Ben and I are traveling to Peru in January 2006 to attend the FWCC World Plenary Meeting as representatives of New England Yearly Meeting. There are still spots open for folks to come to the gathering as Open Spaces as well as scholarships for Young Friends and Young Adult Friends. I worked on the invitational video for the event and I'm excited to do some more video work and photography at the gathering. Simon Lamb, the Clerk of the International Planning Committee wrote the letter below to specifically invite Young Friends and Young Adult Friends. 

Dear Friends,

We are writing to you to invite you to consider participating in the FWCC World Plenary Meeting to be held at Pisac in Peru from the 19th to the 27th  day of 1st month 2016.

This event, which will be held in the beautiful surroundings of the Sacred Valley, will be considering the future of the world community of Friends and we believe it is essential that Young Friends from around the world are involved in this process. We will come together to worship, to discuss and to be challenged by the variety of ways in which those of us in the world family of Friends express our relationship with God. Your participation will benefit your Yearly Meeting, your worshipping community, and the Young Friends group you are involved with – and, of course, yourself.

While most places at the meeting will be taken up by representatives appointed by affiliated Yearly Meetings and worship groups from around the world, there will be up to 100 open places for others who would like to attend. The International Planning Committee responsible for organizing this gathering wants Young Friends to be part of this process of discerning the future of our worldwide Quaker community, and we are encouraging Young Friends to apply for open places and have set aside funding to help Young Friends who need financial support. It is important to look for support within your own Yearly Meeting and local meeting first; the more everyone raises locally, the more people we can offer to assist financially.  The bottom line is, we do not want Young Friends to be prevented on the basis of finances. 

When we are gathered in Peru, each person will participate in one of four consultations as we develop a vision for 2037, FWCC’s 100th anniversary.  They are:

·       Developing the leaders we need, looking at developing a Pilgrimage for Quaker Youth in all Sections;

·       Creating a living ministry, encouraging membership and spiritual growth for Young Friends and seekers;

·       Sustaining life on Earth, inspired by the Kabarak Call for Peace and Ecojustice, developing worldwide Quaker collaboration for environmental, economic, and spiritual changes; and

      Equipping FWCC as an organization to face challenges, looking at meeting requirements and governance changes.

For those of you who are in Bolivia and Peru there is a second way in which you can participate. As part of the programme we are inviting around 250 Andean Friends to join us for the weekend in the middle of the World Plenary Meeting. This is being planned by the Local Arrangement Committee based in Peru and we would encourage Young Friends from all Yearly Meetings in Peru and Bolivia (whether affiliated to FWCC or not) to apply to this committee for a place at this weekend event. While the number of places is limited, the International Planning Committee and the Local Arrangement Committee intend that at least one third of all local participants will be Young Friends.

Please have a look at the FWCC website www.fwcc.world where you find clear guidance on how to apply for an open place for the Plenary Meeting. Indicate in the comments box that you are interested in receiving a Young Friends grant. We look forward to meeting some of you in Peru.

Your Friend in God’s love,

Simon C. Lamb

Clerk of the International Planning Committee