Williamsburg Friends Meeting
Minutes
Personnel Policy of the Friends United Meeting Board (2005)
National Response to 11September01 Violence (2001)
Same Gender Commitments (1993)
WFM Minute on a Personnel Policy of the Friends United Meeting Board
Williamsburg Friends Meeting opposes Minute 88-GB-52 of the Friends United Meeting Board, now being applied to all staff and volunteer appointees of FUM, and reading in part: “For the purpose of our corporate life together, we affirm our traditional testimony that sexual intercourse should be confined to the bonds of marriage, which we understand to be between one man and one woman.” We find three points of disagreement.
First, the elaboration of this policy states that Friends are selected for leadership “without regard to sexual orientation” but “not without regard to whether they are in same gender relationships.” This implies that there is a class of persons whom FUM Friends would force to choose between full and active participation in Quaker life, and living those bonds of intimacy and commitment that are among life’s richest and most sustaining experiences. This class includes gay, lesbian, and bisexual persons. We reject this idea.
Second, the insistence that unmarried heterosexuals in committed relationships are also unfit to serve as leaders presumes to judge the complex actions of others. It pretends to know that sexuality has only one appropriate expression. The judgmental focus on this one aspect of human behavior implies that some persons are righteous and others are sinners, and that human beings can and should judge which is which. The policy and its implied judgments are disturbingly reminiscent of the unfortunate time during which Friends were disowned for marrying out of Meeting.
Third, this policy appears to have been elevated to the status of doctrine to which one must subscribe in order to serve Friends United Meeting in any capacity. We find such a stand coercive and inconsistent with Friends’ testimony against dogma, doctrine, and loyalty oaths. Capable and committed Friends are, by virtue of this policy, prohibited from lending their gifts to serve the Meeting.
We are aware that this discriminatory policy has been put in place in an effort to do God’s will as interpreted from a reading of the Bible. Much that is found in the Bible is alive with spirit. But throughout the centuries, persons have turned to the Bible to justify acts of emotional and physical violence. Modern-day Quakers set aside Biblical injunctions to stone adulterous women, to sell children, or to keep slaves, in order to hear the good news that each of us is loved and acceptable, that God’s hospitality has no bounds. We implore the FUM Board to turn away from the darkness of ancient practices and permit the Light of that good news to shine.
Williamsburg Friends are united in protesting the policy of the FUM Board. We assert that under no circumstances do the responsible sexual behaviors of men and women justify their exclusion from full participation in the life of Friends United Meeting. We know that each of these brothers and sisters offers unique gifts that can only enrich and deepen the Meeting. We are saddened at the heartache suffered by Friends who are subjected to systematic discrimination. We wait in hope and confidence for the repeal of this policy, which is causing needless pain to many dear Friends.
--Approved 08th day 05th month 2005
WFM Minute on National Response to 11September01 Violence
For over three hundred years, Friends have been guided by a conviction that there is "that of God" in every person. This belief is the root of our settled intention to practice love, peace, and nonviolence.
Williamsburg Friends grieve with the families and friends of those who were injured or killed in the brutal, unthinkable attacks of September 11. We know that acts of terrorism are morally reprehensible, and that we must work diligently to prevent further trauma and loss of life. Yet, we also know that a revengeful response of retaliation will spiral an insidious cycle of violence. Gandhi reminded us that taking an eye for an eye results in more blindness.
We acknowledge our profound outrage as we struggle to cope with our grief and fear. We admit the impulse to hurt those who have hurt us, and we accept it as a common human reaction. Yet, we know the futility of acting on these feelings and impulses. At such a time, how grateful we are to turn to our peace testimony to find our point of orientation.
On November 21, 1660, George Fox and other Friends, in the face of persecution and trial declared the following to Charles II: "The spirit of Christ, by which we are guided, is not changeable, so as to once command us from a thing as evil and again to move unto it; and we do certainly know, and so testify to the world, that the spirit of Christ which leads us into all Truth will never move us to fight and war against any man with outward weapons, neither for the kingdom of Christ, nor for any kingdoms of this world."
With relief and gratitude, we claim this testimony for our own. We hear in these words a powerful and unambiguous imperative. God calls us to wage peace. He calls us to live in the Light of brotherhood and sisterhood. To that end, we support all those who are trying to understand the complicated political and emotional roots of the hatred and despair underlying acts of terror. We believe that any real solution must be grounded in love and compassion.
At all times, it takes a conscious and sustained effort to love our neighbors. The current global situation is complex and dangerous, and seeking nonviolent interventions and responses is particularly challenging. There is much hard work to be done. Waging peace does not mean hiding from the world, or ignoring the presence of evil. It does mean exploring creative options for diffusing hatred and stopping violence. It is an intelligent, courageous, active, openhearted, open-minded striving for new, humane, human solutions. This is the challenge borne of our current crisis. As Quakers, we bring to the table the conviction that nonviolence is the path that leads to resolution, healing, and reconciliation.
–Approved 09th day 12th month 2001
WFM Minute on Same Gender Commitments
The Williamsburg Friends Meeting is committed to the spiritual development of its members and attenders. In that spirit, the Meeting extends its active support to couples who make life-long commitments, regardless of their sexual preference. Same gender relationships may be affirmed in a celebration of commitment under the care of the Williamsburg Meeting. The customary process for Quaker marriage will be followed. In this way, the Williamsburg Friends Meeting declares its intention to embrace all couples who make life-long commitments, and who wish to live these out in the manner of Friends.
--Approved 14th day 03rd month 1993
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Last update: 05th day 03rd month 2008