Woodbrooke course brochure (2011)

Courses & events 2011Woodbrooke Quaker Study Centre

Woodbrooke is europe’s only Quaker study

Centre. it has a long and distinguished

history in providing a broad-based spiritual and

religious education to those of any faith from

around the world.

woodbrooke was founded in 1903. John

wilhelm rowntree (1868–1905) had previously

led a campaign amongst Friends for a

permanent settlement for religious and social

study. within a few years, Quaker and local

chocolate maker george Cadbury (1839–1922)

had been inspired to offer his former home for

this purpose. woodbrooke forms part of their

legacy to future generations, based on a vision

of our actions creating a better world.

woodbrooke is special. if its walls could speak,

they would tell tales of countless individuals

seeking to deepen their faith and equip

themselves for lives of service. they would

describe the visits of thinkers, philanthropists,

and religious figures such as gandhi who

came here to extend their understanding and

knowledge. they would recall with delight

the visitors from the different continents of

the world that came here throughout the

twentieth century. they would also recount

how woodbrooke has changed to meet the

needs of the times, including an extensive

programme of refurbishment to the library,

the addition of en suite bathroom facilities

and the installation of solar panels.

Visitors who are interested in social history and

ethical business come to stay at woodbrooke

in order to savour the ambience of the former

home of george Cadbury, and to be able to

find out more about bournville, the village

that he founded that lies a short walk away.

As a pioneer in improving conditions for

workers, george Cadbury created a community

that had few rivals in terms of decent social

housing, recreational facilities and attractive

gardens. the location, history and up to date

facilities of woodbrooke make it a unique

conference and bed and breakfast venue.

Although it has developed and changed to

meet the demands of the twenty-first century,

the aims of woodbrooke are still the same.

the historic house, home-cooked food and

organically-managed grounds, with their

palpable sense of peace and tranquillity, are

well equipped to provide spiritual inspiration,

education and nourishment to visitors for

generations to come.

History of woodbrooke

george Cadbury

Mahatma ghandiat woodbroke

history of woodbrooke woodbrooke study guide 20112

3woodbrooke study guide 2011 weLcome

welcome toWoodbrooke

”Live adventurously”. writing this introduction during

my first few days as director, i have felt inspired by these

words from Advices & Queries 27. such a challenge to

embrace life and its opportunities seems to me to

epitomise the spirit of woodbrooke.

following the enthusiastic response to our courses

in 2010, we decided to take our own leap of faith in

offering our largest educational programme ever

for 2011.

i hope that you feel inspired to consider embarking

on your own adventure with us, particularly if you

have not been here before. do take a look at our

friendly introductions series (p.14) and our two

new family friendly weekends (p.38, p.58). if

travelling here is difficult, why not see if we can

come out to your meeting (p.9)?

your continued support and involvement with

woodbrooke is what sustains it.

director

whAt’s on At woodbrooke woodbrooke study guide 20114

what’s on at

Woodbrooke

6 Good Lives 8 Becoming Friends 9 Working with Meetings

10 Longer-term opportunities 11 Other ways to useWoodbrooke

14 Friendly Introductions 15 Course listing 66 Our tutors

13 Equipping for Ministry andQuaker Approaches toSpiritual Practice pathway

Please also see our course calendar (page 72) and booking information and forms (page 76)

Making a bookingTo make a booking, complete and return the booking

form (page 77). You can also book (or download

booking forms) online at www.woodbrooke.org.uk

5woodbrooke study guide 2011 speciAL offers

keep an eye out throughout the brochure for offers

specific to each course. there may be chances for reduced

accommodation rates for those wishing to participate in

two courses following on from each other.

Sunday night special offer!Anyone participating in a woodbrooke-based

course ending on a sunday has the chance to enjoy

our hospitality for just a little longer. For only £30 per

person you are invited to join us for sunday evening

supper, bed and breakfast. sound tempting? Quote

sNs10 when booking your course.

Young Friends special offer!two or more 18–30-year-olds booking on a course

at the same time get 50% oFF the standard fee!

New members special offer!if you are in your first year of membership of the society

of Friends, you are entitled to a 50% reduction on a 48-hour

course. Please indicate that you are a new member on your

booking form.

Special oers...

Making a booking

good Lives woodbrooke study guide 20116

the good Lives Programme is for you if you are:

● in your 20s and 30s and know that

these issues will impact your life in a

significant way● in your 40s and 50s and are thinking

about how the later years of your life will

be affected, and about the effects on your

children and grandchildren● in your 60s and above and want to do

something positive about the legacy we

leave to future generations.

2011 courses● good Lives – because there isn’t a technical

fix for everything (science and technology)

25–27 February – see page 21● good Lives – because god has no hands but

ours (politics) 1–3 April – see page 26● good Lives – because we belong to the earth

(psychology of earth-relatedness) 10–12 June

– see page 35● good Lives – because we need to walk

humbly as well as cheerfully (spirituality)

14–16 october – see page 57.

good Lives in your meeting● imagining a world without oil● spirituality in a Changing world● sustaining our beliefs for a sustainable world

…or an event tailor-made for your meeting.

Please contact [email protected]

for further information or booking.

online● More about good Lives at

www.woodbrooke.org.uk/goodLives● Free downloadable introductory study

packs at www.woodbrooke.org.uk/

goodlivesstudypacks

the good Lives blog at www.woodbrooke

goodlives.blogspot.com – weekly postings on

a wide variety of topics, from the spiritual to the

practical, from the political to the horticultural,

from the philosophical to the technical. Visit

occasionally, or sign up to follow the blog.

good Lives…don’t have to cost the earth

This series of courses, spread over three years, is a creative opportunity

for Friends and others to bring head, heart and spirit together to equip

ourselves for the future – of our own lives, of the planet and of humanity.

Further information and bookingsAs well as these modules, many other courses in this brochure provide skills,

knowledge or experience needed for a truly sustainable human future. the

good Lives courses, and all these others, are highlighted in the brochure. book

on any one of them, and you will get a £20 discount on any of the others. email

[email protected] for details. The Good Lives project is supported

by the George Cadbury Fund.

7woodbrooke study guide 2011 good Lives

becoming friends woodbrooke study guide 20118

Becoming Friends is an exciting course for those who are new to Friends.

It offers an engaging, interactive learning experience that will enable

you to find out more about Quakerism while exploring your own faith

journey with Friends.

the course materials are flexible and accessible online or in paper format, combined with options for

support from your meeting. Course participants work at their own pace and for as long as they wish,

with choices for working alone and with others. there is a choice of learning units and activities to

suit a wide range of interests and learning styles, including on-line discussion groups, resources and

links. Meetings are encouraged to provide a becoming Friends ‘companion’ to support newcomers

working with the learning materials: someone who can share their own knowledge and experience

of Quakerism, and help arrange conversations and interactions with other Friends. For more

information about becoming Friends, including signing up for the online course (cost £5), accessing

a free demo, or ordering the paper pack (cost £10 + postage), go to www.woodbrooke.org.uk/

becomingfriends.

Contact the Nurturing Friends and Meetings tutor on 0121 472 5171 or email becoming.friends@

woodbrooke.org.uk for more information.

becoming Friendsliving & learning with Quakers

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training for Quaker rolesAcross britain yearly Meeting there are more than

2,000 people holding some kind of role in the

service of their local, area or general meeting.

each year we run a range of events on site at

woodbrooke to help prepare those giving service.

we can also deliver bespoke training locally and

regionally in each of the following areas:

● Clerks● trustees● treasurers● Nominations● elders and overseers.

Additionally, we can help a meeting consider

wider issues in the support of these roles such as:

● Practising discernment together● the sense of the Meeting● stewarding our resources● Approaching Conflict as a Meeting.

topics currently on offer● the welcoming Meeting● Conflict Handling● Creating Community, Creating Connections● ‘the whole banana’: making sense of our

spiritual diversity● the Peace testimony – past and present● Nurturing spirituality● inspiring small Meetings● Practising discernment● exploring Quaker Faith and Practice● taking a Fresh Look at the bible● experiencing god● imagining a world without oil: preparing

for an (un)certain future● Quakers and the bible● A day with three old Friends● deepening the spiritual Life of the Meeting● Practising Prayerfulness● stewarding our resources.

we are always happy to plan new events to

meet your needs.

working with Meetingsfor learning, for leisure, for life… locally

Further information and bookingsFor all courses or for further discussion please contact: educational

Administration, woodbrooke Quaker study Centre, 1046 bristol road,

birmingham b29 6LJ or 0121 415 6779 or [email protected]

As well as running courses in Birmingham, Woodbrooke can also send a tutor

to your Quaker meeting. We can bring learning to your meeting to deepen

your spiritual life and support your good practice and work. Our new off-site

brochure is available – get in touch if you’d like to know more or like a copy.

we offer a responsive, flexible, bespoke service that can answer your meeting’s needs. in addition,

we have a menu of more than 50 themed courses. we currently have a range of special offers to

support meetings in making the most of woodbrooke (while funds last). to discuss what might

suit your meeting or how we could respond to a particular need please contact Lizz roe at

[email protected] or on 0121 415 6787.

woodbrooke study guide 2011 working with meetings

Longer-term opportunities woodbrooke study guide 201110

the library

the library at woodbrooke is the

perfect base for a sabbatical or

extended study leave, offering the

opportunity to read, think and write

in quiet, comfortable surroundings

with 24-hour access to books, wi-fi

laptop connection and the support

(if needed) of a full-time professional

librarian. our catalogue is available

online via the woodbrooke website.

there is of course a Quaker focus to

our collections but members of other

denominations and faiths are warmly

welcomed and will find that as well as

Quaker books, periodicals, pamphlets

and theses from around the world,

the library also has some 50,000 non-

Quaker titles. our remit covers all

areas of interest to Friends and so the

stock is surprisingly wide-ranging. we

add approximately 900 new titles a

year and aim to keep up to date with

the main developments in subject

areas such as peace, sociology of

religion, Christian and interfaith

theologies, biblical studies, green/

environmental concerns, and general

church and british history (particularly

of the 16th – 18th centuries). there are

also representative collections of

english fiction and poetry. while we

generally aim at the interested but

non-specialist reader, the more

academically-oriented is also well

served and in addition may be able

to use the university of birmingham's

libraries nearby.

Contact the librarian, ian Jacksonon 0121 415 6786 or email [email protected] for more information.

Postgraduate Quaker studies

since 1998, woodbrooke and the

university of birmingham have worked

together to create what is now the

leading centre in the world for

postgraduate research in Quaker

studies. over thirty students and a staff

team of six are now part of the Centre

for Postgraduate Quaker studies

(CPQs). the Centre offers Postgraduate

Certificate and research degrees at

M.Phil and Phd levels. Fees for those

living within the eu are particularly

competitive; woodbrooke offers

postgraduate Quaker studies students

an accommodation discount, and for

overseas students there is also the

possibility of ‘split-site registration’

which allows you to research from

home, corresponding with your

supervisor by email, post and

occasional visits. CPQs also co-

publishes the journal Quaker studies

and co-sponsors the annual and

prestigious george richardson Lecture.

Full information can be found at:www.woodbrooke.org.uk/CPQsor you can find out more by [email protected]

Personal study

As a dedicated study centre,

woodbrooke is the perfect supportive

environment for personal research.

Come for a couple of weeks or

months, working with a tutor to build

your own programme, which can

include short courses as well as

guided reading.

or use our world-class Quaker library

for your personal research, perhaps

during a sabbatical or as a preparation

for retirement. deepen your under-

standing of an issue close to your

heart while enjoying the beautiful

surroundings of woodbrooke.

Contact stuart Masters on0121 415 6768 or [email protected]

Longer-term opportunitiesat woodbrooke

bed and breakfast

with bed & breakfast from £42 for one person and only

£16.50 extra for a second person sharing – why not take a

short break to relax and unwind at woodbrooke? enjoy our

beautiful 10 acres of organically-managed garden, explore

our grade 2 listed building and taste our delicious home

cooked (and often home grown) meals.

we have 70 comfortable bedrooms, all

have their own tea and coffee making

facilities, desk and washbasin. Most of

our rooms are ensuite and those that

do not have bath and shower facilities

close by. For disabled visitors specially

adapted rooms are available.

woodbrooke is located only a few

minutes by train from birmingham city

centre. From here you can explore the

village of bournville as well as many

other nearby attractions including the Lickey

Hills, birmingham Nature Centre, Midland Arts

Centre and selly Manor.

to book, please contact our administration team by calling0121 472 5171 or email [email protected]

birmingham’s alternative conference venue

woodbrooke is a conference centre with a difference.

our beautiful buildings, 10-acre garden and friendly

service provide the ideal setting for your small group

or larger organisation. our seven elegant meeting rooms

all benefit from garden views and natural light.

At woodbrooke you can enjoy

complimentary full wireless internet

access and the latest multimedia

presentation equipment, excellent

transport links plus free on-site car

parking and fantastic home-cooking

with all special diets catered for.

whether you are organising a one-

day workshop, a residential event

or even a week-long conference,

we are perfectly suited to groups

seeking a quiet and inspiring space for work, relaxation

and spiritual growth.

to hold your meeting at woodbrooke, contact our friendlyand experienced conference co-ordinators kirstie McAra orFaye Fenton on 0121 415 6774, or email [email protected]

11woodbrooke study guide 2011 other wAys to use woodbrooke

other ways to useWoodbrooke

other LeArning pAthwAys woodbrooke study guide 201112

equipping for Ministryequipping for Ministry, or eFM as it is often known, is a flexible programme designed to provide

a more sustained approach to Quaker studies at woodbrooke. it is a two-year part-time course

structured around time spent at woodbrooke and personal study time at home. the course is for

anyone who is active in their local meeting and who wants to think more about what it is to be a part

of that meeting and the wider society. it aims to give you a solid grounding in thinking about what it

is to be a Quaker in the world today and how you are personally to live out that calling. every course

starts with an induction weekend in January and the next induction will be in 2012. in each of your

two years you are required to attend a residential week and alongside this a range of other courses

from our programme. working with the support of a personal tutor, you can undertake personal

projects of your own choice.

Contact ginny wall on 0121 472 5171 or email [email protected] for more information.

Quaker Approaches tospiritual Practice pathwaythis new pathway in the woodbrooke programme aims to help Friends expand and deepen their

knowledge, understanding and experience of spiritual practice and prayer. some courses may be

marked as suitable for beginners or for those with a little more experience – but since we are all only

ever beginners in prayer, Friends will be very welcome to attend any of the courses as they feel led.

the Quaker Approaches to spiritual Practice learning pathway will be developed over the next two

to three years, but there are some courses in the 2011 programme already: examples are sacred reading

(21–23 January: page 16) and what on earth do we Mean by Prayer? (14–16 November: page 62).

Contact ginny wall on 0121 472 5171 or email [email protected] for more information.

13woodbrooke study guide 2011 other LeArning pAthwAys

friendLy introductions woodbrooke study guide 201114

the series is made up of thirteen courses which

we plan to offer at least once every two years.

each course will explore an aspect of the Quaker

way within the context of our living tradition, our

spiritual practices and our engagement with the

world. sessions will be delivered in a friendly

and accessible way but will enable participants

to work with material that has real substance

and relevance to their lives as Quakers today.

the Friendly introductions courses● becoming Friends: a friendly introduction to

the Quaker way● Quakers and the bible: a friendly introduction● Quaker business Method: a friendly

introduction● Quaker discernment: a friendly introduction● early Quaker History: a friendly introduction● Quaker Faith & Practice: a friendly introduction● Meeting for worship: a friendly introduction● Moving into Membership: a friendly approach● Quaker service, roles and gifts: a friendly

introduction● Quaker spirituality: a friendly introduction● Quaker testimony: a friendly introduction● Quaker theology: a friendly introduction● the world Family of Friends: a friendly

introduction.

All thirteen courses will be offered at least once

between 2011 and 2013.

Friendly introductionsproviding a solid grounding in the Quaker way

Woodbrooke’s exciting new Friendly Introductions series offers a compre-

hensive programme of courses to help you develop a solid grounding in all

aspects of the Quaker way. This series has something for everyone, whether you are

new to Quakers or a ‘seasoned’ Friend with gaps in your knowledge or experience.

special offer – book three courses and getthe third half-priceif you book three Friendly introductions courses in any twelve monthperiod you will get the third course half price.

early Quaker History 194–6 Februarytutors: stuart Masters & betty Hagglund

becoming Friends 2018–20 Februarytutor: simon best

Moving into Membership 343–5 Junetutors: Helen rowlands & stuart Masters

Quaker discernment 3717–19 Junetutor: Lizz roe

becoming Friends 5821–23 octobertutor: simon best

Quaker testimony 5926–28 octobertutor: Maud grainger

2011 programme

we will begin the series in 2011 with the

following courses:

Courses & eventsWoodbrooke calendar 2011

JANUARY 201116

Always here to help…We want your time at Woodbrooke to be as enjoyable and comfortable as possible. If you have

accessibility issues, low energy levels or are unsure in any way about the suitability of a course

for you, please contact our administration team for advice by calling 0121 472 5171 or email

[email protected]. More information about arrangements we can make to enhance

accessibility at Woodbrooke is on page 76.

