30
July 2004
To
Friends Everywhere
Baltimore
Yearly Meeting is deeply troubled by Minute 88-GB-52 of Friends
United Meeting (FUM) General Board as applied in the Staff’s 1991
personnel manual. This
policy effectively bars from staff and leadership positions those
Friends who cannot sign, abide by and enforce a policy of discrimination
against any person in a sexual relationship outside the bond of
marriage, defined in the policy as between one man and one woman.
Our Gay and Lesbian Friends are particularly affected by
this policy. We believe
the basic Gospel teaching that Christ is “the true Light that
enlightens every person who has come into the world (John 1:9).”
We have seen the Light of Christ in our Friends who are
not heterosexual, and to this truth we do bear witness.
Further, we believe that this policy of discrimination
is contrary to the guidance of the Living Christ, our Inward Teacher,
as we have experienced it in our gathered worship.
We
cannot condemn any long and loving relationships.
We respectfully call to Friends’ attention the words of
George Fox, who pointed out that marriages are not made by magistrates
or by meetings, but by God:
“We marry none; it is the Lord’s work.”
We ask Friends to affirm with us that all faithful, loving
relationships give evidence of the active and sustaining presence
of Divine Guidance and Divine Grace.
Are we rejecting God’s work among us by refusing to accept
these relationships? We
ask all Friends to weigh this question carefully.
Baltimore
Yearly Meeting has been greatly enriched over the years by the
Spirit-guided leadership of many Friends who could not be hired
nor hold leadership volunteer positions with this policy.
We have felt the power of their ministry; we have rejoiced
in their love. As
members of FUM, we cannot agree to have their voices silenced
in our name. This
policy has already caused great pain for many Friends in FUM,
including some of Baltimore Yearly Meeting’s most revered and
Christ-centered leaders.
We
believe that a policy that requires staff and volunteers to have
the endorsement of their Meeting or Church would be a more accurate
measure of their character and more in keeping with how God would
have us treat each other in Christian love.
In
spite of the pain this issue has caused, we do not wish to break
community with Friends United Meeting.
We believe that we share common ground.
We unite with FUM in affirming that all intimate relationships
should be grounded in love, respect and discipline as a reflection
of God’s love. God
calls us to worshipful consideration of these issues to come to
a deeper revelation of Divine Truth.
We
welcome the opportunity to engage with Friends everywhere in prayerful
exploration of what God requires of us.
In
the Light,
Baltimore
Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends
