Peace and Social Concerns

II. General Concerns
A. The Sacredness of Human Life
B. The Sacredness of Christian Marriage

III. Specific Issues
          A. Capital Punishment
          B. Lottery
          C. Racism
          D. Vulgarity in the Media
          E. Habitat for Humanity
          F. Bioethics
          G. Conscientious Objection
          H. Torture
          I.   Environment

“With faith in the wisdom of Almighty God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, and believing that it is His purpose to make His Church on earth a power for righteousness and truth, the Friends labor for the alleviation of human suffering; for the intellectual, moral and spiritual elevation of mankind; and for purified and exalted citizenship. The Friends believe war to be incompatible with Christianity, and seek to promote peaceful methods for the settlement of all the differences between nations and between men.

It is an essential part of the faith that a man should be in truth what he professes in word, and the underlying principle of life and action for individuals, and also for society is transformation through the power of God and implicit obedience to His revealed will.”

“Our principle is, and our practices have always been, to seek peace and ensue it and to follow after righteousness and the knowledge of God, seeking the good and welfare and doing that which tends to the peace of all. We know that wars and fightings proceed from the lusts of men, out of which lusts the Lord hath redeemed us, and so out of the occasion of war. . .we do certainly know, and so testify to the world, that the spirit of Christ, which leads us into all Truth, will never move us to fight and war against any man with outward weapons, neither for the kingdom of Christ, nor for the kingdoms of this world.”
(Declaration of 1660)

“The concern that Friends feel to take up and share the burden of the world’s suffering springs out of their central faith and intimate fellowship of worship. The liberation, enlargement, and fulfillment of man’s life is the ideal objective of Friends in every humanitarian undertaking. As they endeavor to transform oppressive social and economic systems, to end war, to eliminate brutal and degrading forms of punishment, and to remedy other harmful conditions, it is with the positive conviction that they are laboring in the service of the Master, Jesus Christ.”
(Faith and Practice, page 34)

“From the earliest beginnings Friends have testified that all human life is sacred because its Creator made it so. . .Today these testimonies as to the sacredness of human life still hold. . .After 300 years this concern relative to the sacredness and worth of the individual is still central to our basic beliefs and principles.”
(Foundations for Membership, pages 42, 45, 46)

“Jesus said, the Scriptures record that from the beginning God made them male and female. This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one. Since they are no longer two but one, let no one separate them, for God has joined them together.”
(Matthew 19:4-6, The New Living Translation)

“Marriage is a sacred institution graciously ordained by the Creator himself, for the help and continuance of the human family. It is a solemn engagement for the term of life, and should be entered into reverently, advisedly, and with full consciousness of the guidance and sanction of Him who ordained it, and who alone can consummate the spiritual union of two hearts and lives. The home and family were honored and blessed by our Lord; and when he wished to portray the Kingdom of Heaven he drew his figures from these relationships.”
(Faith and Practice, page 49)

“Concerning Friends taking one another in marriage, and also of kindred and how Christ the restorer was now bringing them to the beginning, namely one man and one woman, not many, as also when they take one another to have a certificate of their good behavior, life and conversation, and of their coming in order to marriage twice to the women’s meeting and twice to the men. And whereas there hath been upon several accounts much wickedness, both as to marrying kin and of two wives at once, or two husbands, and being unclean to married persons, to such he used very sharp reproof.”
(Journal of George Fox, Nickalls edition, page 598)

“Their testimony against capital punishment is based on the belief that it is a violation of the sacredness of human personality, that it disregards the fundamental capacity of all persons to respond to right influences, and that it gives no opportunity to reform the offender.”
(Faith and Practice, page 44)

“Friends should not indulge in any form of lotteries or gambling, as such is inconsistent with the teaching of the Holy Scriptures and morally wrong. The Christian imperative is to provide for ‘honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men’( 2 Corinthians 8:21).”
(Faith and Practice, page 50)

“It is the concern of Friends that white peoples, Native Americans, African Americans, Orientals, and all other peoples may share equally in the heritage of justice, freedom, and brotherly love, which is their inalienable right.”
(Faith and Practice, page 45)

We are very concerned about the increase of vulgarity in the media. We believe that this is a profound influence that does nothing but corrupt society and hurt many innocent individuals.

“Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes--these are not for you. . .Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, rebuke and expose them. It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret.”
(Ephesians 5:3, 4, 11, 12)

“But of all these wretched inventions, the playhouses do most perniciously conduce to these sad and miserable ends; where little besides frothy, wanton, if not directly obscene and profane humours are represented, which are of notoriously ill consequence upon the minds of most; especially the youth that frequent them. And thus it is that idle and debauched stages are encouraged and maintained; than which scarcely a greater abomination can be thought on of that rank of impieties.”
(No Cross, No Crown, pages 238, 239)

You may want to contact your local television stations. In the Greensboro area the following information might be helpful:

One of the concrete ways that you can show your concern for the poor is participate in some way in the building of affordable housing for the poor through the Habitat for Humanity program. If your meeting or quarterly meeting has not started such a program please appoint someone to get the ball rolling. You can make a big difference in the lives of needy people as you work together with others of like mind.

We are still dealing with the application of the traditional Quaker testimony on the sacredness of human life as it applies to such issues as abortion, euthanasia, embryonic stem cell research, cloning, etc. Friends are encouraged to be open to a better understanding of these issues.

Conscientious Objection

We encourage young men as well as young women to write out their convictions in regard to war and violence. For more information, go to the following web sites:
www.COregistry.org
www.quakerhillbooks.org
www.FGCquaker.org
We also encourage young friends to send their written statements to their monthly meeting and to the yearly meeting as well as the North Carolina Repository for Conscientious Objection.

We condemn the use of torture of prisoners captured during any kind of war or conflict by any nation including our own.

We are commanded as stewards of God's Creation to tend it and take care of it. It is important that we become more aware of environmental issues and become more active in their solutions. We have a moral responsibility towards all of creation. God's creation is to be respected, protected, and restored to what God intended.
For more information contact www.QuakerEarthcare.org
or www.christiansandclimate.org