January 2011Muslim spiritualityFriday 21 – Sunday 23 January | 18 places | £194 ensuite | £184 standard

the practice of islam rests on essential traditions of spirituality. this course aims to provide

understanding of the inward path of islam, taught traditionally as the science of tassawuf or sufism.

the course will examine: the islamic understanding of the spirit; soul and self identity; the path of

purification of the heart and self knowledge. Participants will have an opportunity to visit a sufi

gathering and will meet both Muslim women and men devoted to this path.

tutor(s): Abdulhaq bewley | shaykh Muhammad bar shoaib

Course type: Friends and other Faiths

Course delivery: seminar/subject based

sacred reading: encountering god in wordsFriday 21 – Sunday 23 January | 15 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

this weekend offers a chance to make a contemplative journey into the heart of scripture and

other texts, where we can meet the spirit at work right here and now. we will explore a variety of

approaches to sacred reading, including the monastic practice of lectio divina, creative responses,

shared group reading and walking meditation with words. there will be opportunities throughout

the weekend for contemplative encounters with different spiritual writings including the bible,

Quaker texts and poetry.

tutor(s): ginny wall | Nicola James

Course type: spirituality and Personal growth | Quaker and Christian traditions

Course delivery: retreat | inner experience

Courses & events

For biographies and further information about tutors see page 66.

Price includestravel to a localsufi gatheringof invocation.

Anyone attendingthis course is entitledto a £20 discount onthe course ‘what on

earth do we Mean byPrayer?’ (14–16

November).

QuAker ApproAchesto spirituAL prActice

17

Looking Afresh at that ‘old book’: bible study resources for FriendsFriday 21 – Sunday 23 January | 20 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

there are many new, interesting and illuminating ways of looking at the bible. Not only in books,

but also in innovative forms on the internet or on dVd, these are often more accessible for today’s

diverse Friends. the course will give participants a chance to sample a range of useful material in

different media along with some helpful guidance on how to use it fruitfully in local meetings and

for personal study.

tutor(s): timothy Peat Ashworth | Alastair reid

Course type: Quaker and Christian traditions | Nurturing Friends and Meetings

Course delivery: seminar/subject based | Participatory

being a Quaker ClerkFriday 28 – Sunday 30 January | 18 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

this course is for new or prospective clerks of area meetings or local meetings with little or no

experience of Quaker clerking. we will spend some time considering why we use a particular

business style in our meetings and how this has evolved over the centuries. Alongside this there

will be practical sessions including planning agendas, making minutes, keeping records and the

discipline of the meeting. Participants will learn from each other as well as from the leaders.

tutor(s): Janet scott | Clare scott booth

Course type: training for Quaker roles | Quaker and Christian traditions


being an elderFriday 28 – Sunday 30 January | 18 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

For all Friends with eldership responsibilities who would like to cover the basics of the role. why

not come with another Friend from your meeting who is new to eldership? the course aims to help

those responsible for eldership to respond to the core spiritual life and needs of the meeting. there

will be practical ideas and resources, and an opportunity to share experience with others. we hope

everyone will take away more confidence and a better understanding of the role.

tutor(s): Mary Jo Clogg | barbara windle

Course type: training for Quaker roles | Nurturing Friends and Meetings


being an overseerFriday 28 – Sunday 30 January | 18 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

For Friends with oversight responsibilities who would like to cover the basics of the role. why

not come with another Friend from your meeting who is new to oversight? we aim to include

expectations of the role and explore its spiritual basis. we will look at the range of tasks, good

practice, and ways of handling difficult issues. we hope everyone will leave with practical ideas

and resources, more confidence, a better understanding of the role, and some new ways forward.

tutor(s): Margaret bryan | Marilyn Higgins



£20 discountwhen twoparticipants bookfrom the samemeeting.

FEBRUARY 201118

February 2011Managing our Meeting Houses: training and support for staff andFriends who manage themWednesday 2 – Friday 4 February | 30 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

this training and support event includes: witnessing to Quaker values, updates on employment law

and good practice, building working relationships and support networks, health and safety, together

with separate sessions for staff and employers/committee. we aim to be responsive to the particular

needs of those taking part. we hope everyone will gain increased enthusiasm, skills, confidence and

knowledge to take back to their meeting houses. Leaders include wardens/employees, and

specialists on managing meeting houses and supporting employers/employees.

tutor(s): Judi brill | strawberry roth | wendy blake ranken


Course delivery: Participatory | seminar/subject based

the spirit LevelFriday 4 – Sunday 6 February | 20 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

the book The Spirit Level (2009) met with great critical acclaim. it shows that inequality in every

society is bad for every one, and the greater the degree of inequality the worse it is. this evidence

confirms the Quaker testimony to equality and the many reasons to pursue this countercultural

witness. during the course we will explore the different dimensions of the subject and what we

can do to see our testimony to equality expressed in this country for the good of all.

tutor(s): Martin wilkinson

Course type: Adventurous Living


Quaker Nominations: exploring good practiceFriday 4 – Sunday 6 February | 20 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

An event for members of nominations committees in all Quaker settings. How can we root

ourselves in good practices of discernment whilst responding to the particular issues that face us?

Nominations are at the quiet heart of the way we live together as Friends, when we listen faithfully

to the spirit. we will include the practical aspects of being ‘on nominations’. Friends can expect

a renewed insight into the potential of nominations to strengthen meetings and enable them

to flourish.

tutor(s): Paul bowers isaacson | ethel Livermore



booking on thiscourse entitles

you to a £20discount on any

other courseshighlighted as

good Lives.

good Lives

early Quaker History: a friendly introductionFriday 4 – Sunday 6 February | 20 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

do you want to know more about early Friends? if your knowledge of Quaker history is a little hazy

or you are relatively new to the society of Friends, this is the course for you. we will trace the early

Quaker story in its historical context, explore the development of the Quaker vision and look at the

movement’s leading figures. this will all be done in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere using a

mixture of lectures, discussions and group reading.

tutor(s): betty Hagglund | stuart Masters



becoming Friends Companions Course: preparing for serviceMonday 7 – Wednesday 9 February | 18 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

this course is for those offering service as becoming Friends companions in meetings. ‘becoming

Friends: Living and Learning with Quakers’ is an exciting project from woodbrooke and Quaker Life

which aims to nurture and support those who are new to Friends through the provision of flexible

learning materials and support from ‘companions’ in local meetings. For more information, go to

www.woodbrooke.org.uk/becomingfriends or email [email protected] .

Please provide a letter of support from your meeting when booking on the course.

tutor(s): ginny wall

Course type: Nurturing Friends and Meetings | Quaker and Christian traditions

Course delivery: Participatory

the experience of the divine in early Christianity: a study weekMonday 7 – Friday 11 February | 16 places | £294 ensuite | £278 standard

this innovative biblical study week will consist of three elements: a viewing together of a substantial

dVd study course given by Luke timothy Johnson focussing on the nature of religious experience

among the first Christians; seminars on the course with timothy Peat Ashworth; and a live web

link up for our own question and answer session with Luke timothy Johnson. if you are looking

to do some serious biblical study with like-minded companions, this programme has been designed

for you.

tutor(s): Luke timothy Johnson | timothy Peat Ashworth

Course type: Quaker and Christian traditions | spirituality and Personal growth


19

book threefriendlyintroductioncourses within12 months and getthe third half price.

friendLyintroductions

National trusteeship Conference 2011: ‘trustees: creators of timeand space’Friday 11 – Sunday 13 February | 57 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

in partnership with Quaker stewardship Committee

How are Friends managing the processes of trusteeship? is the service of trustees creating

time and space for others, enabling the spirit to prosper in our meetings? what difficulties are

we encountering?

Area meetings are invited to nominate an experienced trustee to come and share experience of how

trusteeship is working in reality. there will be opportunity to consider good practice and gain support

in areas of difficulty. Members of Quaker stewardship Committee will be on hand for consultation.

tutor(s): keynote speaker: Christine A.M. davis. Planning team: Virginia Pawlyn | Adrian walker-smith |

Helen rowlands


Course delivery: Conference | Participatory

becoming Friends: a friendly introduction to the Quaker wayFriday 18 – Sunday 20 February | 20 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

Are you new to Friends? would you like to deepen your understanding of the Quaker way? if so,

this course is for you. Friendly and interactive sessions will draw on the becoming Friends course

materials to provide a broad overview of contemporary Quakerism. Although this course stands

alone, participants can also use it to launch a more in-depth engagement with the becoming Friends

learning project.

tutor(s): simon best



Churches together: what is the place for Quakers?Friday 18 – Sunday 20 February | 28 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

A conference in partnership with QCCir

Many Friends are involved with other Churches: in chaplaincy work in prisons, hospitals and

universities; in local and national ecumenical bodies; in shared social action. this is a weekend for

those interested in ecumenical work and relationships to learn together and exchange experiences

and ideas. what is the Quaker contribution to the ecumenical agenda? Join members of the

Quaker Committee for Christian and interfaith relations to explore future directions for Friends

and Churches.

tutor(s): beth Allen | John gladwin | rowena Loverance | timothy Peat Ashworth

Course type: Friends and other Faiths | Quaker and Christian traditions

Course delivery: Conference | Participatory

FEBRUARY 201120

book threefriendly

introductioncourses within 12

months and getthe third half price.



what next for Quaker Nontheism?Friday 18 – Sunday 20 February

An open event run at woodbrooke by Nontheist Friends

Five years after the publication of Godless for God’s Sake Miriam yagud and david boulton invite

nontheist Friends to share their experience of what it means to be a humanist, atheist or agnostic

in our creedless religious society of Friends. this event is an opportunity to share our journeys

and explore creatively how best to combine adventurous commitment to the Quaker way with

open and honest rejection of a theistic world view.

bookings and further information: [email protected] or phone 01453 547032



Landscapes of the soul: welcoming the wisdom of the world withinMonday 21 – Thursday 24 February | 16 places | £299 ensuite | £286 standard

the gaels called the body ‘the soul-shrine’, rightly recognising that within is a landscape of wonders

and a treasury of story, knowledge, wisdom and healing. on this shamanic art course we will explore

our own inner landscapes. this course is suitable for anyone interested in their personal treasury of

symbols, in myth, dream, inner and magical work. No artistic ability or previous shamanic experience

are required, although artists and shamanic practitioners are warmly welcome.

tutor(s): Caitlín Matthews | Felicity wombwell

Course type: spirituality and Personal growth | Creative Arts and spirituality


Quakers in Criminal Justice Annual ConferenceFriday 25 – Sunday 27 February

An open event run at woodbrooke by Quakers in Criminal Justice

Non-members welcome! the exact topic and speakers will be finalised soon and will reflect current

criminal justice concerns from a Quaker perspective. An enriching opportunity for those with an

involvement or interest in criminal justice matters to meet up with other Quaker members/attenders

from a wide-ranging spectrum of experience.

bookings and further information: Please contact simon ewart [email protected] 01736 871161 or

Ann Jacob [email protected] 020 8991 0158


Course delivery: Participatory | Conference

good Lives – because there isn’t a technical fix for everythingFriday 25 – Sunday 27 February | 20 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

this good Lives weekend will look at science and technology – at what we can expect science to do

for us and what it can’t do. taking in both the big picture and the detail of particular examples, we will

examine the interaction between new science and technologies (eg: food, energy, transport), and the

essential changes required in our own behaviour, attitudes and habits.

tutor(s): Pam Lunn | gillian smith | Michael tovey

Course type: Adventurous Living | green spirituality and the Natural world


21

booking on thiscourse entitlesyou to a £20discount on anyother courseshighlighted asgood Lives.

good Lives

MARCH 201122

March 2011islamic spain: what can we learn from a 1000-year-old history?Friday 4 – Sunday 6 March | 23 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

islamic spain was a multi-cultural mix of the people of three great monotheistic religions: islam,

Christianity and Judaism. Although Christians and Jews lived under certain restrictions, for much of

the time the three groups managed to get along together, and to some extent, to benefit from each

other’s presence. this weekend is an opportunity to explore a fascinating and distinctive time and

place which will enable us to see present-day tensions between the traditions in a different light.

tutor(s): Pam Lunn | timothy Peat Ashworth | simon barton

Course type: Friends and other Faiths


Friends of the Creation: gospel order and the earthFriday 4 – Sunday 6 March | 16 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

gospel order was a term often used by early Quakers to characterise the quality of life of a

community that is reconciled to god and to one other. More recently, it has been described as ‘the

right relationship of every part of creation, however small, to every other part and to the Creator’.

this course will explore what gospel order meant for early Friends, and how this might inform our

current concern to live in harmony with the creation.

tutor(s): stuart Masters | geoff Morries

Course type: Quaker and Christian traditions | green spirituality and the Natural world


being a Quaker treasurerFriday 4 – Sunday 6 March | 16 places | £246 ensuite | £236 standard

For new and prospective treasurers, and those who still feel uncertain

we will cover all the main tasks, from first entries to year-end preparation of accounts, principles,

responsibilities, and legal requirements. you will find sympathetic companionship with other

treasurers, and explore the spiritual basis of the role.

Please note times: Friday 11.00am to 6.00pm: basic book-keeping. those without much

experience need these sessions. if Friday attendance is difficult, these exercises can be done

at home beforehand. sunday 1.45pm to 3.00pm: computer spreadsheets (optional).

tutor(s): rosemary elias | Valerie Farrow | kate gulliver






good Lives.

good Lives

Prices includeextra book-

keeping sessionon Friday. Pricewithout book-keeping: £194ensuite, £184

standard. dinner,b&b available

thursday night ifrequired.

working with Friends: an event for non-Quaker employees inQuaker organisationsWednesday 9 – Friday 11 March | 10 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

this course will help staff understand the context in which they work, so as to operate effectively in

their jobs. we will explain what motivates Quakers, their faith and their work in the world, and how

these underpin Quaker organisations. we will see how Friends worship, how decisions are made

(e.g. in management committees), and how different bodies inter-relate. you will meet others in

similar circumstances and explore how to contribute effectively in your work setting.

tutor(s): Helen rowlands



the world is our Cloister: a retreat in everyday lifeFriday 11 – Sunday 13 March and Friday 20 – Sunday 22 May | 15 places | £368 ensuite | £348 standard

this retreat involves two linked weekends at woodbrooke with ten intervening weeks at home,

inviting us to explore elements of contemplative traditions and practices, and open ourselves

to experiencing a deeper awareness of the spirit at work in our everyday lives.

this first weekend includes introductions to the retreat’s themes and practices and gives

opportunities for spiritual friendship conversations. the home-based modules, available online

or in paper format, will then provide linked suggestions for reflection and practice.

tutor(s): Jennifer kavanagh | ginny wall

Course type: spirituality and Personal growth


23

Please note thisprice is for bothcourses as it isa linked course.

MARCH 201124

developing a Practice of Christian MeditationFriday 11 – Sunday 13 March | 15 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

Meditation helps people to awaken and deepen their spiritual life. it is a universal tradition found in all

the great religions. Many Christians have been helped to recover contact with their own tradition of

meditation because of the work of John Main, the benedictine monk (1926-82). His teaching of this

ancient tradition of prayer is rooted in the gospels and the early Christian monastic tradition of the

desert. this will be a weekend introduction to the practice and teaching.

tutor(s): Liz watson


Course delivery: inner experience | retreat

understanding conflict – in our lives and in our meetingsFriday 11 – Sunday 13 March | 18 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

when two people meet, a relationship develops; the more people, the more complex the

relationships become. we will explore how conflicts may develop and find the underlying causes.

we will look at processes for transforming these conflicts. there will be time to identify and practise

the skills of building rapport, understanding and trust in both easy and more difficult situations,

borrowing from both Quaker and conflict resolution skills and procedures.

tutor(s): roger Cullen | Marion wells-bruges

Course type: Nurturing Friends and Meetings | Adventurous Living


Fruits of winter: tasks and opportunities for later lifeMonday 21 – Wednesday 23 March | 15 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

As life expectancy increases, it becomes even more important to use the later years creatively,

anticipating and shaping the changes, and uncovering the meaning of our lives. during this weekend

we will explore core themes, including: spirituality in later life; harvesting a lifetime; practical wisdom

for the end of life; making a good death. there will be led sessions on these themes, and

opportunities to reflect and participate through individual and group work.

tutor(s): Peggy Heeks | susan sawtell






good Lives.

good Lives

the Ministry of inspiring MeetingsMonday 21 – Friday 25 March | 10 places | £239 ensuite | £226 standard

Quakerism makes a connection between the inward life and discernment, active participation in

a religious community and giving service in the world. it is the braiding together and balancing

of these aspects of meeting life that forms the focus of this workshop. As well as exploring the

components of meeting cultures, participants will hone their diagnostic and interactive skills

through composing and engaging with case studies on inspiring the life of the meeting.

tutor(s): derrick whitehouse



exploring worship: being a spiritual warriorFriday 25 – Sunday 27 March | 44 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

A partnership event run by Quaker Life and woodbrooke for 8–12-year-olds with a separate programme forthe adults

this weekend is about children and adults working in a community to talk about worship.

