“We utterly deny all outward wars and strife and fighting with outward weapons, for any end or under any pretense whatsoever. And this is our testimony to the whole world. ” — The “Peace Testimony”, George Fox’s Declaration to Charles II, 1660

For some 350 years, Friends have held the right of conscience – the following of the leadings of the Spirit, “the Light Within” – to be paramount. Central to our faith and practice, we are called upon to abjure all war, and to seek out the causes and seeds of war among us.

Today, the leadings of the Spirit are still working among some who, through whatever circumstance, find themselves called upon to kill, or otherwise participate in organized military efforts that result in the death of others. When faced with the possibilities of losing their homes, their freedom, and their personal security, and placing their families at risk, those who feel led to obey the dictates of conscience may seek those sharing similar leadings for clearness and assistance.

Friends have a unique history in assisting those who have made the difficult decision not to kill, even placing ourselves at risk in order to do so. Olympia Monthly Meeting asks that all Friends consider this calling in the light of our history and our continuing experience of the Spirit, and act as they feel called. Specifically:

• We invite [Quaker] Monthly Meetings within North Pacific Yearly Meeting to join us as we consider adopting minutes affirming our historic commitment to assist those who, for reasons of conscience, can not participate in killing.
• We invite North Pacific Yearly Meeting and other Yearly Meetings to consider affirming this commitment.
• We invite individual [Quaker] Meetings and their members to consider and season how best to assist those who leave or consider leaving military service for reasons of conscience.
• We invite [Quaker] Meetings in Canada and elsewhere outside the United States to consider how they can assist those who leave or consider leaving military service in the United States for reasons of conscience.
• We ask Monthly and Yearly [Quaker] Meetings in the United States to work with and support Canadian and other Meetings outside the United States in this effort.
• We invite both Monthly and Yearly [Quaker] Meetings to consider witnessing to our adherence to our historic calling publicly in any and all ways which seem appropriate.

The Olympia Friends Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) opposes the current bombing and planned invasion of Iraq by the United States of America. We urge our government to work with the international community to seek diplomatic solutions to conflicts with Iraq. We join people of conscience, other faiths and churches who oppose this dangerous and misguided thrust toward violence. A U.S. attack on Iraq will destroy thousands of lives.

We must use America’s power to break from the past, reject violence and build international institutions of law and order, economic and political justice and environmental protection. Positive U.S. leadership would catalyze people of good will all over the world to effective action. The lives of our children and grandchildren can be liberated from the terror and hatred our own generation is enduring.

We oppose war, believing it is the ultimate rejection of God’s creation. We believe that the sources of violence can be exposed and transformed through creative, courageous and unexpected acts that restore justice, heal human relationships and untangle the deep roots of conflict.

We seek peace and justice through such nonviolent means as God would have for us all.

Olympia Friends Meeting feels the deepest sadness and grief for the victims of the catastrophe of September 11, and all the victims across the globe, of war, ethnic cleansing, exploitation, terrorism, unjust imprisonment, torture, and all other horrific acts of violence. They and those that mourn them are in our daily thoughts, prayers and meditations.

In our lives and work we feel deeply connected with our country, and seek a similar connection with every nation of the world. The daily suffering experienced worldwide due to hunger, injustice and terror renews our commitment to a right sharing of the Earth’s resources and the nonviolent resolution of conflicts.

We have living experience of the transforming power of nonviolent response to violence. We oppose war, believing it is the ultimate rejection of God’s creation. We believe that the sources of violence can be exposed and transformed through creative, courageous and unexpected acts that restore justice, heal human relationships and untangle the deep roots of this conflict.

We seek peace and justice through nonviolent means as God would have it for us all.

For 350 years the Religious Society of Friends has refrained from taking part in war.

Do we search for and honor that of God in everyone?

The Olympia Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quaker) affirms its opposition to the death penalty. We believe that every person is of value to God and is sacred. We uphold our historic testimony against the taking of human life, for any reason and under any circumstances. While our sympathies lie deeply with the victims, their families and friends, we also realize the suffering of the families and friends of the criminal. Executions restore no victim, brings no closure to families, and further numbs society to hatred and violence. We support efforts to find alternatives to execution, mindful of the sacredness of every life.

Olympia Friends Meeting affirms its willingness to take under its care the marriage of both opposite and same-sex couples using the traditional clearness process. People asking for marriage under the care of the Meeting should be members of the Meeting or long-term regular attenders. We are aware of the diversity of attitudes toward the term “marriage” and leave to the couple to characterize their relationship.

The Meeting regrets that the State does not recognize same-gender relationships as having the same legal and spiritual status as heterosexual relationships and commits itself to working to change the law so all marriages will be recognized both as spiritual and legal commitments.