A longstanding tradition among Friends is to record in a paragraph or two a spiritually grounded moral or conscientious position on a topic of concern in contemporary society. For instance, a number of minutes have been written and circulated over the years opposing the death penalty. The minute is intended as a public witness on the issue, and proceeds from a palpable sense of the meeting, not just a lukewarm “okay.” Sometimes, it is reached after a long struggle and represents a new understanding. Copies are often sent to pertinent politicians and/or others and sent to newspapers as letters to the editor.
Please submit additional minutes using the link below. This page is updated approximately once every six weeks.
Anti-Racism
- Racial Justice, Red Cedar (MI) Friends Meeting – 2023
- Reparations, Cedar (MI) Friends Meeting – 2023
- Racism and Anti-racism, Cannon Friends Meeting – 2023
- Minute on Ending Police Violence – Akron (OH) Friends Meeting – 2022
- Statement Against Expression of Racism in Our Country, Philadelphia Yearly Meeting – 2022
- Hatred, Racist Violence, and Domestic Terrorism Minute, Atlanta (GA) Friends Meeting – 2021
- Statement on Anti-Asian Violence, New York Yearly Meeting – 2021
- Minute on Reparative Justice and Reconciliation, Atlanta (GA) Friends Meeting – 2021
- Minute on Reparations, North Pacific Yearly Meeting – 2021
- Anti-Racism Minute, Akron (OH) Friends Meeting – 2021
- Anti-Racism Minute, Atlanta (GA) Friends Meeting – 2020
- Anti-Racism Minute, Pittsburgh (PA) Friends Meeting – 2020
- Anti-Racism Minute, Broadmead (OH) Friends Meeting – 2020
- Blessed Are Those Who Protest – Detroit (MI) Friends Meeting – 2020
- Becoming an Anti-Racist Meeting, Red Cedar (MI) Friends Meeting – 2020
- Responding to Systemic Racism and Police Violence, North Columbus (OH) Meeting – 2020
- Stop Militarizing Law Enforcement – Red Cedar (MI) Friends Meeting – 2020
- In Support of Bail Reform, New York Yearly Meeting – 2019
- Response to Domestic Terrorism in Charlottesville – New York Yearly Meeting, 2017
- Apology to Afro-Descendants, New York Yearly Meeting – 2013
- Minute on Race & Racism, New York Yearly meeting – 2009
- Minute on Racism, New England Yearly Meeting – 2003
Environment and Sustainability
- Minute to Address the Climate Crisis, Northern Yearly Meeting – 2022
- Against Release of Radioactive Water, New York Yearly Meeting – 2021
- Earthcare Minute, New York Yearly Meeting, 2021
- Minute on Eco-Spirituality, New York Yearly Meeting – 2007
- Sustainability, Ohio Valley Yearly Meeting – 2002
- Mindful Eating and Compassion for Animals, 15th Street (NY) Friends Meeting, 2021
Immigration
- Minute on Immigration, Boulder (CO) Friends Meeting, 2025
Indigenous Concerns
- Minute of Unity Refuting the 1626 Schaghen Letter, Salem (NJ) Quarterly Meeting – 2024
- Denouncing the Doctrine of Discovery, Milwaukee (WI) Monthly Meeting – 2023
- Federal Recognition of the Brothertown Indian Nation, Northern Yearly Meeting – 2023
- Minute to Renounce the Doctrine of Discovery, Winnebago Worship Group
- Supporting the Establishment of a Federal Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies in the US, Salem (NJ) Quarterly Meeting – 2022
- Renouncing the Doctrine of Discovery, Northern Yearly Meeting
- Minute on Native Boarding School Legislation, North Carolina Yearly Meeting (Conservative) – 2022
- Doctrine of Discovery & Quaker Boarding Schools, Kickapoo Valley Monthly Meeting – 2021
- Truth and Healing Commission for Native Peoples, New York Yearly Meeting – 2021
- Minute on Truth & Healing Commission on Indian Boarding Schools, Northern Yearly Meeting
- Supporting Standing Rock, Athens (OH) Friends Meeting – 2016
- Supporting Standing Rock, New York Yearly Meeting – 2016
- Supporting Standing Rock, Oberlin (OH) Friends Meeting – 2016
- Truth and Reconciliation, Canadian Yearly Meeting – 2016
- Truth and Reconciliation, Canadian Yearly Meeting – 2015
- Repudiating the Doctrine of Discovery, New York Yearly Meeting – 2015
- Supporting the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Tribal Nation’s NJ State Reaffirmation, Salem (NJ) Quarterly Meeting – 2015
- Repudiating the Doctrine of Discovery, Bayou Quarterly Meeting – 2015
- Rights of Indigenous People, Intermountain Yearly Meeting – 2014