Children will explore ideas such as: what is god, what is worship, what is a Quaker and what is a

spiritual warrior? we will play, talk, be still, use art, hear stories and design worship for woodbrooke

and worship places for ourselves. the adults will have a programme especially designed for them!

everybody will eat together and we will form a community for the weekend.

tutor(s): Chris Nickolay | Howard Nurden | others

Course type: Nurturing Friends and Meetings | spirituality and Personal growth


Quaker registering officers training weekendFriday 25 – Sunday 27 March | 15 places | 184 ensuite | £174 standard

A course run in partnership with the recording Clerk’s office of britain yearly Meeting

this is a training event for Quaker registering officers who will be sent more information directly.

tutor(s): Linda Craig | Anne wood

Course type: training for Quaker roles


Celebrating the Quaker wayTuesday 29 – Thursday 31 March | 12 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

what does our Quakerism mean to us? How have we been nurtured? what parts of the tradition do

we most connect with and what is our vision for its future? there will be a mixture of talks, worship,

and exercises to help us reflect. our time together will allow us to learn more about the tradition and

to celebrate the worship, witness, and community inherent in the Quaker way. we will share stories

and experiences, our visions and dreams.

tutor(s): ben Pink dandelion



25

Children 8–12:£92 ensuite or £87standard; Adults:£184 ensuite or£174 standard.woodbrookebursary helpavailable towardsthe cost.

APRIL 201126

April 2011good Lives – because god has no hands but oursFriday 1 – Sunday 3 April | 20 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

All governments make policy choices that fail to meet the challenges of creating a sustainable

society. Campaigners are coming to despair that a democratic society will ever be able to do the

right thing. we will explore what we, as citizens, can and should do to change britain’s politics for the

better, considering aspects of witnessing to Quaker values in a compromised and combative political

process. Participants will gain an insight into effective ways of using politics to get things done.

tutor(s): simon beard | Pam Lunn



being Peace: living in the present momentFriday 1 – Sunday 3 April | 20 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

whether a beginner or someone experienced in eastern spiritual practice, you will taste something

of the deep peace that can be discovered through simple practices of being present and the support

of doing this in a group. guidance will be given on a variety of practices to encourage a sense of

mindfulness. this event is run in partnership with the Community of interbeing, the group who

live by and communicate the teachings of thich Nhat Hanh in the uk.

tutor(s): Murray Corke | Marion Mills dadds | timothy Peat Ashworth

Course type: Friends and other Faiths | spirituality and Personal growth


the welcoming Quaker CommunityFriday 1 – Sunday 3 April | 15 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

Are there Friends in your meeting who for one reason or another feel on the margins? Are there

newcomers who might be helped to feel more included? is it always the same few who shoulder

responsibility? through sharing experience and ideas, and by opening up fresh possibilities for

embracing diversity and planning for growth and change, this course will explore practical

approaches to creating a more inclusive and welcoming worshipping meeting community.

tutor(s): Zélie gross | deborah rowlands

Course type: Nurturing Friends and Meetings | training for Quaker roles





good Lives.

good Lives


the kindlers: the power of Quaker worshipMonday 4 – Friday 8 April | 15 places

An open event run at woodbrooke by the kindlers, an informal group working for Quaker renewal: to vision new fire

the kindlers work to re-vitalize Quaker spiritual life. this third woodbrooke course will be participatory,

exploring how to speak more clearly in contemporary ways about god/spirit, silence, prayer, Light/ Christ,

Jesus and ministry. experientially, we shall look at sunday worship afresh. the aim is to develop a team

of workshop facilitators for local and area meetings. it is suggested that two Friends, maybe elders or

spiritual mentors, come together from a region to support each other on returning home.

bookings and further information: Please contact Alec davison on 020 7226 5448 or email [email protected]


Course delivery: inner experience | Participatory

Quaker spiritual Healers: a training courseMonday 4 – Friday 8 April

An open event run at woodbrooke by Quaker spiritual Healers

the Quaker spiritual Healers, a recognised and fully insured group, offer an opportunity for those

who feel drawn towards the ministry of healing to explore their own potential within the Quaker ethos

of simplicity, and receive encouragement from Quaker tutors. if it feels right, there is the opportunity

to join the QsH and become a probationer healer, leading to full healer membership in due course.

bookings and further information: Please contact rosalind smith on 01359 252248 or email [email protected]



27

APRIL 201128

being a Quaker treasurerTuesday 5 – Thursday 7 April | 16 places | £246 ensuite | £236 standard





Please note times: tuesday 11.00am to 6.00pm: basic book-keeping. those without much

experience need these sessions. if tuesday attendance is difficult, these exercises can be done

at home beforehand. thursday 1.45pm to 3.00pm: computer spreadsheets (optional).

tutor(s): kate gulliver | Janet Lynch



Life writing for transformationSunday 10 – Thursday 14 April | 14 places | £324 ensuite | £308 standard

this course will help you use the gifts of your life experience to create stories with ‘transformative

writing’. this process guides you around detours to claim your greatest creative treasure – your

authentic voice. it is suitable for beginning or experienced writers and journallers. we will encourage

each other to discover our authentic voice and natural strengths; and renew our motivation for

personal writing, whether in our own journals or in published memoirs or stories.

tutor(s): Joanne klassen | eleanor Hildebrand Chornoboy

Course type: Creative Arts and spirituality | spirituality and Personal growth

Course delivery: Participatory | Art/Creative




Monday night ifrequired.

singing for Joy: harmony songs and chants from around the worldFriday 22 – Sunday 24 April | 20 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

this is for anyone who likes singing or wants to try. together, we will raise a wonderful sound,

singing songs from around the world and taizé chants, in rounds and glorious harmony. No special

knowledge or skill needed, only a willingness to listen, copy and sing out! experienced singers also

very welcome. everything will be unaccompanied and taught aurally. the aim is to experience the

joy of singing together, the fellowship that follows and the stillness that comes after song.

tutor(s): Jane read



green Fire: an Appleseed courseFriday 22 – Monday 25 April | 16 places | £239 ensuite | £226 standard

the green fire of spring is sparked by sunlight and the deep germinating power of the earth.

this green fire is also in us. the Appleseed process of short talks followed by simple arts-based

activities (no skills required) and optional worship sharing, provides a safe environment to explore

the condition of the green fire in our lives and its possible effect on those areas which need renewal.

this course is suitable for those with and without previous Appleseed experience.

tutor(s): kathleen Nelson | Liz Perkins


Course delivery: Art/Creative | inner experience

Quaker theology seminar: the Holy spiritTuesday 26 – Thursday 28 April | 15 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

An open event run at woodbrooke by Quaker theology seminar

the seminar provides a place for Quakers interested in theological questions to share papers and

discuss with each other. the topic for the year is chosen in April and this will be the second seminar

with papers on the Holy spirit. there are many intertwining strands from recent topics: god, the

easter story and kingdom of god and we look forward to a variety of papers. Please send papers

to Qts c/o woodbrooke four weeks before the event.

Course type: Quaker and Christian traditions


No Friend is an island: Quakers exploring connections throughwriting and publishingThursday 28 April – Monday 2 May

An open event run at woodbrooke by Quakers united in Publishing

A rare opportunity to meet in the uk. our 2011 gathering will focus on writing by and for Quakers

using all kinds of media. we will share experience through talks, panels, workshops and informal

conversation. our aim is to encourage Quaker writers, potential writers and publishers from different

countries and traditions to come together and discover what links them.

bookings and further information: see www.quakerquip.org and the QuiP Facebook page


Course delivery: Conference

29

MAY 201130

May 2011spirituality in Musical Performance: insights fromQuaker experienceTuesday 3 – Friday 6 May | 9 places | £239 ensuite | £226 standard

this course is a series of musical performance workshops, for individual performers or groups

of soloists on any instrument or voice, interested in exploring areas of contact between spiritual

perception and imaginative engagement in musical performance. repertoire will be selected in

advance in consultation with robin, who will provide keyboard partnership if needed. A concert,

with some listeners from outside the course, will form part of the final session.

tutor(s): robin bowman



becoming Friends Companions Course: preparing for serviceFriday 6 – Sunday 8 May | 18 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

this course is for those offering service as becoming Friends companions in their meeting.

‘becoming Friends: Living and Learning with Quakers’ is an exciting project from woodbrooke and

Quaker Life which aims to nurture and support those who are new to Friends through the provision

of flexible learning materials and support from ‘companions’ in local meetings. For more information,

go to www.woodbrooke.org.uk/becomingfriends or email [email protected].

Please provide a letter of support from your meeting when booking on the course.




Counting Carbon: a new spiritual path?Friday 6 – Sunday 8 May | 20 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

As a catalyst for self-awareness and change, carbon footprinting can be part of moving towards

spirit-led sustainable living. we will look at the quality of the science and statistics behind footprint

calculations. we will explore moral questions – are we responsible for all the emissions linked to our

lifestyle? How deep are the cuts we should make? And we will ask how the challenges and successes

of personal change inform our relationship with ourselves, our communities and god.

tutor(s): Laurie Michaelis






good Lives.

good Lives


being a Quaker treasurerFriday 6 – Sunday 8 May | 16 places | £246 ensuite | £236 standard





Please note times: Friday 11.00am to 6.00pm: basic book-keeping. those without much experience

need these sessions. if Friday attendance is difficult, these exercises can be done at home

beforehand. sunday 1.45pm to 3.00pm: computer spreadsheets (optional).

tutor(s): Alison gray | tom Heydeman | delia suffling

Course type: Nurturing Friends and Meetings | training for Quaker roles


Quaker Fellowship in Christ Annual gatheringTuesday 10 – Thursday 12 May

An open event run at woodbrooke by the Quaker Fellowship in Christ (previously called Christian Quakerrenewal Fellowship)

For those seeking a closer connection with Jesus as central to our understanding of Quaker faith. we

will include participatory and reflective activities, exploring in a transforming way opportunities for

enriching and encouraging each other as we listen, laugh, pray and worship together. Newcomers

will find welcoming fellowship. sessions will be facilitated by timothy Peat Ashworth, woodbrooke’s

own tutor in biblical studies.

bookings and further information: Please contact Phil Petty 01536 523013 or email [email protected]


Course delivery: Participatory | inner experience

the Art of Awareness: the spiritual teaching of Anthony de MelloFriday 13 – Sunday 15 May | 12 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

“only look and someday you will see…” this is the challenge of Anthony de Mello, a Jesuit priest from

india, a master of storytelling from different traditions, to ’wake us up’. “there was a little fish in the

sea and someone said to the fish, ‘oh how vast the ocean is. it is huge and marvellous’. And the fish

replied, ‘where’s the ocean?’”. we shall explore some of Anthony de Mello’s work and contemplative

exercises to help increase our awareness.

tutor(s): Mark scholefield

Course type: Adventurous Living | spirituality and Personal growth

Course delivery: inner experience

31

Prices includeextra book-keeping sessionon Friday. Pricewithout book-keeping: £194ensuite, £184standard. dinner,b&b availablethursday nightif required.


good Lives

MAY 201132

being a Quaker ClerkMonday 16 – Wednesday 18 May | 20 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard


experience of Quaker clerking. we will spend some time considering why we use a particular business

style in our meetings and how this has evolved over the centuries. Alongside this there will be practical

sessions including planning agendas, making minutes, keeping records and the discipline of the meeting.

Participants will learn from each other as well as from the leaders.

tutor(s): Judith roads | gillian waddilove

Course type: Quaker and Christian traditions | training for Quaker roles


spiritual FriendshipThursday 19 – Sunday 22 May | 12 places | £239 ensuite | £226 standard

this course explores a gift of friendship that supports each other in ‘that which is eternal’. we will

practice essential listening and sharing skills, in small groups and our larger course group. we use

a model of peer-based friendship in a small group, with shared leadership, participatory inquiry and

experiential reflective activities. this course offers you the opportunity to help create and experience

spiritual friendship and learn skills to take back to your own community and friendships.

tutor(s): Joycelin dawes

Course type: spirituality and Personal growth | Nurturing Friends and Meetings


the Pathless wood: an Appleseed courseSaturday 21 – Thursday 26 May | 16 places | £350 ensuite | £331 standard

this is for beginners as well as those who have done Appleseed before. Please note that this course begins at 4.30pm

woods are places of transformation where we can get lost – and find ourselves. they can give a sense

of escape and safety, but also of fear and challenge. the variety and seasonal changes in woods and

trees, as well as their mythology, speak to us of the life of the spirit. this theme will be explored through

talks followed by simple arts-based response activities and worship sharing. there will also be an

ongoing arts activity and a Quiet day.

tutor(s): Chris Cook | brenda Heales



thomas kelly: testimony of a lifeTuesday 24 – Thursday 26 May | 12 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

exploring the life and writings of 20th-century American Quaker thomas kelly will provide an opening

to self-reflection on the presence and relevance of the Quaker testimonies in our own lives. the course

balances study and personal spiritual experience as we engage with the outward manifestations

(testimonies) of the inward transforming work of the spirit, in kelly’s writings and in our lives. Participants

should come open to sharing from their own experiences, as well as learning from one another.

tutor(s): deborah shaw



Anyone attendingthis course is

entitled to a £20discount on the

course ‘sinkdown to the seed:

deepening ourlife in the spirit’

(27–29 May).

‘sink down to the seed’: deepening our life in the spiritFriday 27 – Sunday 29 May | 12 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

Centred listening, prayerful noticing and devotional readings reflective of Quaker faith and practice

will guide us as we seek ways to respond to the invitation for deeper relationship with the spirit.

worship, corporate and individual reflection, journal writing and sharing will enrich our experience

together. As we become “aware of the spirit of god at work in the ordinary activities and experience

of (y)our daily life,” we also increase our ability to “find the inward source of our strength”.

tutor(s): deborah shaw | ben Pink dandelion



Midwives of the spirit: accompaniment, nurture and disciplinethrough eldershipFriday 27 – Monday 30 May | 24 places | £239 ensuite | £226 standard

the core quality that elders have always brought to meetings has been a deep connection with,

and grounding in, the spirit underpinning the life and worship of Quaker communities. grounded

in worship and drawing from the experience of participants and facilitators we will explore how

eldership can be reclaimed and revitalised through accompaniment, nurture and discipline. the

course is designed for Friends with experience of eldership or for whom nurture of the spiritual

life of meetings is a particular concern.

tutor(s): elaine emily | Jenny routledge



who was Jesus?Friday 27 – Monday 30 May | 20 places | £239 ensuite | £226 standard

How did Jesus the man become a divine figure? How was he seen in his own lifetime? even within

the bible there is substantial evidence of debate among the first Christians about Jesus. so the

challenges of painting an accurate picture today are obvious. drawing on the range of recent

scholarship, david boulton and timothy Peat Ashworth investigate Jesus from contrasting positions

but both find the quest fascinating and worthwhile. Join them for four days of shared discovery

and discussion.

tutor(s): david boulton | timothy Peat Ashworth



33

£20 discount foranyone whoattended ‘thomaskelly: testimony toa life’ (24–26 May).

