Friends World Committee for Consultation - FWCC World Office

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Friends World Committee for Consultation - FWCC World Office

The official page of the Friends World Committee for Consultation, World Office FWCC’s World Office is in London. Generate profound diversity work among Friends.

Our Mission

Answering God’s call to universal love, FWCC brings Friends of varying traditions and cultural experiences together in worship, communications, and consultation, to express our common heritage and our Quaker message to the world. (approved 2006)

How We Work

The purpose of FWCC is to encourage fellowship and understanding among all the branches of the Religious Society of Friends. FW

CC brings Friends together in multiple ways to celebrate God in our lives, to gather the Quaker voice and build networks to address issues of our time, and to unite us within our diversity. The Quaker community circles the globe, spanning a rich diversity of regional cultures, beliefs and styles of worship. FWCC organizes its work through its four section offices and the World Office, collaborating and encouraging the work of each section and work across sections. Each section embodies rich cultural and theological diversity, and they organize opportunities and programmes to bring Friends together and to learn from each other. The World Office uniquely represents all Friends at the global level through our participation with the Quaker United National Offices, offering Quakers the chance to contribute to world affairs. Our consultation extends to those of other faiths through work with the World Council of Churches, the Conference of Secretaries of the Christian World Communions, and participation in global ecumenical and interfaith work. History

In 1937, after years of concerted work to reconnect a fragmented Quaker world, the Second World Conference of Friends created FWCC “to act in a consultative capacity to promote better understanding among Friends the world over.” This was influenced by active young Friends organizing gatherings and expressing the need to work together. Today, Friends from yearly meetings and groups in at least 87 countries continue the work of coming together. Around the world there are four cooperating, autonomous FWCC Sections serving Africa, the Americas, Asia & the West Pacific, and Europe & the Middle East. Since its beginnings to the present day, FWCC has organized world meetings where representatives from yearly meetings and sections, along with other Friends, have come together. This brings a depth of experience when Friends share in the variety of worship and learning, and when Friends share that eternal love that draws us toward each other through the living Christ. Since 1948, FWCC has had “consultative” status with the United Nations and is responsible for the two Quaker UN Offices in Geneva and New York. FWCC continues to address regional and world issues by connecting and illuminating the work Friends do at all levels. FWCC World Office

The world office is based at Friends House in London, England. It provides the connective tissue in several ways:

Bring Friends together in multiple ways using technology and organise world gatherings and consultations of Quakers world-wide. Support the work of the four FWCC sections and strengthen connections across sections. Promote understanding of the world-wide character of the Society of Friends, through staff travel, conferences, correspondence and publications, and through ecumenical and interfaith work on behalf of Friends. Represent Friends at the world level, both among Friends and to the world community. Coordinate the International Membership programme, which joins isolated Friends and worship groups to the wider Quaker community. Amplify the Quaker voice through strengthened networks and encouraging Quaker work at all levels.

04/06/2026

"Our Annual Meeting revealed the range of experiences in our section at this time: the despair and hope, and also the generosity and many possibilities. We will meet all of these challenges and opportunities together, hand-in-hand, as Friends."

Find out more about what Friends in the Europe and Middle East Section have been doing over the last year in their Annual Meeting epistle below.

Dear Friends, we held our EMES Annual Meeting May 28-30. More than 50 Friends gathered together online.
Read the Epistle on our Website: https://fwccemes.org/news/emes-annual-meeting-2026-epistle

29/05/2026

We're excited to share that the queries are now confirmed for our 2027 Global Online Conference, 'Sowing Seeds of Justice', taking place 29 September – 3 October 2027.

This will be a collaborative, global space for spiritual grounding and discernment, supporting Yearly Meetings to act upon their commitments from the 2024 World Plenary Meeting to heal and repair relationships in the light of historic and continuing injustices.

Using the powerful imagery of the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:1-23), FWCC invites the world family of Friends to a deep and Spirit-led exploration of our role in healing a world broken by the historic and ongoing harms of exploitation, colonialism, and slavery – and to move from reflection to action.

Yearly Meetings are asked to consider three queries ahead of the conference. You can find them along with more details on our website:

https://fwcc.world/sowing-seeds-of-justice-queries-for-2027-global-online-conference-confirmed/

27/05/2026

"Irish Quakers, they just embraced me, and they made me feel like I belonged." - Zack Jackson

"One amazing thing about being a Quaker is that you’ve suddenly got family all over the world." - Jon Watts

Thee Quaker Podcast's new episode dives into the fascinating history of Quakers in Ireland, Zack having travelled to attend Ireland Yearly Meeting earlier this year. Find out more below.

(You can also find podcast episodes about Quakers in other countries including in Australia, Kenya and China.)

Podcast producer Zack Jackson traveled to Ireland Yearly Meeting to learn, firsthand, how this diverse community has managed to have such an outsized impact on the island of Ireland. Tune in to hear what this small but mighty community can teach the rest of us.

20/05/2026

“My message is to defend your views, to defend what you love, your family, your country, and the precious things in your life. Defend them openly, not secretly. Do not give up or surrender on this path. Continue to struggle for peace.” Roman Dubrovin, Conscientious Objector in Russia

Find out more about conscientious objectors in Quaker Council for European Affairs (QCEA)'s report, "Voices of Peace", containing inspiring stories from objectors in Belgium, Greece, Eritrea, Türkiye, Israel, Finland, Russia, and Spain.

