The plenary session on committed relationships was perhaps the most intense piece of Quaker exploration and discernment I’ve ever been part of. Not knowing what to expect, I Tweeted every twist and turn with hash tag #YMG09. It seemed the right thing to do. I wasn’t entirely sure, but it felt like historic progress.
And there was an audience for it. When I stopped, I heard from Jay & Gene
We’re celebrating 30 years together this 4 August having had a ‘holy union’ (it wasn’t legal, it couldn’t be called a marriage, it wasn’t even recorded for fear of written records causing trouble) It was co-officiated by my father in his church in 1979 in Alaska — where we used to live. Thanks to my partner’s dual national status, we left the US to live in the UK. We couldn’t afford getting to York and the bursary scheme was problematic for us, so we’re here. You’re there.
This is a central matter to our lives as we moved countries to benefit legal relationship. It’s not a light matter for some. We’re hoping our Friends will come to fully understand this in York and agree to change (at least) how Quakers treat other members in the body
Jay thanks us for being his “ears at the Meeting” and I thank him for the reminder how much tomorrow’s outcome means to people.
I am sorry… I’ll read that again. If I read this blog posting correctly, someone was twittering during a meeting for worship for business? How can that be right? I thought meetings for worship were confidential? I cannot see how anyone can be listening openly or participating in the discernment of the meeting if they are on their mobile phone at the same time.
If this occurred in my meeting I would assume it was a matter for the elders. I really think it is a very inappropriate use of twittering… twittering the content of the minute when released would be quite another thing.
If they are confidential then I stand corrected. I’m not quite sure what the precedent is, if any. I did get an informal second opinion at the time, but since you raise the question I’d better seek further advice.
Dear Fee
You’re absolutely right. I now gather that YMAC had beforehand advised against Tweeting for such reasons such as you outline.
I think the line is that it’s fine to report with sensitivity once sessions were concluded, but not during sessions.
I’d missed that, and fear I got carried away. Sorry about that.
William