01/06/2026
Letter from Tim Gee
General Secretary
Friends World Committee for Consultation (World Office)
Dear Friends,
When Jesus’ birth was announced it was with news of peace. Jesus began his ministry by talking about peace, and said goodbye to his disciples by leaving them with peace. The first word of the risen Christ was peace. Paul began many of his letters by speaking of peace.
And yet, the world does not reflect peace. Now we know that even as many of us were reading and singing of peace on earth in recent weeks, warlike acts were being planned.
Our work for peace on earth and our experience of Christ’s peace are not separate. And yet finding peace in ourselves joined to peace in the world is the vocation of a lifetime. It wasn’t easy in Jesus’ time and it isn’t easy in ours.
As a step on our journey, the Central Executive Committee has agreed that the next World Plenary Meeting will be themed ‘Blessed are the Peacemakers’, with a target date of 2030, to mark 2000 years since the start of Jesus’ Ministry. We are looking for invitations to host.*
In preparation we are planning quarterly global meetings for worship online (subscribe to Friends World News for updates) and a big online gathering for World Quaker Day (4 October 2026).
Another date for your diary is 29 September 2027 when we plan a global online conference to share our efforts in addressing historic and continuing injustice. Some queries will follow soon.
Within the Friends World Committee for Consultation please join me in gratitude for Esther Mombo who has completed her year as Interim Clerk, and will now begin as Vice Chancellor of St Paul’s University in Kenya.
We also feel grateful for Simon Lamb who served previously, especially around the anniversary of his passing this first month of the year.
Please also join me in welcoming our new clerk, Clare Scott-Booth. She was an elder at our most recent World Plenary Meeting, and brings with her immense experience from her career in leading charities that provide housing for people in need.
Finally, please don’t forget to send the dates and epistles of your Yearly Meetings (or other annual gatherings) to [email protected] so that we can include them on our website and in our monthly Friends World News e-newsletter. Sign up from the FWCC homepage.
When Hebrew speakers – then and now – greet one another, they do so by saying shalom; peace. The word in Arabic (Salaam) is very similar.
Shalom is much more than a lack of fighting. It refers to wholeness and harmony, within ourselves and within our communities and the world.
So, this New Year I pray our hearts will know Shalom and our feet – as well as those of others – will be guided in the path of peace.
In Friendship,
Tim Gee
General Secretary
Friends World Committee for Consultation (World Office)
* Do you live in a country which is relatively safe, with good internet connectivity and a reasonably open visa system? If so do enquire whether your Yearly Meeting could host the next World Plenary Meeting.