📍 We have some special news to share!

📜 Today, on the International Day of Conscientious Objection, we are launching our publication: 'Voices of Peace, Stories of Conscientious Objectors from Europe and beyond.'

💡 Conscientious objectors are people who refuse the war system. This can mean refusing to serve, wanting to leave the army after joining, refusing to be enlisted, refusing to train for war, or refusing to support or take part in any war activities.

🗨️ Join us in reading inspiring stories from objectors in eight countries: Belgium, Greece, Eritrea, Türkiye, Israel, Finland, Russia, and Spain.

Each story is unique and comes from a different background. From Spanish artists to Russian human rights activists, the desire to live in peace transcends gender, age, and location.

We are incredibly grateful to everyone who took part and shared their stories. This publication would not exist without you. 💙

You can read these stories here �https://www.qcea.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/QCEA_Voices_of_Peace.pdf

---
🤝 This project is a collaboration between Quaker Council for European Affairs (QCEA), Connection e.V., War Resisters' International, and Agir pour la Paix.

Big thanks to everyone involved in the creation of this publication:

Authors: Celina Bebenek and Andrew de Sousa (Quaker Council for European Affairs), Zaira Zafarana (Connection e.V.), Semih Sapmaz and Natalia García Cortés (War Resisters’ International).

Editorial support: Julia Montier and Charlène Poupon Brengel (Agir Pour La Paix), Mikheil Elizbarashvili (Peace and Service Network), Gill Alcock and Kate McNally.

Translation from French: Daniel Flynn.

Design: Beatrice Romagnoli and Celina Bebenek.

Image credit ©Asis Percales for Fine Acts

15/05/2026

We were delighted to support and be present for the re-opening of the Quaker Tapestry Museum which tells the story of our origins.

Part of the Friends World Committee's mission is to express our common Quaker heritage to the world, so we're grateful to Kendal Friends who are doing that too.

You can find out more on their website: https://www.quaker-tapestry.co.uk/

13/05/2026

"As we went I spied a great high hill called Pendle Hill... It was so steep, but I was moved of the Lord to go atop of it..."

As part of FWCC's annual Central Executive Committee meeting, we walked in George Fox's footsteps up to the top of Pendle Hill, and discovered his journal account of the climb felt very familiar. See the photo captions for his words alongside our journey. ➡️

Thanks to Ben Pink Dandelion and Clitheroe Friends for guiding us through the history and up the hill.

08/05/2026

Quakers from Kenya, El Salvador, Rwanda, South Africa, the Philippines, Australia, Aotearoa, the USA, Mexico, Germany and England are currently gathered at the 'first Friends World Office' - Swarthmoor Hall - for the last day of the annual in-person Central Executive Committee of the Friends World Committee for Consultation.

Thank you to staff and local residents for welcoming us so warmly.

With the help of interpreters the meeting is taking place in three languages, and helping decide the future steps of the global body which connects Quakers together in 100+ countries.

Part of the Friends World Committee's mission is to communicate our common message and heritage internationally. We look forward to sharing more news soon.

CC Choose Ulverston

29/04/2026

Are you experienced in the field of international affairs and the UN? Have you managed staff before? Would you like to become a senior member of the Quaker United Nations Office team based in New York?

Then consider applying for the role of UN Representative at QUNO New York. (Note: the deadline is very soon, April 30). More details below.

QUNO's office in New York is seeking an experienced and dedicated professional to join the team as a UN Representative. There are currently three Quaker UN

27/04/2026

Here's a new photo of your World Office staff team, gathered for the annual in-person meeting, which this year was held at Claridge House in Surrey, England.

Although we are small in number, we are glad to work with Friends in many countries to support a large amount of work.

The away day offered a moment of in-person connection, to look both and back & forward, ahead of a busy period including Britain Yearly Meeting this week and the annual CEC meeting in May.

Find out more about Claridge House on the page below. https://www.facebook.com/ClaridgeHouseRetreat

Last week we had the pleasure of hosting the Friends World Committee for Consultation here at Claridge House for their annual staff meeting.

The FWCC are a UK charity that represents and connects Quakers around the world, sharing their peaceful principles and bringing together a rich and diverse community of Friends.

It was a joyful couple of days with delicious meals, songs around the piano and peaceful moments spent in the garden in the sunshine. We were honoured to welcome this group to the house as they represent an important part of the identity of Claridge House and the spirit of what we offer.🕊️

Please read their testimonial below.

Friends World Committee for Consultation - FWCC World Office

19/04/2026

We're thrilled to hear that the Quaker Tapestry will be made available to the public again from 6 May.

We're also thrilled that FWCC trustees from Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa, El Salvador, Australia, Aotearoa, Philippines, Germany and the USA will be there on the day of the reopening.

The Quaker Tapestry is hosted by Quakers in Kendal (North West England), but the story it tells us is shared by Friends all over the world.

Thank you to all who help us to keep sharing this common heritage.

See BBC news story here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy411jlk8p8o

Pictured: Final panel of the Quaker Tapestry, representing the world family of Friends

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173 Euston Road
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Website

http://www.fwcc.world/

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