles shares an update from recent meetings in South Africa in preparation for the World Plenary Meeting- registration opens soon!
Among Friends Issue 157 Summer 2023
Among Friends Issue 157 Summer 2023 is now ready to be downloaded.
EMES Spiritual Growth Fund- 2022 Grants
The EMES Spiritual Growth Fund strengthens Quakers’ shared identity, connections, outreach and values in the wider community across our Section. Read about our 2022 grantees and consider applying!
Brummana High School celebrates 150 years, invites Friends to sustain its future
Brummana High School, a Quaker school in Lebanon, celebrates 150 years. The Chair of the Quaker International Educational Trust and the BHS School Principal invite Friends to support its work.
Epistle from Belgium & Luxembourg Yearly Meeting 2023
Read the epistle from Belgium & Luxembourg YM 2023.
The Central European Gathering forms a new Yearly Meeting
At its meeting in May 2023 in Gdansk the Central European Gathering made the historic decision to become a Yearly Meeting.
Epistle from Central European Gathering 2023
Read the epistle from the Central European Gathering 2023.
Five Minutes for Sustainability- Kees Nieuwerth addresses the Annual Meeting 2023
Kees Nieuwerth of Netherlands YM speaks to the Annual Meeting 2023 about sustainability.
EMES Annual Meeting 2023 Epistle
Dear Friends, Loving greetings to Friends everywhere from the FWCC Europe and Middle East Section Annual Meeting 2023, meeting at Woodbrooke, UK and online.
FWCC EMES Annual Report 2022
The FWCC EMES 2022 annual report is available for download. The report, which covers activities across the Section from January to December 2021, leads with information about FWCC EMES activities during the year.
Quaker Council for European Affairs - General Assembly April 2023 Epistle
Read the epistle from the QCEA General Assembly held in March-April 2023
Address by Marisa Johnson to Queen’s College Chapel Evensong, Cambridge
An address by former EMES Executive Secretary Marisa Johnson to the Christian congregation at the Queen’s College Chapel, 5th February 2023
Marigold Bentley on work in Israel and Palestine
Over 30 F/friends from around the Section attended the EMES Peace and Service Network online meeting to hear Marigold Bentley share lessons from 40 years years of work in Israel and Palestine.
Quaker International Educational Trust meets in Brummana
Quaker International Educational Trust (QuIET) held its twice yearly board meeting at Brummana Friends School in Lebanon, facing economic and political hurdles to offer Friends-inspired education for students of diverse backgrounds.
Friends World Committee for Consultation - Global Fundraising Campaign
Please join us on a special campaign to make the next World Plenary Meeting (WPM) the most inclusive gathering of Quakers ever.
Quaker Council for European Affairs - General Assembly November 2022 Epistle
Read the epistle from the QCEA General Assembly held in November 2022
EMES youthgroup meeting report September 2022
A youth participant recounts his experience of the first in-person EMES’ Youthgroup meeting in Strasbourg, September 2022
Epistle from Quakers in Italy Annual Gathering
Read the Epistle from Quakers in Italy Annual Gathering
Report on the 11th Assembly of the World Council of Churches
A reflection by Kees Nieuwerth – Netherlands YM on the WCC Assembly, Karlsruhe, Germany- 31st August to 9th September 2022.
Evangelical Friends mission to Ukraine
Antal “Tony” Frei, pastor of EFC Hungary, shares this report from Evangelical Friends’ recent mission to Ukraine
Meet the new EMES Elders
We are pleased to announce the new EMES Elders appointed at Annual Meeting 2022. Welcome George Thurley, Annika Hollsing and Jasmine Piercy
Kabarak Call for Peace and Ecojustice 2012 - in Dutch
Dutch Friend Jethro Zevenbergen has translated the Kabarak Call for Peace and Ecojustice 2012 into Dutch.
Epistle from Belgium & Luxembourg YM 2022
Read the epistle from Belgium & Luxembourg Yearly Meeting 2022.
Meet the new EMES Communication & Programme Officer
We are pleased to announce that Evan Welkin will be joining the EMES staff team in July as our new Communication & Programme Officer.
Epistle from Central European Gathering 2022
Read the epistle from the Central European Gathering 2022.
EMES Annual Meeting 2022 Epistle
Dear Friends, Loving greetings to Friends everywhere from the FWCC Europe and Middle East Section Annual Meeting 2022, meeting in Paris and online.
FWCC EMES Annual Report 2021
The FWCC EMES 2021 annual report is available for download. The report, which covers activities across the Section from January to December 2021, leads with information about FWCC EMES activities during the year.
Among Friends Issue 153 Spring 2022
Among Friends Issue 153 Spring 2022 is now ready to be downloaded.
Fundraising for Quaker work to support Ukrainian refugees
Friends in some of the countries surrounding the Ukraine are doing work to support Ukrainians. Here are some ways you can support this work.
February 2022 FWCC EMES meetings for worship for Russian and English speakers
Русскоязычное Собрание EMES
Из-за ситуации в Украине мы решили отложить наше запланированное на эти выходные русскоязычное мероприятие-встречу. Вместо этого мы проводим Молитвенное Собрание онлайн, чтобы молиться за мир:
Step into Spring 2022 with the Quaker in Europe course
A new version of the Quaker in Europe course is set to start in March 2022, bringing together newcomers to the Quaker way from across Europe in a supportive environment to explore Quaker themes online.
