September 16, 2014

Dear Friends:

At its Meeting for Worship on the Occasion of Business, 14th day, 9th month, 2014, Redwood Forest Friends Meeting united on the following minute:

In accord with our peace testimony,

“The work of peace is the work of sustaining relationships of mutual human regard, of seeking and speaking to that of God in everyone,
of seeking peace within ourselves, the family, the community and the world”

PYM Faith and Practice, page 44

Redwood Forest Friends Meeting encourages all acts of compassion and kindness directed toward the children who have left their home countries under conditions of fear and intimidation and have entered the United States in the hopes that by crossing our borders they may find peace and safety. We oppose their prolonged incarceration in detention facilities or deportation back to their countries of origin where their lives are in danger.

We join hands with citizens, immigrants, and elected officials of the United States who are working to provide these children with food, shelter, medical care, due process in their immigration proceedings, and hope for a better life. We also support all non- violent efforts to alleviate the conditions in their countries of origin that caused them to flee.

We fervently hope for a peaceful and just resolution to their plight that may eventually result in their reunification with their families and loved ones.

As we await guidance from the Spirit as to the specific actions that our Meeting will be asked to take, our Peace and Social Witness Committee has formed a Subcommittee on Refugee Children to gather information, participate in forums with other Meetings and non-Quaker groups, and to aid in discernment which may lead to actions for the Meeting.

If your Meeting is engaging with this issue, we would be very glad to hear how you are being led.

Faithfully yours,

Barbara Babin, clerk