JUNE 201134

June 2011Jewish Mysticism and kabbalah: a short introductionFriday 3 – Sunday 5 June | 18 places | £194 ensuite | £184 standard

this course will offer participants the opportunity to dip their toes into the sea of Jewish mysticism:

to look at some key texts from the mystical tradition, learn something of the history of this approach

to the divine, and experience some of the practices from the tradition that enhance personal spiritual

reflectiveness. we will look too at how aspects of the kabbalah – the word means ‘tradition’ – offer

an opportunity for developing personal spirituality both within and outside traditional religious

frameworks.

tutor(s): rabbi Howard Cooper | Andy stoller



Moving into Membership: a friendly approachFriday 3 – Sunday 5 June | 18 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

Are you thinking of applying for membership of the religious society of Friends? if so, this course is

designed to assist you in this process by providing practical information, space for discernment and

a chance to share with others in similar circumstances. Friendly and interactive sessions will give

you the opportunity to consider what membership means, what responsibilities it brings, the

membership application process and where all this fits into your spiritual journey.

tutor(s): Helen rowlands and stuart Masters



Listen adventurously: learn from others,give freelyMonday 6 – Wednesday 8 June | 20 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

How can we delight in the gifts of Quaker differences? is there a

common ground of religious experience beneath the diverse words

in which we describe our faith? our learning will grow from the

experience of participants, through worship, listening to one another,

reading, discussion and personal reflection. some may also choose

to explore writing, music, art and other creative activities. the course

is for those looking beyond their local meeting, increasing their

understanding of the wealth of Friends’ spiritual insights.

tutor(s): elizabeth duke | Anne Hosking



book threefriendly




being a Quaker Parent: joys and dilemmasFriday 10 – Sunday 12 June | 16 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

‘Learning how to be an effective parent goes on and on, a learning which for me has been very

revealing and given me insights…’ Quaker faith and practice 22.64. time and space for parents of

under-18s to reflect on being a Quaker and a parent, finding ways that our faith and Friends can

help. A mix of group discussion and creative activities celebrating joys and exploring dilemmas

in supporting our next generation in walking cheerfully through the 21st century.

tutor(s): Helen Chambers | Chris Holmquist



good Lives – because we belong to the earthFriday 10 – Sunday 12 June | 20 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

this weekend offers an exploration of ecopsychology, and how we are all still fully part of the

earth, our only home, out of which we evolved. we will explore our relationships with the larger

natural world, and with ourselves as part of that world. How can we experience and nurture

these relationships, allowing them to shape our desires, intentions and behaviours? How can we

strengthen our sense of ‘inter-being’ with a tapestry of life which can sometimes seem remote?

tutor(s): Pam Lunn | sandra white

Course type: Adventurous Living | green spirituality and the Natural world


soulcraft for MenFriday 10 – Sunday 12 June | 15 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

A weekend for men to share perspectives on childhood, fathering and preparation for death. through

creative exercises, journaling and sharing circles we will explore our soulcraft, emotional intelligence

and sense of spiritual adventure as males. we hope to encourage men to: own and articulate their

feelings; allow their vulnerability; celebrate the male archetypes of warrior, king, shaman and Lover

of Life; help men prepare as fathers, godfathers and grandfathers.

tutor(s): Peter Fishpool


Course delivery: retreat | Participatory

35

For parents bringingchildren, a freecarer’s place isavailable (we arenot running aseparate children’sprogramme duringthe weekend.)Children: under 2years no charge;2–12 years 50%discount; 13–17years 25% discount.


good Lives

JUNE 201136

being a Quaker trusteeMonday 13 – Wednesday 15 June | 15 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

Particularly suitable for new and less experienced trustees; may also be of interest to anyone wanting a refresher

we will be factual and practical. what does the law require? what is considered good practice for

charities? How does it all fit with Quaker good practice? How do trustees, area and local meetings

relate to each other? How can trustees best serve our meetings? we aim to provide easy-to-

understand information and enjoyable learning, to make trusteeship approachable and rewarding.

tutor(s): Virginia Pawlyn | deborah rowlands



Playing and Praying with the Light: a photography retreatMonday 13 – Friday 17 June | 12 places | £294 ensuite | £278 standard

explore the beautiful grounds of woodbrooke in meditative and playful ways through the lens of

your digital camera. we will find wordless expression for personal prayer as we encounter images

that reflect our responses to the natural world and its place in our spirituality. there will be an

opportunity to create a visual poem by putting together a slide-show of your images.

tutor(s): Jasmine Piercy


Course delivery: retreat | Art/Creative

the Case for god: a Quaker discussionMonday 13 – Friday 17 June | 20 places | £294 ensuite | £278 standard

karen Armstrong has gained an impressive reputation for a series of substantial works on religion.

in this event, we will take as our starting point her book, The Case for God: what religion really

means. invited speakers representing a range of Quaker views will engage with her ideas.

Participants will be expected to have read the book and to come prepared for lively conversation.

tutor(s): timothy Peat Ashworth | rachel Muers | david boulton | Alex wildwood | Harvey gillman



sustainable MedicineFriday 17 – Sunday 19 June | 16 places | £189 ensuite | £179 standard

For anyone interested in reducing their reliance on medicines from large pharmaceutical companies.

we face great environmental and economic challenges, and this course looks at sustainable,

alternative sources of medication. Cultivated and wild plants can provide some safe and effective

remedies for common illnesses. using woodbrooke’s herb garden and woodland, the course will

cover the identification, cultivation, appropriate harvesting, preparation and actions of a range of

plants that can give an equivalent benefit to many over-the-counter treatments from pharmacies.

tutor(s): Nicola Peterson (MNiMH)

Course type: green spirituality and the Natural world





good Lives.

good Lives

Quaker discernment: a friendly introductionFriday 17 – Sunday 19 June | 18 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

when Friends say they are led by the spirit or they are seeking god’s guidance just what do they

mean? How do Friends make personal and group decisions? this participatory course will provide

an introduction to different tools for discernment used by Friends at both individual and corporate

levels. there will be a chance to make use of some of these tools and to gain familiarity with ways

of practicing discernment.

tutor(s): Lizz roe



doing Conflict betterFriday 17 – Sunday 19 June | 18 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

why and how would we want to do conflict better? especially if we place a high value on

peacefulness? this will be a lively and interactive course to try and answer these questions together.

‘why’ will draw inspiration from both Quaker and wider sources, and ‘how’ from the creativeness of

the participants. both leaders have wide experience of engaging with conflict, both among Quakers

and in the wider world; the course is for anyone who wants to do conflict better!

tutor(s): susan robson | Paul whitehouse

Course type: Adventurous Living | Nurturing Friends and Meetings


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book threefriendlyintroductioncourses within 12months and getthe third half price.


JUNE 201138

Playing with Prayer: using the Myers-briggs type indicator todeepen the spiritual lifeMonday 20 – Thursday 23 June | 15 places | £249 ensuite | £236 standard

the Myers-briggs type indicator helps us understand our own and others’ preferred ways of being

and doing. those new to Mbti are welcome as there will be the opportunity to take the indicator as

part of the course. in the light of that knowledge we will experience contemplative and meditative

practices from the Christian and buddhist traditions. through silence and discussion, stillness and

movement, rest and play, we will discover where the ‘juice’ is for us and follow that!

tutor(s): Caroline Jones



Creating Quaker gardens: greening the worshipping communityMonday 20 – Thursday 23 June | 20 places | £239 ensuite | £226 standard

For Friends wanting to develop, renovate or redesign their meeting house gardens, yards, forecourts

or burial grounds. we will explore how to make more of our outdoor spaces: the opportunities they

provide for spiritual nurture, building community, outreach and practical amenity, and for expressing

our witness to care of the earth. the course includes space for reflection and discussion as well as

practical and creative activities, both indoors and outside in the glorious gardens of woodbrooke.

No experience necessary.

tutor(s): Zélie gross | deb Arrowsmith

Course type: green spirituality and the Natural world | Nurturing Friends and Meetings


Family-Friendly weekendthis is a family-friendly weekend at woodbrooke. A children’s programme will run alongside two

courses for adults. there are 15 places available for children between the ages of 2 and 13 years.

the fee for the children’s programme is £90 per participant.

time to Listen, space to growFriday 24 – Sunday 26 June | 16 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

the valuing of each individual’s spiritual journey is at the heart of this weekend and participants

will have the opportunity to affirm and widen their own distinctive experiences. topics will include:

Listening, Praying/dialogue, Human being/spiritual being. we will use silence, different kinds of

prayer (in its broadest sense) and the Quaker method of ‘creative listening’ with thought-provoking

questions. rather than learning through formal teaching, participants will be encouraged to ponder

their spiritual journey in small, facilitated groups.

tutor(s): Frances Henley Lock | Mary watson






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Quakers and transition: a weekend for Friends involved in localtransition initiativesFriday 24 – Sunday 26 June | 38 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

if you are already engaged, or just starting to get involved, in transition activity (or other similar

low-carbon communities), this weekend is for you. Come as an individual, or come representing

your meeting’s involvement. we aim to share and learn from each other’s experiences, and look at

what Friends can both contribute to, and learn from, collaborative work in our local communities.

is there something unique that Friends can bring, from our processes and testimonies?

tutor(s): Pam Lunn | gordon Matthews | Catrina Pickering | Jasmine Piercy | sunniva taylor



three Forgotten FriendsMonday 27 – Wednesday 29 June | 6 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

this course will introduce you to three almost forgotten Friends from the 17th to 20th century

who made significant contributions to Quaker thought or practical witness. you will also have

time and guidance in using the rich resources of woodbrooke’s library to rediscover your own

forgotten Friend.

tutor(s): John Lampen



spinning yarnsMonday 27 June – Friday 1 July | 12 places | £299 ensuite | £283 standard

A creative course to share and explore the use of fibres – wool, silks, cotton, bamboo and flax –

and to develop projects in collage, felt-making, rag-rugging and natural dyes. wheels and all

materials are provided.

tutor(s): Jenni simmons

Course type: Creative Arts and spirituality

Course delivery: Art/Creative | Participatory

Life in the seed: isaac Penington’s spiritual journey and counselTuesday 28 – Thursday 30 June | 20 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

isaac Penington is perhaps the most eloquent Quaker writer of spiritual counsel. How did he come

to such clarity? we will follow his journey from radical Puritan to seeker, near-ranter and Quaker.

His struggle with the intellect yields important insights for many today. seed imagery articulated

Penington’s breakthrough to a sub-rational awareness. we will examine the biblical roots of his

seed language, and explore its resonances with our own experience.

tutor(s): doug gwyn



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JULY 201140

July 2011‘that your joy may be complete’ (John 16:24): following theleadings of ChristFriday 1 – Sunday 3 July | 30 places

An open event run at woodbrooke by the New Foundation Fellowship

we shall explore the theme together, with presentations and discussion. what does joy mean

to us? How does following Jesus complete our joy? the weekend is open to all, and provides an

opportunity to share in worship, fellowship, nurture and bible study ministry with other Friends for

whom our Christian roots are important. Newcomers will get to know the work and message of the

New Foundation Fellowship.

bookings and further information: Please contact sarah eilbeck on 01452 423442 or email [email protected]



intuition and inner sparkle: a creative retreat for womenFriday 1 – Sunday 3 July | 12 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

working together in a secluded space, using humour and art as ‘research and experiment’, we

will explore and develop impulses towards inner vitality and purpose. Letting our hands work

wildly whilst focusing on our hearts as ‘burning coals shedding sparks’ each participant will open

up to their intuition and shape their purpose, using a range of media and movement. No experience

of art is needed; this workshop will be particularly suitable for women who do not see themselves

as ‘creative’.

tutor(s): Vivien whitaker



Faith for the Future: searching for a sustainable Quaker theologyMonday 4 – Wednesday 6 July | 15 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

Fears for the future of humanity and of earth make us re-examine our ultimate values – what we

care most about, what truly motivates us, and what is really worth saving for future generations.

How do we deal with both our power and our helplessness, and what language can we use about

this? we will share experiences, read and reflect on Quaker and other writings, and seek to discover

what Quakers can say to the spiritual questions raised by environmental crises.

tutor(s): rachel Muers

Course type: green spirituality and the Natural world | Quaker and Christian traditions





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‘to solve the riddle of the universe’: a course on the poetry ofs.t. ColeridgeMonday 4 – Thursday 7 July | 15 places | £244 ensuite | £231 standard

Coleridge famously said that the poet is made “to solve the riddle of the universe”. if ‘solving’ means

waking up to our profoundest feelings, and to the human conditions of joy, depression, despair and

freedom with the ‘shaping spirit of imagination’, in exploring his poetry we shall indeed address the

riddle. we shall read his magnificent major poems and extracts from his prose writings. As well as

finding much pleasure, we may also rediscover our own freedom and imagination.

tutor(s): barbara Vellacott



time set Aside: an individually guided silent retreatMonday 4 – Friday 8 July | 6 places | £350 ensuite | £331 standard

For this new development at woodbrooke, six participants will join timothy Peat Ashworth in a

silent retreat which will utilise a designated area in Holland House, away from the busyness of the

main woodbrooke building. Participants will be able to join woodbrooke’s Meeting for worship and

epilogue but will otherwise enjoy a quiet space for prayer and reflection. Meals will be in Holland

House and mostly in silence. each day will include one short talk and one-to-one time with tim.

tutor(s): timothy Peat Ashworth



A Century of Peace Making: the shape of our future witnessTuesday 5 – Thursday 7 July | 20 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

british Quakers found themselves full citizens of the state at the end of the nineteenth century and

enjoyed their new status, yet found this cosy relationship ruptured by the approach of european

war and the introduction of conscription in 1916. since then british Friends have ‘swum upstream’

as pacifists and peace-makers. this course surveys a century of peace-making and asks what shapes

our witness and how it might evolve in the future. A course for activists and historians.

tutor(s): brian Phillips | ben Pink dandelion

Course type: Adventurous Living | Quaker and Christian traditions


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JULY 201142

Plant Portraits in watercolourFriday 8 – Monday 11 July | 12 places | £249 ensuite | £236 standard

this course is for anyone with a love of plants who wishes to capture their beauty with

watercolour and is suitable for beginners and experienced painters alike. there will be a guided

tour of woodbrooke’s wonderful garden, where there will be plenty of plant material for you to

choose to paint. Painting demonstrations and supervised drawing and painting sessions will enable

students to complete a finished plant portrait to take home with them at the end of the course.

tutor(s): Jeni Neale

Course type: Creative Arts and spirituality


discover and enjoy your VoiceFriday 8 – Sunday 10 July | 15 places | £239 ensuite | £226 standard

A joyful course for anyone who loves singing, or even just the idea of singing. our voices are

unique vehicles of personal expression, and this course aims to help you realise your vocal potential,

learning something of the way your voice works, and starting to develop it. we shall work with

exercises on tone production, breath control, tuning and diction, with the emphasis on fun and

discovery. then we shall enjoy singing in harmony, with rounds and part songs.

tutor(s): kate eckersley



the world in your walletFriday 8 – Sunday 10 July | 15 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

every penny we earn or spend makes a statement about our values and beliefs. this course will

provide a framework to help you invest in exploring different ways of relating to your money, which

could lead to changes in the way you, your meeting and/or other groups you are part of choose to

use it. we will offer opportunities to work individually and also to explore spiritual, ethical and

practical issues with the group. we will not give any financial advice.

tutor(s): Linda batten | Jennie Levin



garden retreat dayMonday 11 July | 12 places | £63

this is one of three woodbrooke garden retreat days with themed input. echoing what we

encounter in a garden these themes will include spiritual growth, change, abundance, awe, wonder,

and challenges in our lives. there will be space and time to reflect on and experience the diverse

woodbrooke garden and an opportunity to simply be. the day will run from 10am until 4pm.

tutor(s): steve Lock | Frances Henley Lock | others from the Quiet garden Movement

Course type: spirituality and Personal growth | green spirituality and the Natural world


Apocalypse Now? exploring the book of revelationFriday 15 – Sunday 17 July | 12 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

The Book of Revelation has puzzled even some of the greatest figures of Christian history. yet it

has also proved inspirational to marginal and radical groups throughout the centuries, Quakers

among them. this weekend will explore some trends in recent interpretation of revelation, and

enable participants to grapple with selected passages from the book. the overall aim is to chart

a course through revelation’s sometimes bewildering imagery, and consider ways in which it

might speak to the contemporary world.

tutor(s): ian boxall



dance for Joy: a weekend of circle dancingFriday 15 – Sunday 17 July | 18 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

if you enjoy moving to music, then this is the weekend for you. we will dance to a wide variety of

music and in different styles, some lively, some more meditative. Circle dance enhances our sense

of community, of wholeness and of harmony, drawing as it does on the diverse heritage of traditional

cultures from around the world. experienced and less experienced dancers are welcome. our

sunday morning session will incorporate a Meeting for worship.

tutor(s): sandie wade



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keeping on track: an intermediate course for treasurersFriday 15 – Sunday 17 July | 16 places | £246 ensuite | £236 standard

A refresher for Quaker treasurers in post who wish to confirm their knowledge, understanding,

confidence and practice. An opportunity to revisit the practicalities of end of year work, and the

reassurance of looking at your own accounts with a tutor. there will be discussion on financial

controls, sorP requirements and a chance to practice some presentation skills.

Please note times: Friday 11.00am to 6.00pm: refresher session (optional) revisiting practical

exercises on preparing annual accounts. sunday 1.45pm to 3.00pm: computer spreadsheets

(optional).

tutor(s): this course will be led by members of the treasurers’ training team



t’ai Chi: in your spiritual journeyThursday 21 – Sunday 24 July | 12 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

An exploration of gerda geddes’s ideas of the t’ai Chi form as an allegorical journey through life

from birth to death with significant moments of transition and challenge. As it is mainly practical

you will need to have had some experience of t’ai Chi in order to be able to follow the teaching

of the form. each session will include the significance of the form to life’s journey.

tutor(s): Janet wilks

Course type: spirituality and Personal growth | Friends and other Faiths





thursday night ifrequired.

NAMAste: dances of universal PeaceFriday 22 – Sunday 24 July | 30 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

“i honour the place within you where, when you are in that place in you, and i am in that place in

me, there is only one of us.” this sanskrit blessing describes perfectly the aim of this heart-centred

and embodied retreat which will honour and celebrate our connection to others, nature and the

sacred through ‘dances of universal Peace’ which use simple steps with devotional gestures danced

in a circle, while singing sacred phrases from different spiritual traditions.

tutor(s): glenda Huggons | trevor Huggons



the ‘drunken and depraved’: Quakers, prisoners and reform in 18thand 19th centuriesFriday 22 – Sunday 24 July | 15 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

As the title suggests, attitudes to prisoners and punishment in this period were brutal and the course

will examine the role of Quaker reformers of the time. why did Friends become involved in this work?

what were the circumstances which engendered such cruelty and the attitudes which supported it?

How well did Quakers understand the lives of the prisoners they encountered? the course will seek

to answer these questions through the examination of writings, documents and the experiences

of prisoners.

tutor(s): Jenny Paull



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woodbrooke at yearly Meeting gatheringWoodbrooke will be at Yearly Meeting Gathering in Canterbury Saturday 30 July to Saturday

6 August. Look out for us there.

August 2011the Literature of slavery and AbolitionFriday 12 – Sunday 14 August | 15 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

one way to better understand the world in which human beings were bought and sold as slaves is

to read the literature written at the time. we will explore poems, stories and true accounts written by

slaves, slave-owners and abolitionists from the seventeenth to the nineteenth centuries, both Quaker

and non-Quaker. we will also look at the way both those who argued for slavery and those who

argued against it used scriptural sources to support their case.

tutor(s): betty Hagglund

Course type: Quaker and Christian traditions | Creative Arts and spirituality


the great work and Quaker testimonyFriday 12 – Sunday 14 August | 20 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

thomas berry – priest, theologian, cosmologist – calls us to a reverential ecology. He speaks of

the earth community (all species) as ‘a communion of subjects’, not a ‘collection of objects’: the

‘great work’ of our time is to bring the human species back into benign relationship with the earth

community. together, we will explore what our own Quaker testimony, and learning from other

“wisdom traditions”, have to teach us about this mighty endeavour.

tutor(s): Cliodhna Mulhern

Course type: green spirituality and the Natural world | spirituality and Personal growth


summer Pathways: delighting in differenceFriday 12 – Sunday 14 August | 15 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

the Quaker testimony to equality is not about everyone being the same; it is a celebration of the

uniqueness of each of us. but our differences bring challenges in our dealings with others, both in

our families and meetings and in the wider world. Making use of the richness of woodbrooke’s

splendid garden and drawing on insights from the Myers-briggs type indicator and the enneagram,

we will explore difference in ways that are both creative and practical.

tutor(s): gillian stewart | Heather brown

Course type: spirituality and Personal growth | Nurturing Friends and Meetings


Journeys to the Centre: spiritual exploration through movementTuesday 16 – Thursday 18 August | 18 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

we will combine two proven approaches to deepening spirituality through movement: the labyrinth

and the Chantraine dance of expression. the ancient image of the labyrinth appears across the

world. its single, convoluted path to the centre provides a reflective walking meditation. we will use

an indoors and outsdoors labyrinth. Chantraine dance is accessible to all: it is dance for the harmony

of the whole person, uniting physical and spiritual aspects of movement. No prior experience of

dance is necessary.

tutor(s): kate green | Jan sellers



garden retreat dayWednesday 17 August | 12 places | £63








experiencing the taoFriday 19 – Sunday 21 August | 12 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

explore various aspects of the tao and how they might be relevant in your life. each session

will address one aspect of the tao and include time for practical work and discussion. throughout

there will be reference to the basic tenets of taoism: Qi as a universal force; yin & yang; balance;

mutual interdependence and so on. one session will be practical t’ai Chi but be prepared to move

in all of them.

tutor(s): Janet wilks



Quaker Families and the development of birminghamFriday 19 – Sunday 21 August | 16 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

the course explores the impact of Quaker individuals and families on birmingham’s life, including

the local tradition of humanitarian activism. we will follow a Quaker trail in the city centre, visit bull

street Meeting House and birmingham Archives and Heritage to see sources relating to Quaker

history, including those of the Cadbury and galton families. there will also be a discussion of the

1943 film on urban regeneration, ‘when we build Again’, produced by the bournville Village trust.

tutor(s): Malcolm dick | ian Jackson



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Journalling with JungFriday 19 – Sunday 21 August | 16 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

this course is for anyone interested in Jung or journalling or both. we will use aspects of Jung’s life

and work to help us to connect with our own spiritual and creative processes, which we shall then

explore in greater depth through our journal writing. No prior knowledge of Jungian psychology or

journalling techniques is required. All you need to bring (apart from pen and paper) is an attitude of

openness and a willingness to be surprised.

tutor(s): John knowles



Joy FoolFriday 19 – Wednesday 24 August | 12 places | £334 ensuite | £318 standard

Fools are simple innocents into whom the spirit divine can easily enter. An energising combination

of clowning, play, movement, song, meditation and stillness, allows the fool to gradually awaken in

all those willing to journey beyond the comfortable. working with the voice and body can be both

pleasurable and healing in a sensitive and kind atmosphere. Clowning beautifully teaches the

freedom to be real, free and trusting.

tutor(s): Angela Halvorsen bogo (née knowles)



seeking wisdom in the garden: a contemplative working retreatTuesday 23 – Friday 26 August | 15 places | £239 ensuite | £226 standard

this retreat offers an opportunity to take time to be, and use all our senses, in woodbrooke’s diverse

garden. using the garden as a parallel of growth in our own lives, through silence, outdoor activities,

questions and sharing in small groups, we will seek to explore with wisdom/god/energy/other that

which helps us grow as individuals, neighbours and sharers of this world.

tutor(s): stephen Lock | Frances Henley Lock



A watching brief: the poetry of uA FanthorpeFriday 26 – Sunday 28 August | 14 places | £199 ensuite | £189 standard

this course offers the pleasure of a whole weekend spent roaming the many-faceted poetic world

of the late, great uA Fanthorpe. we will explore some of the major themes in her work and learn

more about her attitudes to life and faith. Participants will have the opportunity to gain insights into

Fanthorpe’s vision from rosie bailey, her partner for over 40 years.

tutor(s): stevie krayer | rosie bailey






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Jung and soul and spiritFriday 26 – Monday 29 August | 16 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

this course will present ideas and facilitate experiences which will give participants a feeling for

Jung’s concept of soul and spirit (in particular the anima and animus). we will also include post-

Jungian interpretations because this is one of the most contested areas of Jung’s work. the weekend

will include experiential participation, for example in dream work and fairy tale enactment as a

balance to lectures and more formal input.

tutor(s): Nancy krieger | Angela Cotter



to be broken and tender: a Quaker theology for todayTuesday 30 August – Friday 2 September | 18 places | £239 ensuite | £226 standard

waiting in the silence can change us. Listening to others and being listened to can help us live out a

vision of a just, compassionate world. Listening can break down barriers that keep us from god and

make us more tender to motions of the spirit. we will explore what we encounter when our hearts

are tuned to that which is eternal, and what it means to take up the cross daily and live in god’s New

Creation now.

tutor(s): Marge Abbott | beth Allen



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september 2011restorative JusticeFriday 2 – Sunday 4 September | 16 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

restorative justice has received recent media attention as an alternative to the destructive effects

of punishment. what does it mean and how does it work? through a combination of input and

participation, this event considers the different elements of restorative justice and the ways in

which it can contribute to building a just and peaceful society.

tutor(s): Marian Liebmann with other tutors working in the field



who Am i?: rs thomas’s search for a personal identityFriday 2 – Sunday 4 September | 10 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

r.s.thomas’s poetry has been described as possibly one of the great literary voyages of self-

discovery. this will be a chance to explore aspects of the poet-priest’s human journey and search

for god. An introductory and user-friendly course for those who enjoy poetry, particularly that of

spiritual quest, and who value the insights it can bring into their own process and journey. Copies

of sections of rs thomas’s works will be provided.

tutor(s): barbara Prys-williams



reclaiming Quaker LightFriday 9 – Sunday 11 September | 16 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

the Quaker tradition is full of wonderful spiritual advice and support. we are also open to new light

but it’s valuable to look back on our sources to provide a shared experience, a shared language, a

shared way of expressing our ministry. together we’ll examine the writings of some of our Quaker

“ancestors” – texts which already contain proven ways of stilling and opening our minds. related

exercises will extend participants’ own experience of spiritual quietness, thus letting the Light shine.

tutor(s): estella Lovett | eleanor Jackson






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working with Conflict: a course for elders, overseers and clerksFriday 9 – Sunday 11 September | 18 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

Conflict may arise in many different situations. we will be begin by illustrating the cycle of harmony

and discord that is a familiar experience in many Quaker meetings and see how difficulties can

be resolved in different ways. we go on to explore what we value and what upsets us. we will try

reframing negative feelings and other useful ways of restoring harmony. Although conflict can

be deeply painful, it can also be the means for growth and development.

tutor(s): roger Cullen | Marion wells-bruges



dietrich bonhoeffer: doing the right thing in a world gone wrongFriday 9 – Sunday 11 September | 15 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

He was a pastor, a theologian, a pacifist and an anti-Nazi conspirator. How does dietrich bonhoeffer’s

life and work challenge and inspire us today? what should discipleship, ethics and our life together

look like in a world gone wrong? what do we do when it’s not possible to do the ‘right thing’;

separate ourselves from evil and maintain our purity or get our hands dirty and accept the guilt?

what does all this tell us about the nature of god?

tutor(s): rachel Muers | stuart Masters

Course type: Quaker and Christian traditions | Adventurous Living


Mindfully together: a retreat guided by the teachings ofthich Nhat HanhMonday 12 – Friday 16 September | 45 places | £294 ensuite | £278 standard

in partnership with the Community of interbeing

the buddhist practice of thich Nhat Hanh can be used by anyone, of whatever faith. this retreat,

which follows the pattern of his community at Plum Village in France, involves discovering together

how the practice of mindfulness of the present moment can bring peace and happiness. while the

practice is accessible and guidance will be given to those with little or no experience, it is not without

demand. silence will be encouraged. Food will be vegetarian.

tutor(s): Monks or nuns from Plum Village have been invited to lead this retreat | timothy Peat Ashworth |

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SEPTEMBER 201152

Quakers and Pagans: recharging our batteries in hard timesFriday 16 – Sunday 18 September | 15 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

the Quaker context, while disciplined and responsible, can be austere. bare walls, still bodies and

silent worship. Long time Quakers, Alison Leonard and kevin redpath, will lead a workshop to

invigorate your Quaker faith by helping you reconnect to the deep nurture and grounding that the

cycle of the seasons and festivals can provide. Ceremony, prayer and sensual experience of the fruits

of the land, at this time of harvest, will be interwoven with our traditional practice of Quaker worship.

tutor(s): Alison Leonard | kevin redpath



being a Quaker trusteeFriday 16 – Sunday 18 September | 20 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

Particularly suitable for new and less experienced trustees; may also be of interest to anyone wanting a refresher

we will be factual and practical. what does the law require? what is considered good practice for

charities? How does it all fit with Quaker good practice? How do trustees, area and local meetings

relate to each other? How can trustees best serve our meetings? we aim to provide easy-to-

understand information and enjoyable learning, to make trusteeship approachable and rewarding.

tutor(s): Virginia Pawlyn | Another member of the trusteeship training team



Prayer: the soul in paraphrase(an Appleseed course)Saturday 17 – Thursday 22 September | 16 places | £350 ensuite | £331 standard

For people with previous Appleseed experience, normally at least one weekendPlease note this course begins at 4.30pm

george Herbert’s Prayer offers unexpected and challenging images

for the practice and experience of prayer. with “the soul in paraphrase”

as our focus, we shall be reflecting on our own practice and experience

of prayer, our own paraphrase, or language, of the soul. we shall also be

seeking wisdom from other faiths and traditions. the Appleseed method,

consisting of talks followed by simple arts activities and (optional) worship

sharing, allows plenty of space for reflection and includes a Quiet day.

tutor(s): Chris Cook | brenda Heales



Life beyond death: a lost part of the Quaker traditionFriday 23 – Sunday 25 September

An open event run at woodbrooke by the Quaker Fellowship for Afterlife studies

early Quakers were powerfully aware of a spiritual world which inspired and sustained them: how

do we interpret this fundamental aspect of our faith today? we will explore past and present Quaker

spiritual/psychic experience, sharing insights and looking at the value of such experience in our lives.

we hope to include members of the Quaker theology and the Quaker death and dying groups.

bookings and further information: Please contact Angela Howard 01371 850423 or email

[email protected]



the time is Now – follow-up to the swarthmore LectureFriday 23 – Sunday 25 September | 25 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

Action on sustainability? “you know you want to, you know you ought to, you feel concerned, you’re

a bit overwhelmed, you hope someone will come up with a solution, you think it might all be a bit

pointless, you’re too tired, you’re incredibly over-committed already…” if any of these sounds like

you, then come to this weekend for some encouragement and nourishment in preparing for an

uncertain future. Come just as yourself, or come representing your meeting.

tutor(s): Pam Lunn | Lizz roe

Course type: green spirituality and the Natural world | Adventurous Living


Quakers to shakers: for a greater increase of LightMonday 26 – Wednesday 28 September | 20 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

the oral tradition of shakers acknowledges that it emerged from Quakers in the bolton-Manchester

area. we will look at the conditions of 18th century Quakerism that might have fostered the growth

of shakers and explore its development, patterns of growth, communal foundations and theology

that made it one of the longest lived communal experiences. the course will also help us explore

our own faith experiences using shaker thought.

tutor(s): thomas swain



Creative Contemplation: prayer, art and meditationWednesday 28 – Friday 30 September | 11 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

the essence of contemplation is a wordless experience. Contemplative prayer takes us out of our

chattering minds and into a place where imagery gives form to our emotions and desires. this

workshop will combine a variety of meditation methods with a range of possibilities for expressive

and responsive art. both will work together to take us to a place of inner peace.

tutor(s): Adam boulter



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garden retreat dayThursday 29 September | 12 places | £63








being a Quaker ClerkFriday 30 September – Sunday 2 October | 18 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard


experience of Quaker clerking. we will spend some time considering why we use a particular

business style in our meetings and how this has evolved over the centuries. Alongside this there

will be practical sessions including planning agendas, making minutes, keeping records and the

discipline of the meeting. Participants will learn from each other as well as from the leaders.

tutor(s): Michael eccles | deborah rowlands



being an elderFriday 30 September – Sunday 2 October | 18 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

For all Friends with eldership responsibilities who would like to cover the basics of the role. why

not come with another Friend from your meeting who is new to eldership? the course aims to help

those responsible for eldership to respond to the core spiritual life and needs of the meeting. there

will be practical ideas and resources, and an opportunity to share experience with others. we hope

everyone will take away more confidence and a better understanding of the role.

tutor(s): barbara Lippitt | Marion wells-bruge



being an overseerFriday 30 September – Sunday 2 October | 18 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

For Friends with oversight responsibilities who would like to cover the basics of the role. why

not come with another Friend from your meeting who is new to oversight? we aim to include

expectations of the role and explore its spiritual basis. we will look at the range of tasks, good

practice, and ways of handling difficult issues. we hope everyone will leave with practical ideas

and resources, more confidence, a better understanding of the role, and some new ways forward.

tutor(s): gilly Charters | Zélie gross



october 2011‘into the actual presence of god’: the letter to the HebrewsTuesday 4 – Thursday 6 October | 16 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

in Hebrews, ideas from greek and Jewish thought get dramatically reshaped in the light of the

experiences of the first Christians. guest speaker stuart Masters will show how early Friends drew

on it regularly, finding their own encounters with the divine confirmed as they read its affirmation of

faith beyond religious forms. its unusual approach enables us to look afresh at some central Christian

themes, in particular, the way Jesus was understood in the time before doctrine became fixed.

tutor(s): timothy Peat Ashworth | stuart Masters



the seasons of my Friendship: a retreat for seasoned FriendsWednesday 5 – Friday 7 October | 15 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

A retreat for Friends who are actively serving in their meetings and feel the need to reconnect with

god to rediscover what brought them to Quakers. we will explore themes of seasons and transitions.

there will be a balance of spoken and silent fellowship. this is an opportunity for introspection,

inspiration and re-orientation. it is time to explore deeper spiritual issues around service to Quaker

meetings and to find ways for continuing nurture and nourishment.

tutor(s): Julia ryberg



55

OCTOBER 201156




good Lives.

good Lives

Quakers and Politics: the pursuit of a just society(seeker Movement Conference)Friday 7 – Sunday 9 October

An open event run at woodbrooke by the seeker Movement

this year’s Annual Conference will focus on the political involvement of Quakers in pursuit

of a just society. we will explore the leadings of the spirit in the testimonies of early Friends.

bookings and further information: Please contact Judith Hedges 01758 760 527 or e-mail

[email protected]

Course type: spirituality and Personal growth | Adventurous Living

Course delivery: Conference | seminar/subject based

the spirit of LukeMonday 10 – Wednesday 12 October | 15 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

the author of Luke claims to be an historian but his gospel is also a reflection on the nature of the

good news for all the nations. we look at the major themes of the gospel, what it says about poverty

and wealth, how it reaches out to ‘the lost’. we consider its teaching on prayer and look at how the

author presents the activity of the Holy spirit. Finally we think about the implications of this gospel

for Friends today.

tutor(s): Janet scott



thinking Non-ViolentlyMonday 10 – Wednesday 12 October | 20 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

