This page gathers minutes of conscience that Quaker meetings have written about reproductive health. A minute of conscience is a statement of belief that a meeting reaches together, after a process of group discernment, sometimes called “waiting worship” or seeking unity. A minute is not a law or a rule. It is a record of what a community of Friends came to believe, together, after careful thought and prayer.
Quakers do not have one single official position on reproductive health that every meeting must follow. Each Quaker meeting reaches its own decisions through its own process of prayerful discussion. That said, many of the minutes listed below share common themes. They speak about respecting each person’s right to make decisions about their own body and health care. They speak about acting with compassion and care, especially toward people who have few choices or little access to care. And many minutes express concern when laws limit access to reproductive health care, including birth control, abortion, and other reproductive medical care.
Below, you will find links to minutes written by different Quaker meetings, along with a few outside resources for reproductive health care and reproductive rights.
Minutes of Conscience
The minutes of conscience listed here are broadly about reproductive health.
- A Minute of Concern for Reproductive Rights, 15th Street (NY) Friends Meeting, 2023
- Minute on Reproductive Health, Brainerd (MN) Friends Meeting, 2023
- Minute on Reproductive Rights, Red Cedar (MI) Friends Meeting, 2022
- Minute on Health Care, New York Yearly Meeting, 2009
- A Minute of Concern for Reproductive Health Care, 15th Street (NY) Friends Meeting
Reproductive Health Resources
Last updated on June 28, 2026.