QUAKER UNIVERSALIST GROUP NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2024
Dear QUG supporter
Quaker Universalist Group Annual Conference
April 19th – 21st 2024 at High Leigh Conference Centre, Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire and online.
The future of religion worldwide.
- Why is this so important for us all?
- What is actually happening?
- What can we, as universalist Quakers, do about the future of religion?
We are pleased that our conference is being well-supported. At the latest count (26th January) there were just 10 residential places left. So please apply as soon as possible if you are thinking of coming to High Leigh.
We also need to remind those who have paid deposits that the balance is required by February 23rd.
An application form is at the end of this newsletter. The form is also on our website at https://qug.org.uk/conferences/conference-2024-the-future-of-religion-worldwide/
Please either send the form by email (e.g. as an attachment) or by post to our conference applications secretary, Leonard Newton. His contact details are:
Email: leonardn@qug.org.uk
Post: Leonard Newton, QUG Conference Secretary, Flat 30 Century Court, 1 Wilford Lane, West Bridgford, Nottingham NG2 7TU
You do not have to be a Quaker or a member of QUG to attend our conference.
We have four main speakers. Three will be at the conference in person, and the fourth, Robert Wafula, will join us by Zoom from Kenya. We plan to have a sharing session on Saturday evening to enable the conference participants (both at High Leigh and online) to contribute. There will also be breakout groups and free time.
High Leigh is a large conference centre, usually with several conferences on at the same time, but each conference using separate facilities. See https://www.cct.org.uk/high-leigh/high-leigh-conference-centre. High Leigh is north of London, 25 minutes on the train from Liverpool Street Station. It is set in beautiful grounds. Travel directions are on their website and you are advised to follow them carefully.
Speakers at the conference
Jan Arriens is a well-known Quaker who last spoke to us at our conference in 2017 under the title ‘Mysticism – Between Head and Heart’. He has many interests, most recently being a co-founder of QTIG, the Quaker Truth and Integrity Group. He recently gave a talk on the future of Quakerism, so we look forward to his insights on this important topic.
Robert Wafula has been the Principal of Friends Theological College (FTC) in Kaimosi, Kenya, since October, 2014. Robert was educated in Africa and the USA and taught comparative religions, anthropology, cultural diversity and comparative literature at Columbus State College and at Central Ohio Technical College in Ohio. He will talk to us about the future of religion in Africa.
Peter Varney is a member of the QUG Committee and has spoken at several of our conferences, last year on ‘Creativity and Spirituality across the world’. He is a Quaker Elder and a retired, but active, Anglican priest. He will speak about religion in Britain and around the world – expanding his essay in the current Friends Quarterly.
Tony Philpott is presently the Clerk of the QUG Committee and has spoken at several of our conferences, for example on ‘Truth – An Introduction’ in 2018. His book, From Christian to Quaker, was sent to all the local meetings in Great Britain. He will introduce the conference and explain why ‘the future of religion’ is so important to us as universalists.
Monthly meeting for worship and sharing
Our meetings for worship and sharing continue by Zoom on the third Wednesday of each month.
Our next meeting will be on Wednesday February 21st at 7.00 p.m., when Lee Drummond will talk about Animism and an earth-based spirituality.
The meetings start at 7.00 p.m. The Zoom will open at 6.45 p.m. We send out reminders two or three days beforehand to everyone who has registered. If you do not have the joining instructions and would like them please send an email to contact@qug.org.uk
Contacting us, questions and unsubscribing
If you have any questions or wish to unsubscribe from this newsletter please reply directly or send an email to contact@qug.org.uk
QUG 2024 Annual Conference Booking Form
Friday 19th April 2024 6.00 pm to Sunday 21st April 2024 2.00 pm
High Leigh Conference Centre, Lord Street, Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire , EN11 8SG
Please clearly indicate one participation option below by writing YES against your preference.
Option 1- Residential: per person: £240. Deposit £60 (non returnable)
Option 2- Zoom Participation only : £40 (Please make full payment)
Option 3- Residential couple* sharing a twin room £450 Deposit £120 (non returnable)
*please provide the second person’s name and special requirements on a second form and submit both forms together.
Attendee Name: ___
Address: ___
Post code: ____
Tel no: ___
E-mail: ___
Do you need an accessible room? YES / NO
Do you require a lift or wheelchair access? YES / NO
Please state specific dietary or other requirements (e.g. Vegan, vegetarian, gluten free) below:
Please clearly indicate one payment option below by writing YES against your preference.:
A) Bank transfer to: TSB. The Quaker Universalist Group. Sort code: 30-97-35: Acc No 00016421 Please use Reference ‘QUG24-YourName’ to ease payment tracking (e.g. QUG24-NEWTON).
B) PayPal – Please ensure you provide contact details so PayPal payment collection can be arranged with you.
C) Cheque (payable to The Quaker Universalist Group) and post to the Conference Applications Secretary at the address below.
NB. Balance of conference payments must be received by Friday 23 February 2024
Please send this booking form by email to: leonardn@qug.org.uk
or by post to: Leonard Newton, QUG Conference Secretary, Flat 30 Century Court, 1 Wilford Lane, West Bridgford, Nottingham NG2 7TU
Please Book Early – to secure your place
If you do not receive an acknowledgement within three weeks please contact the Conference Booking Secretary.