Most of us try to avoid violent actions and language, but are still conscious of the seeds of violence

in some of our thoughts and attitudes. this course offers the chance to work together in gentle and

practical ways to think, speak and act in a more peaceful spirit; gain insight into the personal roots

of violence; and learn ways to function more peacefully and develop relationships free from

destructive thoughts.

tutor(s): John Lampen | diana Lampen | georgeanne Lamont




Quaker Prison Chaplains training CourseThursday 13 – Friday 14 October | 10 places | £92 ensuite | £87 standard

in partnership with Quaker Peace and social witness. starts thursday 6.30pm and ends Friday 4pm before QuakerPrison Chaplains weekend conference

this is a training event for Quaker prison chaplains who will be sent more information directly.

tutor(s): Led by two experienced Quaker prison chaplains

Course type: training for Quaker roles


good Lives – because we need to walk humbly as well as cheerfullyFriday 14 – Sunday 16 October | 20 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

How do you sustain yourself spiritually, day to day, when life is testing? How do you start to

strengthen and nurture your spiritual life now? Facing tumultuous times, how do we make ready for

the moment when life demands something extra from us? this course is a space to reflect on, and

draw inspiration from, our distinctive Quaker spirituality, and from the experience of other spiritual

activists; and to discern what our Quaker values are calling forth from us.

tutor(s): Pam Lunn | Cliodhna Mulhern



Financial stewardship for trustees and treasurersMonday 17 – Tuesday 18 October | 16 places | £92 ensuite | £87 standard

A new 24-hour course, responding to the needs of area meeting trustees and treasurers in

caring responsibly for Quaker assets. we will consider good practice in writing and presenting

charitable annual reports and accounts. we will explore how to develop and improve good financial

practice by exploring ethical investment, reserves policies and priorities for spending in your area

meetings. there will be lots of opportunity to share experience and learn from one another as well

as the tutors.

tutor(s): the course will be led by members of the treasurer’s training team



Advices and Queries and the Five Mindfulness trainingsMonday 17 – Thursday 20 October | 15 places | £239 ensuite | £226 standard

“take heed” says the first of the Quaker Advices andQueries and what follows is a short

compendium of Quaker wisdom on how to live. the Five Mindfulness trainings provide similar

direction for the buddhist. Considering these two short texts alongside each other helps clarify and

confirm what makes a good life. Course sessions will examine the spirituality which underlies these

documents and offer a framework for each of us to consider our lives in the light of this guidance.

tutor(s): timothy Peat Ashworth | estella Lovett



57


good Lives


good Lives

OCTOBER 201158

Family-Friendly weekendthis is a family-friendly weekend at woodbrooke. A children’s programme will run alongside two

courses for adults. there are 15 places available for children between the ages of 2 and 13 years.

the fee for the children’s programme is £90 per participant.

Mindfulness Meditation for schools: a course for teachersFriday 21 – Sunday 23 October | 15 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

there is growing interest in the value of mindfulness practice for children in schools. Mindfulness

Meditation has been found to be particularly effective in promoting calmness and enabling children

to understand their emotional responses. it can help to improve behaviour and can increase

the ability to concentrate and focus. this course has been designed to enable teachers to include

mindfulness within their teaching programme. CPd certificates can be provided and the course

fee includes the availability of follow-up consultation.

tutor(s): John Preston


Course delivery: seminar/subject based | inner experience

becoming Friends: a friendly introduction to the Quaker wayFriday 21 – Sunday 23 October | 20 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

Are you new to Friends? would you like to deepen your understanding of the Quaker way? if so

this course is for you. Friendly and interactive sessions will draw on the becoming Friends course

materials to provide a broad overview of contemporary Quakerism. Although this course stands

alone, participants can also use it to launch a more in-depth engagement with the becoming Friends

learning project.

tutor(s): simon best



Quaker studies research Association (QsrA) Annual Conferenceand the george richardson Lecture 2011Saturday 22 October

An open event run at woodbrooke by the QsrA

QsrA is the professional academic association for everyone researching Quakerism and interested

in the findings. the conference theme is ‘Networks’ with papers on this broad topic in history,

theology, sociology, etc. Afterwards at 5pm, the prestigious annual george richardson Lecture is

given by rosemary Moore, author of A Light in their Consciences and expert on early Quakerism.

the Lecture is a free public event and everyone is welcome.

bookings: to attend the conference, please contact ben Pink dandelion at woodbrooke


Course delivery: seminar/subject based | Conference

book threefriendly




Quaker Nominations: exploring good practiceMonday 24 – Wednesday 26 October | 20 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

An event for members of nominations committees in all Quaker settings. How can we root

ourselves in good practices of discernment whilst responding to the particular issues that face us?

Nominations are at the quiet heart of the way we live together as Friends, when we listen faithfully

to the spirit. we will include the practical aspects of being ‘on nominations’. Friends can expect

a renewed insight into the potential of nominations to strengthen meetings and enabling them

to flourish.

tutor(s): brenda rigby | roy stephenson



Quaker testimony: a friendly introductionWednesday 26 – Friday 28 October | 15 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

Peace, simplicity, equality, truth. Have you heard people talking about corporate testimony or

testimonies? do you wonder what they are and what it means to have a testimony? do you know

what makes a testimony a corporate one or when it’s an individual simply being led or acting under

concern? this interactive course will answer every question you’ve asked about testimony and some

you didn’t know you should have!

tutor(s): Maud grainger

Course type: Adventurous Living | Quaker and Christian traditions


59

book threefriendlyintroductioncourses within 12months and getthe third half price.


NOVEMBER 201160

November 2011economic Justice and a sustainable global societyFriday 4 – Sunday 6 November | 60 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

woodbrooke and Quaker Peace and social witness working together. saturday 24th september, 10am – 5pm,Friends House (open to all) and Friday 4 to sunday 6 November, woodbrooke (seminar/workshops – area meetingnominees)

Following the successful Zero growth economy events in 2009, woodbrooke and QPsw are

collaborating again to present another joint programme in 2011. in the Zero growth events, we

looked at the role of our existing economic systems in environmental degradation and climate

change. in this next programme we will broaden our focus to examine the centrality of economics

and economic justice to the achievement of a sustainable peaceful global community. what have

our testimonies to simplicity, equality and peace to say?

the format will follow the same format as 2009. we hope to have some briefing/study notes for

meetings by the middle of the year and there will be a one day conference in september open

to all followed by a residential weekend at woodbrooke for area meeting nominees.

“we can now see that the economic order is not a peripheral concern, but central to the whole

relationship between faith and practice.” david eversley Quaker faith and practice 23.53

details will be sent to meetings or contact: Maud grainger, woodbrooke, 0121 472 5171,

[email protected] or Anne wilkinson, QPsw, Friends House, 020 7663 1062,

[email protected]



diversity Among Friends: testimonyMonday 7 – Wednesday 9 November | 15 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

Liberal silent Friends are a small percentage of worldwide Quakerism today. Most Friends are

evangelical and live in the global south. this course will briefly examine the forces that led to the

separations among Friends in North America and how those divisions shaped Quaker evangelism

and experience in Latin America and Africa. the course will focus primarily on how 21st century

Friends express Quaker religious and social testimonies, contemporary worship practices, and

prospects for building better relationships across the branches.

tutor(s): Mary Lord

Course type: Quaker and Christian traditions | Adventurous Living





good Lives.

good Lives

beyond religion: the revolutionary experiences of Jesus and hisfirst followersMonday 7 – Wednesday 9 November | 20 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

Conflict plays a big part in the life of Jesus. it comes to a head in the temple in Jerusalem. what was

Jesus challenging? was it corruption? or was it something more integral to his vision of god? we

will look carefully at what motivated Jesus and his first followers in a way that does not simply raise

historical questions and we will ask: how does a true following of Jesus relate to religion today?

tutor(s): timothy Peat Ashworth



Anger Management with ArtFriday 11 – Sunday 13 November | 12 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

this course is for anyone who wants to look at anger issues using art materials – those wanting to

look at their own anger, those working with others who are angry, or both. No ability in art is needed,

just a willingness to have a go. we will look at what anger is; whether it is good or bad; at the physical

symptoms of anger; the influence of early family patterns; using relaxation and assertiveness to

manage anger more constructively.

tutor(s): Marian Liebmann



61

NOVEMBER 201162

A Course for safeguarding Co-ordinatorsFriday 11 – Sunday 13 November | 48 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

this weekend for area meeting safeguarding co-ordinators will provide opportunities for learning,

sharing, reflection and mutual support on the task and responsibilities of the co-ordinator. the

intention is to look in depth at this role, and to include theological and spiritual realities of this role.

it will also aim to help participants pass back the essential message and requirements to their area

meeting, showing the importance of safeguarding within our Quaker community.

tutor(s): Michael booth | Carolyn buckeridge | Chris Nickolay



what on earth do we Mean by Prayer?Monday 14 – Wednesday 16 November | 20 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

would you like to explore what prayer or spiritual practice means to you as a Quaker? would you

like to enliven your own prayer life? this event will offer introductions to different approaches to

spiritual practice, including the use of silence and stillness, music, movement, and words, as well as

time for sharing our reflections and experiences, and time alone. we hope to leave feeling spiritually

refreshed and supported, having begun to deepen our own understanding and practice of prayer.




Anyone attendingthis course is entitled

to a £20 discounton the course

‘sacred reading:encountering god in

words’ (21–23January).

QuAker ApproAchesto spirituAL prActice

breath of god: mystery and masteryFriday 18 – Sunday 20 November | 16 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

For many religious traditions, the breath is considered a deeply sacred aspect of our being. we will

explore the spiritual significance of breath in the three Abrahamic religions and in the Vedic (Hindu),

buddhist and taoist paths and also engage in simple practices from each of them, which will involve

breathing awareness, sound and gentle movement. whether seeking direct access to the divine,

personal transformation or enhanced health, the potential to change our life is only a breath away.

tutor(s): glenda Huggons


Course delivery: inner experience

understanding islam and MuslimsFriday 18 – Sunday 20 November | 26 places | £194 ensuite | £184 standard

in partnership with reflection Network

An exceptional opportunity to hear from members of the Muslim community about their faith and

how it forms their lives. this acclaimed course is being offered at woodbrooke for the third time.

the programme will not avoid difficult issues but will also give a taste of the spirituality and cultural

richness of the Muslim tradition in the uk and beyond. if you are struggling to understand the truth

about islam in contrast to distortion and prejudice, this is for you.

tutor(s): Atallah Fitzgibbon | rehanah sadiq | timothy Peat Ashworth | invited speakers

Course type: Friends and other Faiths | Adventurous Living


Quaker theology seminarFriday 18 – Sunday 20 November | 15 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

An open event run at woodbrooke by Quaker theology seminar

the seminar provides a place for Quakers interested in theological questions to share papers and

discuss with each other. it meets twice a year and the topic for this seminar will be decided by the

group meeting in April. For more information contact the Qts Clerk, c/o woodbrooke. Please send

papers to be circulated four weeks before the course.

tutor(s): tbC



63

Cost includes travelto a local mosqueand sufi gathering.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 201164

our Quaker spiritual roots: for elders and overseers inQuaker meetingsTuesday 22 – Thursday 24 November | 20 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

For Friends with responsibility for eldership and oversight, who need to feel more rooted and

confident in Quaker spiritual understandings and practice. direct experience of the spirit, and our

corporate faith and practice as Friends, underpin our meetings and our roles. we will look at some

essentials – what we mean by right ordering, discernment and leadings, some of Friends’ core

religious understandings, leadership, and much more. we hope everyone will gain deeper

understanding, personal strength and tools for strengthening meetings.

tutor(s): Leonora wilson

Course type: Nurturing Friends and Meetings | spirituality and Personal growth


december 2011december sing: a choral singing weekendFriday 2 – Sunday 4 December | 20 places | £188 ensuite | £178 standard

enjoy choral singing? would you like to explore things you might not get from weekly rehearsals or

concert preparation? this weekend will include a mixture of (non-festive!) european music from four

centuries, as well as breathing techniques, listening exercises and bodywork. the emphasis will be

on the experience of singing in four parts – soprano, alto, tenor and bass – without the pressure of

performance, but discovering the fun and confidence of making live music together!

tutor(s): Monica buckland



being Peace: living in the present momentFriday 2 – Sunday 4 December | 20 places | £184 ensuite | £174 standard

whether a beginner or someone experienced in eastern spiritual practice you will taste something

of the deep peace that can be discovered through simple practices of being present and the support

of doing this in a group. guidance will be given on a variety of practices to encourage a sense of

mindfulness. this event is run in partnership with the Community of interbeing, the group who live

by and communicate the teachings of thich Nhat Hanh in the uk.

tutor(s): Murray Corke | Marion Mills dadds



the bible in Art, Music and LiteratureFriday 16 – Sunday 18 December | 15 places | £192 ensuite | £182 standard

the influence of the bible on western culture has been profound, but many people today are not as

familiar with its stories and themes as they might wish to be. this course will explore the ways in which

biblical themes have been used as subjects for art, literature, music and even Hollywood epics. the

weekend will include a guided visit to the barber institute’s art collection. the course is suitable for

participants with any level of bible knowledge – or none!

tutor(s): betty Hagglund | Maureen bell

Course type: Quaker and Christian traditions | Creative Arts and spirituality

Course delivery: seminar/subject based | Art/Creative

give Peace a dance: a New year retreatFriday 30 December – Monday 2 January | 25 places | £239 ensuite | £226 standard

dances of universal Peace are an embodied form of prayer which honour and celebrate the unity

at the heart of many different spiritual traditions. Accompanied by live music, we sing and dance in

a circle using simple steps and devotional gestures. we will share uplifting and heart opening dances,

devotional songs and mediative silence, which will help us move into the New year in a peaceful,

purposeful and intentional way. No singing or dancing experience is required.

tutor(s): glenda and trevor Huggons



yearning for wholeness: finding our path in a divided worldFriday 30 December – Monday 2 January | 20 places | £244 ensuite | £231 standard

the human quest for wholeness is an integral part of the spiritual journey. given our increasingly

divided world, this can be challenging. At this retreat, we will explore how we can hold the tension

between polarities (i.e. being vs doing) within ourselves in order to experience wholeness. we’ll do

this through group discussions, gentle Conscious embodiment exercises, simple meditation and

creative activities. there will be time for silent contemplation within woodbrooke’s grounds.

tutor(s): beth Follini



65

our tutors woodbrooke study guide 201166

our tutorswoodbrooke has the uk’s only team of permanent Quaker tutors (highlighted by feature boxes).

together with our 141 Associate tutors, they run woodbrooke’s programme of on and off-site courses.

marge Abbott has been released by

her meeting in Portland, oregon for

a ministry of writing and speaking

about Friends.

beth Allen is Co-Clerk of the Quaker

Committee on Christian and interfaith

relations. the theme of her 2007

swarthmore lecture was Quaker

discipleship.

deb Arrowsmith is a professional

gardener and garden designer

committed to realising the potential

for gardens to enhance our physical

and spiritual lives.

timothy peat Ashworth

is woodbrooke’s tutor

in biblical studies and

interfaith Coordinator.

rosie bailey was uA Fanthorpe’s

partner for 44 years and a respected

poet in her own right.

simon barton is author of AHistory

of Spain.

Linda batten values a creative

relationship with money, which

informs her choices about how

she lives, gives, spends and saves.

simon beard works in parliament

advising MPs, Peers, think tanks and

other organisations. He specialises

in equality, wellbeing and the

environment.

maureen bell has lots of experience

of helping students to approach and

understand the literature and drama

of the past.

simon best will be joining

the tutor team in september

as the new tutor for

Nurturing Friends and

Meetings. His previous work has been

in the Children and young People

team at Quaker Life.

Abdulhaq bewley is a british Muslim

scholar and a sufi.

Angela halvorsen bogo develops

transformational processes using

performance techniques. she founded

the Community of Fools and lives in

Norway. (www.thefoolstory.com)

clare scott booth has been Clerk to a

local meeting and six weeks Meeting,

and is currently Clerk to Quaker

stewardship Committee.

michael booth is the support for

Meetings officer in Quaker Life, byM

safeguarding officer and an active

and involved Friend.

Adam boulter is an artist and an

Anglican priest. His triptych The

Dawn of Creation is in woodbrooke’s

Cadbury room.

david boulton is author of The

Trouble with God: building the

Republic of Heaven and Who on

Earth was Jesus?

robin bowman taught at the

guildhall school of Music and drama,

works at woodbrooke, and specialises

in developing musical imagination.

ian boxall teaches New testament

at st stephen’s House, oxford. He has

a long-standing fascination with the

book of revelation.

Judi brill is a meeting house

warden and has been a Quaker Life

volunteer running wardenship events

for five years.

heather brown is a learning

consultant working with people to

help them integrate their personal,

life and career development.

margaret bryan has been a convener

of overseers. she is a peripatetic string

teacher, and a trustee of the Joseph

rowntree Charitable trust.

carolyn buckeridge is a social worker

currently advising bristol diocese on

child protection. she attends her local

meeting and an Anglican church.

monica buckland is a conductor

based in dresden. she works with

choirs and orchestras, and loves to

get people singing.

helen chambers works for a national

children’s organisation, has been a

Quaker for 22 years and now enjoys

being a grandparent.

gilly charters, of Harrogate meeting,

was co-clerk to the Quaker Life

eldership and oversight Committee,

and now has a portfolio career.

eleanor hildebrand chornoboy

has published three books of life

writing and enjoys helping writers

reach their goals.

