Why I am a Quaker | Michael Tuckwell | Quaker Talk | 13 Feb 2026

Описание: Michael Tuckwell speaks on “Why I am a Quaker”, tracing a life journey from a post-war Scottish farm childhood, through Episcopalian schooling, and early volunteering in Brazil with Catholic Relief Services. He shares how an initial call toward Anglican ministry shifted into decades of work with children and young people, before he and his wife began attending Redland Quaker Meeting in the 1990s. Michael describes what drew him in—welcome, openness, “sympatico” community, and the guiding role of Quaker testimonies—leading to his eventual membership. He also reflects on practical service (especially treasurer roles and rationalising many local accounts), Quaker diversity, growth in attendance, and how meetings might respond well to newcomers.
Key moments
• Childhood on a Scottish farm; early religious formation via twice-daily chapel in boarding school
• Two years in Brazil (Catholic Relief Services) and a brief sense of call toward Anglican ministry
• Long working life focused on children/young people; stepping away from restrictive dogma
• First experience of Redland Meeting as “interesting, friendly, and very different”
• What drew him in: welcome at the door, inquirers’ space for questions, ease of belonging
• “Offering leads to involvement”: being pulled into roles—and learning how the meeting works
• Treasurer stories: learning double-entry basics; the scale of managing many accounts across meetings; simplifying systems
•. A “serendipity” moment in Brazil that clarified membership for him (“convincement”)
• Conversation on Quaker diversity (theist/non-theist spectrum), the challenge of being seen as “too intellectual,” and Bristol’s Quaker history
• Reflections on growth at Redland (newcomers, younger working people), and the importance of welcome, support structures, and practical access (doorkeeping)
Questions and themes raised
• What makes the difference between being an attender and a member—and does that distinction still serve us?
• How do we support newcomers: inquirers’ sessions, explanation of process, “spirit-led” practice, and pastoral support?
• Are we responding well to rising attendance—and what structures help people feel held and included?
• How can meetings avoid being experienced as “too intellectual” and become more accessible across class and background?
• What role do practical services (treasury, doorkeeping, hospitality) play in spiritual community?
• How do we hold the breadth of Quaker language (Christian to non-theist) without losing connection?
• What might the future of Quakerism look like—more diverse, possibly more radical, more action-oriented?
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