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.