67

mary Jo clogg is an overseer at

Muswell Hill Meeting, where she has

also served as an elder. she frequently

co-leads eldership and oversight

courses.

chris cook was an initiator of

Appleseed along with brenda Heales.

she has been facilitating Appleseed

courses since 1987.

rabbi howard cooper is a

psychoanalytic psychotherapist,

lecturer, and the author of The

Alphabet of Paradise: An A–Z

of Spirituality for Everyday Life.

murray corke is a veterinary surgeon,

conservationist and dharma teacher

in the tradition of thich Nhat Hanh.

Angela cotter is a Quaker, a Jungian

analytical psychotherapist and

director of training at the Minster

Centre.

Linda craig has been LM clerk and

AM assistant clerk. she was general

secretary of QPsw for seven years.

roger cullen has experience of

conflict resolution and mediation in

restorative justice and family settings.

He has been an elder and a clerk.

marion mills dadds is a Quaker and a

buddhist, interested in how these two

traditions complement each other.

Joycelin dawes, co-author of The

Quest... Exploring A Sense Of Soul

(www.thequest.org.uk) is a Quaker

who leads spiritual friendship courses.

malcolm dick is director of the

Centre for west Midlands History.

elizabeth duke is a New Zealander

and has met with Friends of differing

traditions through Friends world

Committee for Consultation.

michael eccles is a member

of woodbrooke’s tutor team.

He is developing new work

with young adult Friends

and provides support for QPsw

placement programmes.

kate eckersley teaches singing and

music history to people of all ages.

she has sung and recorded with many

early music ensembles.

rosemary elias has been a member

of Quaker stewardship Committee

and has a professional interest in the

accounts being right.

elaine emily from Pacific yearly

Meeting has travelled extensively as

an elder, healer and accompanying

those travelling in the ministry.

peter fishpool has wide ranging

groupwork and artswork experience

and has written about men’s rites of

passage in The Friend.

Atallah fitzgibbon works with the

international charity, islamic relief,

and specializes in islamic social

teachings, rights and diversity.

beth follini is a life/work coach,

Conscious embodiment teacher

and Quaker. she facilitates retreats

in europe and North America.

harvey gillman, writer on spirituality,

language and Quakers, is working on

an essay based on walkers of the

mystical way.

John gladwin recently retired as

bishop of Chelmsford and is a former

Chair of Christian Aid.

maud grainger is

woodbrooke’s new Faith

in Action tutor. A Friend

since childhood, she recently

joined the Programme team.

Alison gray is a local meeting

treasurer, primary school teacher

and a Mum.

kate green worked in Higher

education for 20 years. she has been

a Chantraine teacher and has taught

clerk’s courses at woodbrooke.

Zélie gross is an experienced

associate tutor with a particular

interest in creative approaches to

learning in a range of settings.

kate gulliver has many years

experience as a treasurer for Quaker

and other charitable organisations

and as a woodbrooke tutor.

doug gwyn is a scholar of early

Quaker history and thought. His books

include Seekers Found andHeaven

on Earth (with Pink dandelion and

timothy Peat).

betty hagglund is a literary

scholar and Project

development officer in the

Centre for Postgraduate

Quaker studies.

brenda heales was an initiator of

Appleseed along with Chris Cook.

she has been facilitating Appleseed

courses since 1987.

peggy heeks is a research fellow at

oxford’s institute of Ageing and a

pastoral care volunteer at a hospice.

tom heydeman edits Treasurers

Handbook and Treasurers’ News

and has many years experience as

AM treasurer and woodbrooke tutor.

marilyn higgins has been an

overseer, is currently an elder at

Central edinburgh meeting, and

teaches at Heriot-watt university.

chris holmquist works in adoption,

has been a Quaker for 32 years

and has been learning parenting

for 18 years.


Anne hosking was eva koch scholar

2010 exploring the journey from Light

to truth via toleration.

glenda huggons is a group leader

and retreat facilitator with many years

experience in britain and abroad.

(www.dancingspirit.co.uk)

trevor huggons is a group leader

and retreat facilitator with many

years experience in britain and abroad.

(www.dancingspirit.co.uk)

paul bowers isaacson is a

woodbrooke trustee and a member of

bunhill Fields Meeting. He has

extensive tutoring and facilitation

experience.

eleanor Jackson joined Friends aged

21. Her understanding of what it is to

be Quaker is still constantly evolving.

ian Jackson has been

woodbrooke’s Librarian

since 2001. He enjoys

opening the riches of the

collection to new readers.

nicola James is a Mental Health

Leader and Quaker Chaplain.

Luke timothy Johnson is author of

TheWritings of the New Testament.

caroline Jones has been teaching the

Mbti since 1998 and draws on her

experience in education, counselling

and theatre.

Jennifer kavanagh writes and speaks

on the spirit-led life.

Joanne klassen is a published

author. she is founder of Heartspace

writing school and the originator of

transformative writing

John knowles is a counsellor and

spiritual director. He teaches courses

on the interface between Jungian

psychology and spirituality.

stevie krayer found Quakers and

discovered her poetic voice in middle

age. she has published two collections

of poetry.

nancy krieger is a Quaker

(switzerland yM) and Jungian analyst

in private practice who lectures

regularly at the isAP Jungian training

institute in Zurich.

georgeanne Lamont is a trainer

and facilitator of transformation in

the workplace; author of Values and

Visions and the spirited business.

diana Lampen is a trainer in conflict

resolution and a yoga teacher. she

wrote Facing Death for Friends.

John Lampen is a trainer in conflict

resolution and author of books on

peace work, Quaker history and

religious thought.

Alison Leonard, a Quaker for

40 years, has attended earth-spirit

and shamanic events for 15 years.

she writes fiction and poetry.

Jennie Levin enjoys juggling time,

energy and money; and is interested

in how our use of all three affects

others.

marian Liebmann is an art

therapist and mediator. she works

as a practitioner, consultant and

trainer in restorative justice and has

published widely in all these areas.

69

barbara Lippitt is an elder in her LM,

and AM’s registering officer. she has

facilitated various woodbrooke

courses and woodbrooke-on-the-

road days.

ethel Livermore of south London

Area Meeting is a life-long Friend with

experience of Quaker Nominations

at all levels.

frances henley Lock is a spiritual

director, counsellor and retreat

facilitator. she has worked with

Friends for many years.

stephen Lock, woodbrooke’s garden

Manager, is keen to share how the

awesome wonder of the garden and

grounds can enable a relationship

with the other.

mary Lord, now at Pendle Hill (usA),

is researching contemporary Quaker

social testimonies. she speaks and

travels widely among Friends.

rowena Loverance has been Clerk of

QCCir and co-President of Churches

together in england and is currently

a byM trustee.

estella Lovett serves as an elder and

became a convinced Quaker after

many years of teaching and practicing

buddhist meditation.

pam Lunn is the Programme

Leader for the good Lives

Project at woodbrooke.

Janet Lynch has been a tutor for

treasurer’s courses, Cornwall AM

treasurer and a byM trustee. she now

lives in bristol.

stuart masters is

woodbrooke’s senior

Programme Leader (on-site

courses). He is interested in

the contemporary relevance of early

Quaker theology and experience.

caitlín matthews is a shamanic

consultant and author of 60 books.

(www.hallowquest.org.uk)

gordon matthews, warden of

evesham Quaker meeting house, is

coordinator of the energy working

group of transition evesham Vale.

Laurie michaelis is the Co-ordinator

of Living witness Project. He has a

background in energy and climate

policy research.

geoff morries is a retired professional

ecologist who recently completed a

Phd on early Quakers and the Natural

world.

cliodhna mulhern facilitates dialogue

and transformation processes,

working towards the spiritual and

social birthing of the longed-for new

and better world.

rachel muers, a lifelong Quaker,

lectures in theology at Leeds

university. Her books include

Living for the Future: theological

ethics for coming generations.

Jeni neale has many years

experience in botanical illustration

and her paintings are in a number

of exhibitions and collections.

kathleen nelson has been using

Appleseed methods for over 20 years

and is an experienced Appleseed

facilitator.

chris nickolay is the Children’s work

officer in the Quaker Life Children

and young People’s team at Friend’s

House.

howard nurden is the Head of the

Quaker Life Children and young

People’s team at Friends House.

Jenny paull is a research historian,

tutor, lecturer, the Quaker guide at

Lancaster Castle and works with the

1652 Committee.

virginia pawlyn serves on Quaker

stewardship Committee, worked for

a national charity and was a trustee

of the Quaker Housing trust.

Liz perkins has facilitated a series of

women’s workshops blending craft

and spirituality. she currently serves

as Area Meeting elder.

nicola peterson (MNiMH), of

Cotteridge Local Meeting has many

years experience as a medical

herbalist, running her own practice

and teaching students.

brian phillips is a human rights

and peacebuilding practitioner and

educator. He is currently co-editor of

the Journal of Human rights Practice.

catrina pickering is transition

Network’s diversity Co-ordinator,

developing collaboration with diverse

groups, including faith groups.

Jasmine piercy is a retreat facilitator,

particularly interested in finding

expression for our personal Quaker

testimony through creative and

practical means.

ben pink dandelion has

been a tutor at woodbrooke

for 15 years and has written

widely on Quakerism.

John preston has been a counsellor,

adult education lecturer, senior social

services manager, and, for five years,

a buddhist monk.

barbara prys-williams is a Quaker, a

teacher and the author of Twentieth-

century Autobiography in the

WritingWales in English series.

wendy blake ranken is a human

resources professional specialising

in Hr support to organisations in

the voluntary and public sectors.


Jane read has led singing workshops

throughout the uk for 15 years. Her

teaching style is clear, empowering

and light-hearted.

kevin redpath rediscovered his

Quaker roots twenty years ago. He

loves sharing his experience of Pagan

traditions with Friends.

Alastair reid organizes a ‘reading the

bible with Friends’ group in edinburgh.

brenda rigby of Pickering and Hull

Area Meeting is an experienced Friend

who has real enthusiasm for

nominations work.

Judith roads enjoys guiding new

clerks and building their confidence.

she has clerked many types of

meeting, small and large.

susan robson has retired from social

work in family conflict. she was an

area meeting clerk while researching

conflict among Quakers.

strawberry roth is a meeting

house warden. she specialised as

an occupational therapist in mental

health and daily living skills.

Jenny routledge has a concern for

reclaiming eldership supported by

Norfolk and waveney Area Meeting.

spirit-led eldership and clerking are

her passions.

Lizz roe is woodbrooke’s

senior Programme Leader

(off-site work) and is a

trustee of The Friend and

Quaker social Action.

deborah rowlands has tutored a

variety of courses about the Quaker

business method and developing

meetings as worshipping

communities.

helen rowlands,

woodbrooke’s Head of

education, experienced

clerk and trustee, has broad

experience of Quaker faith and

practice, locally, nationally and

internationally.

Julia ryberg has various

roles in sweden yM,

is european Project

Coordinator for woodbrooke

and eMes Ministry and outreach

Coordinator.

rehanah sadiq is a hospital chaplain

and regularly speaks on the position

of women in islam.

susan sawtell, of Northampton

Quaker Meeting, has facilitated

a number of events which focus

on aspects of growing older.

mark scholefield has worked at

the Ammerdown Centre since 2005.

He has used Anthony de Mello’s

writings over many years.

Janet scott has retired from teaching

religious studies at Homerton College

Cambridge. she gave the swarthmore

lecture on Quaker theology in 1980.

Jan sellers works in Higher

education, with a background in

adult and community education and

guidance. she is a Veriditas-trained

labyrinth facilitator.

71

deborah shaw, a lifelong Friend,

serves in ministry at guilford College,

usA, and in travel amongst Friends.

shaykh muhammad bar shoaib

is a Muslim scholar and a sufi of

yemeni origin.

Jenni simmons is a Quaker and

lives in yorkshire where she teaches

spinning and textile crafts.

gillian smith, of bristol Area

Meeting, is an engineer working for

a renewable energy consultancy.

roy stephenson, of Lancaster

Meeting, worked on nominations,

travelling around the country in

2004/5 as a rowntree Quaker Fellow.

gillian stewart, from southampton

Local Meeting, works with people

and teams improving joie de vivre

and performance

Andy stoller comes from a Jewish

background but has been a Quaker

for over 25 years.

delia suffling is AM treasurer, Clerk of

the Annual Conference of treasurers

and member of Quaker Finance and

Property Central Committee.

thomas swain has a long and

personal connection with the shakers

and has been teaching ways of

faithfulness for over three decades.

sunniva taylor is Programme

Manager of QPsw’s sustainability

and Peace programme.

(www.quaker.org.uk/sustainability)

michael tovey was Professor

of industrial design at Coventry

university, and director of the

Centre of excellence in Product

and Automotive design (CePAd).

barbara vellacott enjoys devising

ways of making poetry participative

and inspirational. Her background is

in education and world development

issues.

gillian waddilove is an experienced

clerk who enjoys helping clerks and

meetings understand how to work

better with our business method.

sandie wade has shared her love of

circle dancing for many years, leading

groups and encouraging others to

discover its delights.

ginny wall is woodbrooke’s

spirituality tutor. she is

passionate about meditation,

prayer, spiritual friendship

and everyday contemplative living.

Liz watson is the uk coordinator for

the world Community for Christian

Meditation. (www.wccm.org)

mary watson is a roman Catholic,

an experienced spiritual director and

facilitator of weekend retreats with

Friends and others.

marion wells-bruges is a mediator

and tutors courses on conflict. she is

a local meeting co-clerk and has been

clerk to elders.

vivien whitaker is a sculptor, mentor

and facilitator. she enables people to

access their creativity, resolve issues

and achieve their potential.

(www.vivienwhitaker.co.uk)

sandra white works as an

ecopsychologist, creating cultural

change within government and

business. she is a founding member

of transition Hertford.

derrick whitehouse has

worshipped with Friends for fifty

years, researching, running courses

and serving on local and national

committees.

paul whitehouse works with widely

different social groups. He is currently

Chair of the gangmasters Licensing

Authority and of sidcot school

governors.

Alex wildwood, co-author of Rooted

in Christianity, Open to New Light,

speaks and writes on spirituality in

the contemporary world.

martin wilkinson previously worked

for QPs and has been a Quaker for

more than 50 years.

Janet wilks has studied t’ai Chi for

over 35 years and is registered with

the t’ai Chi union for great britain.

Leonora wilson is an

elder in her meeting and

woodbrooke’s tutor

for Quaker roles until she

retires in early 2011.

barbara windle was an eldership

& oversight Committee member

and regularly co-leads eldership

& oversight courses. she helped

create the Quaker Life Network.

felicity wombwell is a

psychotherapist and shamanic

consultant.

Anne wood is a lifelong Friend who

has been Clerk to area meeting elders

and overseers and to the Quaker

tapestry trustees.

