FWCC EMES is the collective body for Quaker meetings in Europe and the Middle East. All individual members of yearly meetings and groups affiliated with EMES are members of FWCC. The European Section of FWCC was recognised in 1938, at the second World Consultative Committee meeting held in Vallekilde, Denmark. The name was changed to Europe & Middle East Section (EMES) in 1992.
EMES holds an Annual Meeting each year in late spring/early summer, these are held online every third year. Representatives at the Annual Meeting conduct the business of the Section and the Annual Meeting is the decision-making body of the Section. We also hold monthly online gatherings for our Representatives and Roleholders.
Representatives
All affiliated yearly meetings/groups appoint one or more FWCC Representatives. Their major task is to help communication between yearly meetings/groups, within their Section and in the world family of Friends. They must, on the one hand, articulate the views and concerns of their yearly meeting/group at international FWCC meetings, and, on the other hand, bring back issues raised in these meetings to their yearly meeting/group.
The officers of the Section are: Clerk, Treasurer and Executive Secretary. Together with four other members they form the Executive Committee.
Work in the Section
The Section has several committees and groups for specific purposes:- European Quaker Peace & Service Network – representatives of peace and service committees from yearly meetings and groups
- EMES Ministry and Outreach work to support Friends and meetings
- A Spiritual Growth Fund to promote the development of Quaker Communities in Europe and the Middle East
- A Youthgroup which holds online gatherings for 14-18 year olds each month and an annual in person gathering in September
The Section is also represented in the Geneva Quaker House Foundation Board and Quaker Council for European Affairs.
EMES publishes a newsletter, Among Friends, three times a year.
EMES maintains close relations with Europe & Middle East Young Friends, the Quaker United Nations Office in Geneva, Woodbrooke and the Quaker Council for European Affairs General Assembly.
EMES 10-year strategy 2020-2030
EMES has developed a strategy to cover its development from 2020 to 2030.
EMES Constitution
The EMES constitution is available to download here.
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FWCC
Friends World Committee for Consultation is the world body for (almost) all Quaker meetings.
FWCC has an office in London, the FWCC World Office
The other FWCC sections are:
