Meeting for Sufferings is the standing representative body entrusted with the general care of matters affecting Britain Yearly Meeting and, in the intervals between Yearly Meetings, the making of decisions and the issuing of statements in the name of Britain Yearly Meeting. Within our church government it exercises discernment on priorities and receives regular interim reports for information and consultation on the Britain Yearly Meeting Trustees’ work. It has a part to play in developing a visionary and prophetic role for the whole yearly meeting and in fostering communication throughout the yearly meeting.

The functions of Meeting for Sufferings are:

1. to set the priorities for the centrally managed work in its long-term plan, which would interpret the wishes of the Yearly Meeting and the concerns of the area meetings, taking into account its knowledge of the detailed aspirations and plans of the central and other standing committees, the advice of the Britain Yearly Meeting Trustees and the funds available;
2. to issue public statements in the name of Britain Yearly Meeting (3.28);
3. to receive regular interim reports for information and consultation on the work of the Britain Yearly Meeting Trustees (8.03);
4. to receive the Britain Yearly Meeting Trustees’ annual report and financial statements for information, as forwarded by the Trustees to Yearly Meeting (8.03);
5. to make a report on its own activities to Yearly Meeting each year;
6. to determine the dates of Yearly Meeting and where it will be held, on the recommendation of the Yearly Meeting Agenda Committee (6.16); it may summon a Special Yearly Meeting should occasion arise;
7. to deliberate on how best to support the spiritual life of the yearly meeting and to further the development of its visionary and prophetic role;
8. to keep under review and to test as appropriate the existing and new concerns referred to it by area meetings and others (4.19, 4.20, 13.13);
9. to foster communication throughout the yearly meeting;
10. to receive minutes from area meetings and, when thought appropriate, pass them to Britain Yearly Meeting Trustees and the central or other standing committees for attention;
11. to make appropriate entries in the prison and court register (7.01);
12. to appoint representatives to attend other Yearly Meetings as thought fit;
13. to receive information about changes in the composition or status of general meetings and regional gatherings (5.07);
14. to make changes in the composition of area meetings (4.12);
15. to give assistance to area meetings in the amicable settlement of disputes (4.23);
16. to hear appeals against area meeting decisions (4.25–4.26);
17. to give guidance on policy matters referred to it by the Britain Yearly Meeting Trustees from time to time;
18. to authorise action and minutes as required under other sections of Quaker faith & practice;
19. to set up an Arrangements Group and support and working groups to assist its own work as it sees fit.