- Letter Supporting Leonard Peltier’s Release from Prison, New York Yearly Meeting, 2014
- Intention to Make Amends, New England Yearly Meeting – 2013
- Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People, Salem (NJ) Quarterly Meeting – 2013
- Rights of Indigenous People, Philadelphia Yearly Meeting – 2013
- Repudiating the Doctrine of Discovery, Boulder (CO) Monthly Meeting – 2013
- Repudiating the Doctrine of Discovery, New England Yearly Meeting – 2013
- Repudiating the Doctrine of Discovery, New York Yearly Meeting – 2012
- Declaration of Rights of Indigenous People, New York Yearly Meeting – 2012
- Declaration of Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Central Philadelphia (PA) Meeting – 2012
- Declaration of Rights of Indigenous People, Germantown (PA) Meeting – 2012
- Repudiating the Doctrine of Discovery, Cobscook (ME) Meeting – 2010
- Repudiating the Doctrine of Discovery, New York Yearly Meeting – 2010
- Rejecting the Doctrine of Discovery, Baltimore Yearly Meeting – 2010
- Declaration of Rights of Indigenous People, State College (PA) Meeting – 2010
- Declaration of Rights of Indigenous People, Vancouver Island (Canada) Monthly Meeting – 2010
- Declaration of Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Butternuts (NY) Monthly Meeting – 2010
LGBT Concerns
- Gender and Sexual Equality – Updated, Memphis (TN) Friends Meeting – 2021
- Minute Welcoming and Affirming Transgender People, North Columbus (OH) Friends Meeting – 2018
- Sexuality and Gender Equality, Ohio Valley Yearly Meeting – 2011
- Minute Welcoming and Affirming Marriage, North Columbus (OH) Friends Meeting – 1993
- A Minute of Concern for Trans People, 15th Street (NY) Friends Meeting, 2023
Marriage Equality
- Against “Defense of Marriage” Laws, Ohio Valley Yearly Meeting – 2004
- Minute of Welcoming and Affirming Marriage, North Columbus (OH) Friends Meeting – 1993
Peace
- Statement on Seeking a Just Peace in Israel/Palestine, Friends Meeting of Washington (DC) – 2024
- Minute on Ukraine, Cannon Valley (MN) Friends Meeting – 2024
- Abolition of the Death Penalty, Akron (OH) Friends Meeting – 2023
- Minute on the Conflict in Israel/Palestine, Friends Meeting of Washington (DC) – 2023
- Minute on Gaza War, Red Cedar (MI) Friends Meeting – 2023
- Minute on Ceasefire in the Middle East, Cannon Valley (MN) Friends Meeting – 2023
- Minute on the War in Ukraine, Friends Meeting of Washington (DC) – 2022
- Minute on Gun Violence, Northern Yearly Meeting
- Minute on Nuclear Weapons, Ohio Valley Yearly Meeting – 2021
- Banning Nuclear Weapons – Lake Erie Yearly Meeting, 2018
- Divest From Israel’s Occupation – Lake Erie Yearly Meeting, 2017
- Minute Supporting the Nuclear Weapons Ban, Multnomah Friends Meeting – 2017
- Against Arms Sales in Canada, Canadian Friends Service Committee – 2016
- Gaza and Israel, Ohio Valley Yearly Meeting – 2014
- Statement on Abolition of Nuclear Weapons, Ohio Valley Yearly Meeting – 2013
- Declaration on Peace and Violence, Ohio Valley Yearly Meeting – 2011
- On the 10th Anniversary of September 11th, New York Yearly Meeting – 2011
- Countering Defense Spending, Lake Erie Yearly Meeting – 2010
- Minute Against Torture, New York Yearly Meeting – 2008
- Abolition of the Death Penalty, Lake Erie Yearly Meeting – 2007
- Refraining from War With Iran, New York Yearly Meeting – 2007
- Minute on Conscientious Objection, New York Yearly Meeting – 2006
- Religious Freedom Peace Tax Fund Act, Ohio Valley Yearly Meeting – 2002
- Peace Testimony Statement, North Carolina Yearly Meeting (Conservative) – 1994
- Terrorism and War, George Fox – 1660
- A Minute of Concern for the People of Palestine and Israel, 15th Street (NY) Friends Meeting, 2023
Reproductive Health
- Minute on Reproductive Health, Oxford (OH) Friends Meeting
- Minute on Reproductive Rights, Red Cedar (MI) Friends Meeting
- Minute on Reproductive Health, Brainerd Friends Meeting
- Minute on Health Care, New York Yearly Meeting – 2009
- A Minute of Concern for Reproductive Health Care, 15th Street (NY) Friends Meeting
- A Minute of Concern for Reproductive Rights, 15th Street (NY) Friends Meeting, 2023
This list was first assembled by Mathilda Navias and Carl Stanton in 2022. Last updated by FGC staff on March 3, 2025.