Course CALeNdArfor alternative ways of searching for courses, pleasevisit www.woodbrooke.org.uk

January 2011friday 21 – sunday 23

• Muslim spirituality 16

• sacred reading: encountering god in words 16

• Looking Afresh at that ‘old book’: bible studyresources for Friends 17

friday 28 – sunday 30

• being an elder 17

• being a Quaker Clerk 17

• being an overseer 17

february 2011wednesday 2 – friday 4

• Managing our Meeting Houses: training and supportfor staff and Friends who manage them 18


• the spirit Level 18

• Quaker Nominations: exploring good practice 18

• early Quaker History: a friendly introduction 19

monday 7 – wednesday 9

• becoming Friends Companions Course: preparingfor service 19

monday 7 – friday 11

• the experience of the divine in early Christianity:a study week 19


• National trusteeship Conference 2011: ‘trustees:creators of time and space 20


• becoming Friends: a friendly introduction to theQuaker way 20

• Churches together: what is the place forQuakers? 20

• what next for Quaker Nontheism? 21

monday 21 – thursday 24

• Landscapes of the soul: welcoming the wisdomof the world within 21


• Quakers in Criminal Justice Annual Conference 21

• good Lives – because there isn’t a technical fix foreverything 21

march 2011friday 4 – sunday 6

• islamic spain: what can we learn from a 1000year-old history? 22

• Friends of the Creation: gospel order and the earth 22

• being a Quaker treasurer 22

wednesday 9 – friday 11

• working with Friends: an event for non-Quakeremployees in Quaker organisations 23


• the world is our Cloister: a retreat in everyday life 23

• developing a Practice of Christian Meditation 24

• understanding conflict – in our lives and in ourmeetings 24


• Fruits of winter: tasks and opportunities for later life 24


• the Ministry of inspiring Meetings 25


• exploring worship: being a spiritual warrior 25

• Quaker registering officers training weekend 25

tuesday 29 – thursday 31

• Celebrating the Quaker way 25

April 2011friday 1 – sunday 3

• good Lives – because god has no hands but ours 26

• being Peace: living in the present moment 26

• the welcoming Quaker Community 26


• the kindlers: the power of Quaker worship 27

• Quaker spiritual Healers: a training course 27



sunday 10 – thursday 14

• Life writing for transformation 28


• singing for Joy: harmony songs and chants fromaround the world 29

friday 22 – monday 25

• green Fire: an Appleseed course 29

COURSE CALENDAR72


• Quaker theology seminar: the Holy spirit 29

thursday 28 April – monday 2 may

• No Friend is an island: Quakers exploring connectionsthrough writing and publishing 29

may 2011tuesday 3 – friday 6

• spirituality in Musical Performance: insights fromQuaker experience 30


• becoming Friends Companions Course: preparingfor service 30

• Counting Carbon: a new spiritual path? 30



• Quaker Fellowship in Christ Annual gathering 31


• the Art of Awareness: the spiritual teaching ofAnthony de Mello 31



thursday 19 – sunday 22

• spiritual Friendship 32

saturday 21 – thursday 26

• the Pathless wood: an Appleseed course 32


• thomas kelly: testimony of a life 32


• ‘sink down to the seed’: deepening our life inthe spirit 33


• Midwives of the spirit: accompaniment, nurture anddiscipline through eldership 33

• who was Jesus? 33

June 2011friday 3 – sunday 5

• Jewish Mysticism and kabbalah: a short introduction 34

• Moving into Membership: a friendly approach 34


• Listen adventurously: learn from others,give freely 34


• being a Quaker Parent: joys and dilemmas 35

• good Lives – because we belong to the earth 35

• soulcraft for Men 35


• being a Quaker trustee 36


• Playing and Praying with the Light: a photographyretreat 36

• the Case for god: a Quaker discussion 36


• sustainable Medicine 36

• Quaker discernment: a friendly introduction 37

• doing Conflict better 37


• Playing with Prayer: using the Myers-briggs typeindicator to deepen the spiritual life 38

• Creating Quaker gardens: greening the worshippingcommunity 38

friday 24 – sunday 26 (Family-Friendly weekend)

• time to Listen, space to grow 38

• Quakers and transition: a weekend for Friendsinvolved in local transition initiatives 39


• three Forgotten Friends 39

monday 27 June – friday 1 July

• spinning yarns 39


• Life in the seed: isaac Penington’s spiritual journeyand counsel 39

July 2011friday 1 – sunday 3

• ‘that your joy may be complete’ (John 16:24):following the leadings of Christ 40

• intuition and inner sparkle: a creative retreat forwomen 40


• Faith for the Future: searching for a sustainableQuaker theology 40


• ‘to solve the riddle of the universe’: a course on thepoetry of s.t. Coleridge 41

73

COURSE CALENDAR74


• time set Aside: an individually guided silent retreat 41


• A Century of Peace Making: the shape of ourfuture witness 41


• Plant Portraits in watercolour 42

• discover and enjoy your Voice 42


• the world in your wallet 43

monday 11

• garden retreat day 43


• Apocalypse Now?: exploring the book of revelation 43

• dance for Joy: a weekend of circle dancing 43

• keeping on track: an intermediate course fortreasurers 44

thursday 21 – sunday 24

• t’ai Chi: in your spiritual journey 44


• NAMAste: dances of universal Peace 45

• the ‘drunken and depraved’: Quakers, prisoners andreform in 18th and 19th centuries 45

saturday 30 July – saturday 6 Augustwoodbrooke at yearly Meeting gathering

August 2011friday 12 – sunday 14

• the Literature of slavery and Abolition 46

• the great work and Quaker testimony 46

• summer Pathways: delighting in difference 46


• Journeys to the Centre: spiritual exploration throughmovement 47

wednesday 17



• experiencing the tao 47

• Quaker Families and the development of birmingham 47

• Journalling with Jung 48

friday 19 – wednesday 24

• Joy Fool 48

tuesday 23 – friday 26

• seeking wisdom in the garden: a contemplativeworking retreat 48


• A watching brief: the poetry of uA Fanthorpe 48


• Jung and soul and spirit 49

tuesday 30 August – friday 2 september

• to be broken and tender: a Quaker theology for today 49

september 2011friday 2 – sunday 4

• restorative Justice 50

• who Am i?: rs thomas’s search for a personal identity 50


• reclaiming Quaker Light 50

• working with Conflict: a course for elders, overseersand clerks 51

• dietrich bonhoeffer: doing the right thing in a worldgone wrong 51


• Mindfully together: a retreat guided by the teachingsof thich Nhat Hanh 51


• Quakers and Pagans: recharging our batteriesin hard times 52

• being a Quaker trustee 52

saturday 17 – thursday 22

• Prayer: the soul in paraphrase (an Appleseed course) 52


• Life beyond death: a lost part of the Quaker tradition 53

• the time is Now – follow-up to the swarthmoreLecture 53


• Quakers to shakers: for a greater increase of Light 53


• Creative Contemplation: prayer, art and meditation 53

thursday 29


friday 30 september– sunday 2 october


• being an elder 54

• being an overseer 54

october 2011tuesday 4 – thursday 6

• ‘into the actual presence of god’: the letter to theHebrews 55


• the seasons of my Friendship: a retreat for seasonedFriends 55


• Quakers and Politics: the pursuit of a just society(seeker Movement Conference) 56


• the spirit of Luke 56

• thinking Non-Violently 56

thursday 13 – friday 14

• Quaker Prison Chaplains training Course 57


• good Lives – because we need to walk humbly aswell as cheerfully 57

monday 17 – tuesday 18

• Financial stewardship for trustees and treasurers 57


• Advices and Queries and the Five Mindfulnesstrainings 57

friday 21 – sunday 23 (Family-Friendly weekend)

• Mindfulness Meditation for schools: a course forteachers 58

• becoming Friends: a friendly introduction to theQuaker way 58

saturday 22 october

• Quaker studies research Association (QsrA) AnnualConference and the george richardson Lecture 2011 58


• Quaker Nominations: exploring good practice 59


• Quaker testimony: a friendly introduction 59

november 2011friday 4 – sunday 6

• economic Justice and a sustainable global society 60


• diversity Among Friends: testimony 60

• beyond religion: the revolutionary experiences ofJesus and his first followers 61


• Anger Management with Art 61

• A Course for safeguarding Coordinators 62


• what on earth do we Mean by Prayer? 62


• breath of god: mystery and mastery 63

• understanding islam and Muslims 63

• Quaker theology seminar 63


• our Quaker spiritual roots: for elders and overseersin Quaker meetings 64

december 2011friday 2 – sunday 4

• december sing: a choral singing weekend 64

• being Peace: living in the present moment 65


• the bible in Art, Music and Literature 65

friday 30 december – monday 2 January 2012

• give Peace a dance: a New year retreat 65

• yearning for wholeness: finding our path in adivided world 65

75

bookings woodbrooke study guide 201176

Accessibilitywoodbrooke has hearing loops, ramps, scooters,

a wheelchair lift, stair lifts and specially-fitted

bathrooms, toilets and bedrooms. if you or your

child needs a carer in order to attend a course,

woodbrooke will offer the carer a free residential

place. Please contact us if you have any

additional needs and would like further

information.

Financial helpwoodbrooke’s bursary scheme is available for

anyone who is not able to attend our courses

for financial reasons. Please do not be reluctant

to ask about the scheme. enquiries are treated

confidentially.

New members of the society of Friends are

entitled to a 50% reduction on a 48-hour course.

this must be within the first year of membership.

Please indicate that you are a new member on

your booking form.

your area or local meeting may have the funds

to assist you; many meetings do support Friends

who wish to attend courses at woodbrooke.

Please ask an elder or overseer.

the Hope Fund is administered by QPsw at

Friends House, and may be able to offer some

help to eligible unemployed british Friends.

Please call 020 7663 1000.

the Corder and gwen Catchpool Fund was

established to help european Friends to attend

our courses. Contact our Administration office

or see www.woodbrooke.org.uk for details.

we offer payment plans if you would prefer

to pay for your course in monthly instalments.

Please contact the admin team on 0121 472 5171

before booking a place to discuss this.

Cancellation policyCourse cancellation policy

A 20% deposit by cheque or credit/debit card

is required to confirm a place on a course.

For cancellations made 8 or more weeks before

the start date of the course: the fee (including

the 20% deposit) is 100% refundable.

For cancellations made between 3 and 8 weeks

before the course: your 20% deposit will be

retained, with 80% refundable (if paid).

For cancellations made less than 3 weeks

before the course: no refund will be issued –

full payment is required.

Visitor cancellation policy

A 20% deposit by cheque, or credit/debit

card details are required to hold a visitor

booking. Cancellations made up to one day

before the date of arrival will not incur any

cancellation fee. if cancelled on the day of

arrival or in the case of no-show, the first

night will be charged.

Travelyou can reach birmingham by train or National

express coach, and then take local transport to

woodbrooke; or you can travel by car. A local

map and travel directions are on page 79.

Start and finish timesCourses begin at 6.15pm, with an evening meal,

and end with lunch on the last day (unless there

are different timings printed under the individual

course details).

Please call 0121 472 5171for a large print versionof this information.

bookingsTo make a booking, complete and return the booking form. You can also

book (or download booking forms) online at www.woodbrooke.org.uk

woodbrooke booking form

Name of course(s) you’d like to attend (with from/to)

dates)

Please give details of any extra nights you would like to stay

you may contact me by: post email

we would like to send your course information by email instead of by post.

if you are unable to receive your course programme and course

information via email please tick this box

tick here if you would like travel directions?

dietary requirements:

Anything Vegetarian Veg/Fish Vegan

Non-dairy diabetic gluten free Low fat

Are you associated with or a member of the Quakers? yes No

is this your first course at woodbrooke? yes No

Are you attending as part of your eFM programme? yes No

if you have previously attended woodbrooke and have since changed

your name or address, please let us have your previous name/address:

data protection: For course administration, woodbrooke Quaker study

Centre keeps all details confidentially on computer in accordance with

the data Protection Act. Please tick here if you do not consent to this.

How did you hear about this course?

if yes which meeting do you attend

other/Allergies:

email

evening telephone

daytime telephone

Postcode

Address

Name you like to be known by

surname

First name

woodbrooke booking form

Name of course(s) you’d like to attend (with from/to)

dates)

Please give details of any extra nights you would like to stay

you may contact me by: post email

we would like to send your course information by email instead of by post.

if you are unable to receive your course programme and course

information via email please tick this box

tick here if you would like travel directions?

dietary requirements:

Anything Vegetarian Veg/Fish Vegan

Non-dairy diabetic gluten free Low fat

Are you associated with or a member of the Quakers? yes No

is this your first course at woodbrooke? yes No

Are you attending as part of your eFM programme? yes No

if you have previously attended woodbrooke and have since changed

your name or address, please let us have your previous name/address:

data protection: For course administration, woodbrooke Quaker study

Centre keeps all details confidentially on computer in accordance with

the data Protection Act. Please tick here if you do not consent to this.

How did you hear about this course?

if yes which meeting do you attend

other/Allergies:

email

evening telephone

daytime telephone

Postcode

Address

Name you like to be known by

surname

First name

Access: Please tell us about any way we might be able to assist

you in your course participation:

sight Mobility Hearing

Please contact us if you need to discuss your individual needs.

Accommodation

would you like a residential place? yes No

would you be willing to share a room if necessary? yes No

Are you male or female (for room allocations)? Male Female

would you prefer (if available)? an ensuite room a standard room

would you like a password for internet access? yes No

Please tell us a little about your interest in the course you are booking:

Payment details1. i’ve arranged for my meeting to pay for the course

Full payment is enclosed (payable to woodbrooke)

Full payment will be sent separately

i would like an invoice to be sent to the treasurer:

treasurer

it is the participant’s responsibility to ensure woodbrooke receives

payment before the course.

2. i am paying myself

i enclose a cheque (payable to woodbrooke) for the full amount or

20% deposit*

Please take full payment now from my debit/credit card

Please take a 20% deposit* now and the balance three weeks before

the course from my debit/credit card

card type

Visa Mastercard Maestro debit

financial assistance (if required)

i enclose a 20% deposit* and need to know about bursary help

i can contribute a total of: £

*deposits refundable subject to our cancellation policy

return to woodbrooke Quaker study Centre, 1046 bristol road,

birmingham b29 6LJ, uk

email

Name

signature date

security code (last three digits from back of card)

expiry date: issue number (Maestro only)

Card number

Name (as printed on card)

other:

Access: Please tell us about any way we might be able to assist

you in your course participation:

sight Mobility Hearing

Please contact us if you need to discuss your individual needs.

Accommodation

would you like a residential place? yes No

would you be willing to share a room if necessary? yes No

Are you male or female (for room allocations)? Male Female

would you prefer (if available)? an ensuite room a standard room

would you like a password for internet access? yes No

Please tell us a little about your interest in the course you are booking:

Payment details1. i’ve arranged for my meeting to pay for the course

Full payment is enclosed (payable to woodbrooke)

Full payment will be sent separately

i would like an invoice to be sent to the treasurer:

treasurer

it is the participant’s responsibility to ensure woodbrooke receives

payment before the course.

2. i am paying myself

i enclose a cheque (payable to woodbrooke) for the full amount or

20% deposit*

Please take full payment now from my debit/credit card

Please take a 20% deposit* now and the balance three weeks before

the course from my debit/credit card

card type

Visa Mastercard Maestro debit

financial assistance (if required)

i enclose a 20% deposit* and need to know about bursary help

i can contribute a total of: £

*deposits refundable subject to our cancellation policy

return to woodbrooke Quaker study Centre, 1046 bristol road,

birmingham b29 6LJ, uk

signature date

security code (last three digits from back of card)

expiry date: issue number (Maestro only)

Card number

Name (as printed on card)

email

Name

other:

By Busyou can catch the 61 or 63 from the City Centre or from

outside New street station. Ask for the ‘witherford way’

stop. After passing through selly oak, get ready to get off

as the bus begins to go down the hill. buses accept the

exact fare only so please make sure you have plenty of

change with you.

By CoachNational express coaches terminate at digbeth Coach

station, a 10–15 minute walk from New street, from where

you can travel by bus or train.

By Railtrains arrive into birmingham New street, Moor street and

snow Hill stations. From New street station you can catch

a bus, taxi, or local train to selly oak. Local trains to selly

oak take about 10 minutes. From selly oak station it is a

short bus ride on either the 61 or 63 or if you walk it will

take about 20–25 minutes.

By BicycleLocal train operator London Midland welcomes bicycles

on board all off-peak services free of charge. From selly

oak station, woodbrooke is a 5–10 minute cycle.

detailed cycle routes from the city centre are available

upon request or by visiting our website.

By CarFrom the M6, leave at Junction 6 and take the M38

Aston expressway into birmingham City Centre. the

expressway will turn into the A38 bristol road. keep

going on this road and you will see woodbrooke on

the left after about 5 miles.

From the M42, leave at Junction 2 and take the A441

towards birmingham (signposted Cadbury world). After

6 miles, turn left onto the A38 bristol road. woodbrooke

is on the left after Fircroft College.

From the M5, leave at Junction 4 and take the A38 north

for 6 miles towards birmingham. After passing under a

footbridge, look out for woodbrooke 200 yards beyond

on the right. go further up the hill and do a u-turn

through the next gap (as signposted) to come back

down the hill to the woodbrooke entrance.

Contact us or visit www.woodbrooke.org.uk for

more detailed information.

directions

79

getting to woodbrooke

Police Station

Fircroft CollegeFootbridge

= Bus stops

A38 Bristol Road

Selly Oak

3.9 miles toNew Street Station

Woodbrooke

M6 motorwayCity centre

M5 motorwayNorthfield

M40 motorwayM42 motorway

Bo

urn

villeLan

e

CobLa

ne

Mid

dle

Park

Ro

ad

Wit

her

ford

Way

Weo

ley

Park

Ro

ad

Har

bo

rne

Lan

e

Ch

apel

Lan

e

Oak

Tree

Lane

1046 Bristol Road, Birmingham B29 6LJ, UK

T +44 (0)121 472 5171 F +44 (0)121 472 5173

[email protected]

www.woodbrooke.org.uk

Registered Charity No. 313816.

This brochure is printed usingvegetable-based inks on 9 LivesOffset 100% recycled paper.

Environmental policyOur approach to the environment is informed by the

principles outlined in Advices and Queries, 1994. In running

Woodbrooke, we aim to make decisions about the resources

that we consume based on a regard for simplicity and

consideration of the effects that our actions have on the

world. Some recent measures that we have taken include

investment in dual flush cisterns, the installation of solar

panels, and encouraging staff and visitors to reduce wastage

and increase recycling.

we encourage visitors to travel by public transport.

For more information on our policy visit our website:

www.woodbrooke.org.uk

Designed by Bananadesign good design and design for good

Documents

Woodbrooke course brochure (2011)