Allié∙e∙s contre la discrimination
Avez-vous vécu une situation où quelque chose de discriminatoire ou biaisé s’est produit, et vous ne saviez pas trop comment réagir ? Puis le moment est passé et vous n’avez rien dit ?
Cet atelier collaboratif et interactif vous aidera à élargir votre répertoire de réponses face aux commentaires ou comportements aberrantes.
Behind the scenes at a hybrid Yearly Meeting
At Switzerland Yearly Meeting we held our Yearly Meeting event in 2021 at our usual venue, Herzberg, with participation from Quakers in person and online. We had indeed a technical team of 3 willing Friends. One person was on Zoom and two were at the venue.
Among Friends Issue 152 Autumn 2021
Among Friends Issue 152 Autumn 2021 is now ready to be downloaded.
Epistle from the EMEYF Summer Gathering 2021
Read the epistle from the EMEYF Summer Gathering 2021.
2021 PSC annual event report
The annual Peace and Service Consultation took place online for the second year in a row, in response to pandemic-related uncertainty.
Quaker Council for European Affairs - General Assembly November 2021 Epistle
Read the epistle from the QCEA General Assembly held on the 12-13 November 2021.
Quakers committed to COP26 in Glasgow
Quakers across Europe and the Middle East and beyond are participating in efforts to ensure a successful result to worldwide negotiations on responding to climate breakdown.
Quaker work with ex-ambassador leads to peace prize
A new video has been released that tells the story of how a Dutch former ambassador and diplomat converted to being an advocate for peace and has now been recognised for his efforts.
Quakers across Europe celebrate World Quaker Day
From Nantes to Tallinn, Quakers marked World Quaker Day on 3 October 2021
Epistle from the Central European Gathering 2021
Epistle from the Central European Gathering 2021
QuIET seek new trustees
The Quaker International Education Trust are looking for new trustees.
Update from Brummana High School, June 2021
At our Annual Meeting, Friends in EMES were very moved by the powerful presentation about Friends in the Lebanon, and about Brummana High School
A helping hand to children in Gaza
1000 children in the Gaza Strip are at risk of losing trauma follow-up and day care facilities
EMES Annual Meeting 2021 Epistle
To Friends everywhere, greetings: One hundred and two Friends from all corners of Europe, the Middle East and further afield met together online from 7-9 May 2021
EMES Annual Report 2020
The EMES Annual Report 2020 is now available to download on our website.
2021 EMES annual meeting preparations under way
The EMES annual meeting takes place online from Friday 7 to Sunday 9 May 2021. Over 80 people have registered to take part in the event, for which there is no fee for participation.
Adapting in Uncertain Times - EMES Peace and Service Consultation
This was the theme of this year’s Quaker Peace and Service Consultation, held on Zoom on 20-22 November.
A gift from BeNeLux Friends for Peace
A group of Friends in the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg have produced a Peace and Social Justice planning calendar for 2021
2020 update letter from Friends of Ramallah Friends Meeting
We have received the 2020 update from Friends of Ramallah Friends Meeting.
Staff proud of Quaker school’s students’ response to Beirut explosion
David Gray, the principal of Brummana High School, and Rima Habib, head of the BHS Intermediate Section, have told of the inspirational response by their students to the catastrophic explosion that rocked Beirut on 4 August 2020 killing at least 200 people and injuring at least 6,500 people.
EMES launches Digital Equality Fund
In June 2020 the EMES Executive Committee agreed to set up a Digital Equality Fund.
2020 Guidance for clerks: Holding online Meetings for Worship for Business
Like Meeting for Worship, Meeting for Worship for Business is a fundamental part of Quaker life.
2020 Brummana High School bursary appeal
The 2020 Brummana High School bursary appeal has been launched by The Quaker International Education Trust (QuIET).
EMES Annual Meeting 2020
Friends participating at the EMES Annual Meeting in May 2020 used their experience of life during the Covid-19 pandemic to consider ways of working together towards a more just and resilient society and to respond to and address concerns about a changing planet.
Among Friends Issue 147 Spring 2020
Among Friends Issue 147 Spring 2020 is now ready to be downloaded.
Geneva Monthly Meeting will celebrate its centenary in 2020
The establishment of the Meeting was closely linked to that of the League of Nations, and possibly with the simultaneous establishment of the International Labour Organisation, in Geneva.
EMES children & young people’s consultation: Brussels, 5-7 July 2019
18 Friends gathered at Quaker House, Brussels for this event facilitated by Annie Janssen (German YM) and Michael Eccles (EMES).
Brummana High School Bursary Appeal
Brummana High School – a Quaker school in Lebanon – needs more funds.
EMEYF Spring Gathering 2019 Epistle & Minutes
The Europe and Middle East Young Friends Spring Gathering was held in Russia in April 2019. 25 adult Young Friends and 10 of their children were present and built bridges together.
EMES Annual Meeting 2019 Epistle
Around 50 Friends gathered for the EMES Annual Meeting 2019 over the 2nd – 5th May 2019.
