New Quaker Denominational Ecumenical Officer Appointed

Introducing Joy Croft the new Denominational Ecumenical Officer (DEO) for the Society of Friends (Quakers) in Norfolk and Waveney

Recently, the Quakers have appointed a new DEO for Norfolk and Waveney - Joy Croft.  Here she briefly introduces herself. 

I’ve attended two DEO committee meetings so far, succeeding Liz Hoffbauer as Quaker representative among our county’s DEOs and have much appreciated the feeling of welcome within the group, and to me as a newcomer in particular.  

I’ve had considerable experience of ecumenical bodies here and in Scotland and interfaith groups as well.  And I have been moved again and again by the sense of community in these groups.  There are differences of course in the ways we name God and the ways we worship, yet we are united in our sense of a greater good and concern for our fellow human beings. 

I grew up in the United States where I had begun a university teaching career in English literature, when the award of a fellowship enabled me to travel to England for a year to research my PhD Thesis.  I fell in love with the depth of history in this country and its love of the arts, and my yearlong visit extended into a lifetime.   

With the new home, necessarily came a new career.  I had joined the Unitarian Church while at university, drawn by its commitment then to social issues like the movement for racial equality in the southern American states.  The name Unitarian is unfortunate, since the church’s concern is not at all with denying the Trinity but with encouraging seekers to find and deepen their own religious understanding.  So, my experience as a teacher was of value here.   

My ministries took me from Plymouth to London Lewisham, to Norwich and finally to Glasgow.  Retiring back to Norwich.  I then joined the Quakers, drawn by their peace testimony and most of all, by a form of worship which asks us to listen in stillness for God’s voice within us.  Settled back in this fine city, I also rejoined the Council of Christians and Jews and Norwich Interfaith Link, both of which I had helped to found here during my Norwich ministry. 

I also have a great love of classical music, singing with the UEA Choir and attending as many concerts as possible.  I am secretary of Norwich’s Peace Council and support CND’s work for nuclear disarmament.  I have never had very much eyesight and sadly lost all I had in an accident four years ago.  I am immensely grateful to the friends I have made along the way, who give me the help I need with getting around, and continuing to live this full life despite my disability. 

I look forward to getting to know my fellow DEOs better and will always be glad to hear from anyone who has an ecumenical query or concern and, of course, I am excited to explore the common ground we share between our different Christian traditions.  

To contact Joy, you can email her at  joyful.croft@gmail.com or phone on 01603 629908.  

Article and AI image by Dr Ian Watson 

Photo of Joy courtesy of CND Norwich