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.

The list below represents minutes of conscience that were discovered via web search in 2022, as well as a few submissions. Please contact the Communications Team via the contact page if you have a submission.

Anti-Racism

Environment and Sustainability

Indigenous Concerns

LGBT Concerns

Marriage Equality

Peace

Reproductive Health

This list was first assembled by Mathilda Navias and Carl Stanton in 2022. Last updated March 6, 2024.


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