Baltimore Yearly Meeting reaffirms the Religious Society of Friends’ historic peace testimony and Friends’ historic peace witness. We commit ourselves, individually and collectively, to live in ways that take away the occasion for war. We affirm that of God in ourselves and in all others, including those who attempt to do us harm. In these commitments we are pulled by an ideal and pushed by reality. The ideal is our desire to follow in the way of Jesus of Nazareth and the reality is the suffering and ultimate inadequacy of war.

As we affirm the unchanging principles of peace, we acknowledge the radically changed nature of war. As we have in the past, we continue to support and offer a sanctuary to those who reject violence in all its forms, in conscience and in deed.

We understand the need for all of us as individuals to discern faithfully how God calls us to live our peace testimony. We acknowledge the struggle of the individual to discern ways of achieving justice and peace as a means to take away the occasion of further violence and war of any kind. We challenge ourselves and all who share the peace testimony to open ourselves to the leading of the Spirit, the Seed of Christ, the Inner Light, so that we can find new ways to make our peace witness relevant and effective in today’s climate.

Should we not broadcast this statement to the world? and

Do Friends wish to encourage continued discussion of this Minute in their Monthly Meetings?

 

Approved at Baltimore Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends Annual Session,  29 Seventh Month, 2003