In Robin DuRant’s Los Angeles community, people are still rebuilding from January’s wildfires. At an iconic flower stand, fresh flowers were recently set out, but the people who sold them disappeared. They have not returned. A short walk from her monthly meeting, children watched as a bus stop was raided in plain sight of their elementary school. A Friend in a neighboring community attended a peaceful demonstration near his meetinghouse. He was hit in the face with a rubber bullet and lost his sight.

“It’s alive for us in L.A.,” she says, noting that many people of color, indigenous, and other marginalized groups have lived with daily threats for generations. Robin is the clerk of Pacific Yearly Meeting, which covers California, Hawaii, Nevada, and Mexico City. At their annual sessions in July, PacYM found unity in the decision to join several other faith groups in a new Democracy Forward lawsuit challenging the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and trying to keep Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents out of meetinghouses and other places of worship.

In its capacity to serve as the association of 16 affiliated yearly meetings and 562 monthly meetings, FGC is representing Friends in another lawsuit. FGC joined this interfaith suit, along with two dozen diverse religious groups across the country, to protect religious freedom in the face of new immigration policies. As these and other cases related to Friends move through the federal courts, check fgcquaker.org/litigation for updates.

FGC is representing Friends in this litigation while continuing to offer a variety of ongoing programs and events. Can you give today to help stand up for religious freedom and provide vital ministries for Friends?

FGC’s mission is to nurture the spiritual vitality of the Religious Society of Friends. FGC ministries include opportunities for deep spiritual growth and connection, like religious education, the bookstore, and the annual Gathering. FGC also facilitates conversations with yearly meetings clerks — like Robin — so they can better support and learn from one another. In the broader world, we nurture relationships with other faith groups, such as representing Friends in the World Council of Churches. As we formally stand with interfaith partners, these relationships are increasingly important.  

In the early 1980s, a group of Quakers were led to deepen their solidarity with immigrants in Central America. That contributed to the beginning of the interfaith sanctuary movement. These litigations we’ve signed on to, as well as the countless ways Friends and meetings are standing together with their immigrant communities, are steps on a much longer journey. Along the way, we are invited to stay faithful to our testimonies and the “power with” processes and dynamics that help us discern together what Spirit is calling us to do.

Despite the challenges facing her community, Robin finds strength through her connection with FGC. “The intangible benefit to being part of a larger association of Friends is knowing that we’re all living into Spirit together, being messengers of love and light in the world.”

As FGC is called to serve Friends in new ways, your support is needed more than ever.  Please consider donating to strengthen FGC as an association of Friends so together we can provide vital ministries and bring more love and Light into the world.

FGC’s fiscal year ends September 30. Between now and then, a generous Friend is offering to double the impact of your gift, matching it dollar for dollar, up to $20,000. If you start a new recurring monthly donation, your gift will be triple matched!

Please consider donating today. Your gift will strengthen the spiritual vitality of Friends.