Conscientious Objection is an important part of the Quaker peace testimony. We invite all meetings to send an annual letter to teens ages 14 through 18. This includes both Friends and attenders, and it includes teens of all genders.
How to Use This Letter
Begin Outreach at Age 14
As a meeting, reach to teens starting at age 14 to discuss conscientious objector status. Explain that in the event of a draft, they may have little more than a week to document their resistance to war. It is much easier to refer to a Documents folder than it is to create one from scratch. Documenting beliefs over time is important for any conscientious objector claim.
- Tip: If you are an adult at the meeting who is reaching out to teens, always copy the teen’s parents on email and text correspondence. This is a child safety practice that demonstrates good boundaries.
Build a Network
Local relationships are important in the event of a draft. Work locally to build a shared understanding of conscientious objection and how it relates to Quakers, the Selective Service System, and a possible draft. Within your Meetinghouse, ensure at least two individuals are well-versed in the topic of conscientious objection and are prepared to support young people around this issue.
In the event of a draft, support involves everyone. Set up a point person to receive a response from teens. Maintain contact with Young Adult Friends if they move out of town for the next steps in their lives.
Combat Misinformation
Written June 2026:
At this time, people are sharing misinformation among young people on the internet about automatic registration and the draft. The specific messaging may change over time, but in 2026 it included:
- Misinformation that youth are already being automatically registered
- That automatic registration means induction into the military
- That there are immediate and knowable plans for the resumption of a draft, and more.
Quakers have long advocated for and protected the statutory right to conscientious objection. Today, we must also share accurate information about this issue. Civic and spiritual engagement around this issue matter more than ever.
Email Template
This email template is intended for teens who ascribe to the Peace testimony. It may not apply to some youth, such as high school students who have decided to serve in the military. If this is the case, you will have to discern whether to send the letter or not based upon conversations with the youth’s caregiver.
- Tip: Keep copies of each letter and other supporting evidence in a secure place. You might store digital copies that are available to multiple meeting members, and make a physical copy in the meeting lock box or safe. We recommend adapting the letter slightly for each teen, but that is up to you.
To: Friend Age 14-18
CC: Their parents, First Day School teachers, and Meeting Clerk
Subject Line: Our Peace Testimony and Conscientious Objection to War
Dear [Name],
Greetings! We hope you’re doing well with [activity or hobby]. As members of Meeting, we’d like to invite you into the process of discerning your own Divine leading on the Peace Testimony. We are also writing to let you know that under the National Defense Authorization Act, all people born male [are] / [will soon be] automatically registered for the Selective Service. Registration is the first part of the draft system. It does not mean someone is drafted, but if there were a draft, any person born male age 18-25 could be drafted. They would have as little as 10 days to reply with documentation of their beliefs.
In the event of a draft, would you be a conscientious objector to war? A conscientious objector (CO) is someone who has moral, ethical, or religious convictions that prevent them from participating in war. A CO believes that bearing arms or participating in military violence in all wars is fundamentally wrong due to training and belief. If this is of interest to you, then the first step is to document your work, activism, and beliefs in a conscientious objector folder
Quakers have conscientiously objected to war since their founding. They have worked diligently to support war victims, both military and civilian. They have advocated for peaceful conflict resolution, and are actively seeking a more peaceful and just world. The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) has been at the forefront of securing legal recognition for conscientious objectors to war in the event of a draft.
As you near draft-registration age, we invite you to begin the process of discerning your own Divine leading on the Peace Testimony. Consult with your family and the people you trust. Seek the Meeting’s support at this crucial step in your life. Attaining CO status has become quite difficult in the event of a draft, but it is easier if you start documenting your beliefs today.
Please feel free to call upon us to seek more information, even if you are unsure about your views. We will be happy to discuss this with you and look at resources to get started. Let us know if you are interested in talking further with us. We may be able to arrange a youth training or help you assemble a clearness committee. We’d also like to just stay in touch!
Yours in the Light,
Name
Affiliation or committee, if you are speaking for a group
Follow Up
Meet with any Conscientious Objectors during a monthly Meeting for Business. Listen to the person’s statement of belief and support them in their conviction. Provide, if requested, a clearness committee to help any candidate with both logistics and an opportunity to explore internal questions of conscience. Maintain good record-keeping so that the meeting can verify this person’s presence at Meeting for Business in alignment with their beliefs.
As witness, document the meeting’s response to the CO’s declaration. Write a Minute of Conscience recording the meeting’s support. If possible, publish this Minute and the applicant’s letter in the meeting’s newsletter.
Continue to promote adult and youth religious education. FGC offers lesson plans on Conscientious Objection designed for First Day School. You may also be interested in Stony Run Friends Meeting’s zine about peace that is both accessible and thoughtful. The zine is designed for young children, but all who are young at heart can use it.
Last updated on June 15, 2026. Thank you to Andrew Gorby of Stony Run Friends Meeting for help and advice on updating this page.