Friends General Conference (FGC) works with people of many faiths to support peace, justice, and dignity for all. Quakers have a long history of joining with others to protect human rights and to lift up the worth of every person. Today, FGC continues this work by building respectful connections with partners across different religions and spiritual traditions.
Interfaith relations help FGC live out core Quaker values: listening deeply, acting with integrity, and standing with people who are harmed or marginalized. Through shared statements, joint actions, and legal efforts, we work together for a more just and compassionate world.
How FGC Discerns Interfaith Public Statements
FGC sometimes signs interfaith public statements when the issue speaks to our shared values and raises a matter of conscience. These statements often address human rights, discrimination, or the protection of vulnerable communities.
The General Secretary of Friends General Conference may sign these statements with support from FGC’s governance leadership and in consultation with representatives from yearly meetings and affiliated monthly meetings. This process helps ensure that the decision reflects broad Quaker unity and care.
When deciding whether to sign a statement, we consider:
- Does this issue relate to Quaker testimonies such as equality, peace, and integrity?
- Is the statement consistent with FGC’s mission and ongoing work?
- Does this action support people who are facing harm or injustice?
- Have we consulted with leaders and representatives from across FGC?
This careful process helps ensure that interfaith signing is grounded in spiritual reflection and corporate discernment.
Standing with People in Need
Interfaith partnerships help FGC respond to real needs in the world. Here are two recent examples of how we have joined with others:
Supporting Transgender People
FGC joined a broad interfaith coalition to affirm the dignity and safety of transgender people. Along with many other religious organizations, we signed a public statement calling for respect, acceptance, and protection for trans people during a time of increasing harm and discrimination.
Read the interfaith statement.
Standing with Immigrant Communities
FGC also joined a lawsuit challenging harmful government actions that threatened immigrant families. Working with other organizations, we sought to uphold basic human rights and ensure that immigrants were treated fairly and humanely.
Learn more about the lawsuit.
These actions reflect our belief that Quakers must stand with people who are at risk, and must act together with others when moral clarity is needed.
Why Interfaith Work Matters to FGC
Working with people of other faiths helps us:
- Build stronger partnerships for justice
- Raise a clearer, unified moral voice
- Learn from the wisdom of many traditions
- Model compassion and respect across differences
- Support communities facing harm or discrimination
By joining with others, we can do more good than we could ever do alone.
Ongoing Interfaith Connections
FGC’s Christian and Interfaith Relations Committee (CIRC) helps us maintain strong relationships with other faith groups and ecumenical partners. The committee supports learning, dialogue, and shared action. While CIRC does not make final decisions about public statements, it helps shape FGC’s understanding of how we can work faithfully with others.
Join Us in Building Interfaith Community
Interfaith relations are an important part of how FGC lives out its ministry in the world. We welcome Friends who feel led to support this work through:
- Relationship-building
- Public witness
- Education and dialogue
- Participation in shared statements or actions
Together, we can help build a world rooted in justice, compassion, and respect for all people.
If you would like to learn more or connect with our interfaith work, we invite you to reach out.