An honour for Ekklesia

We are delighted to announce that our Associate Director, Jill Segger, has been made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA) “in recognition of your commitment to social justice, through your role at Ekklesia, in particular your work on political and labour movement issues.”

Alongside other valued associates, especially, Bernadette Meaden and Savitri Hensman, Jill has been a key part of Ekklesia’s work for a number of years now. She is known for her deep and intelligent commitment to a wide range of concerns, alongside a quiet spirituality and reflective wisdom which has benefitted many. 

As might be expected, Jill thought carefully and discussed the matter with fellow Quakers before accepting the FRSA, which she decided to do in the end “because it is a way of recognising and honouring the work of Ekklesia as a whole.” 

Also both Jill and we want to acknowledge with gratitude the way in which the RSA, often thought of as part of the establishment in these islands, has gone out of its way in recent years to recognise voices from the margins of society, and also to champion innovative ideas in the realm of social and economic justice such as a Basic or Citizens Income. 

All of this raises the wider question, of course, as to how the good work of so many people across the nation and internationally can be properly honoured and signalled as an example.

At present the Honours System in Britain is one steeped in privilege, monarchy, hierarchy and Empire. Ekklesia would be delighted to be part of a more systematically organised and promoted alternative system which is egalitarian at its heart, and rooted in a commitment to recognising endeavour for the common good, for the environment, for equality, for peace and for inclusion at its heart.

Simon Barrow, Director