Philadelphia Yearly Meeting

of the Religious Society of Friends

Minutes

 Lehigh Valley Monthly Meeting in Support of the LGBTQIA+ community

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This past First Day, Lehigh Valley Monthly Meeting (LVMM) had a Meeting for Worship with Attention to Business. At that Meeting, LVMM approved the following minute of concern in support of the LGBTQIA+ community. We previously approved sending it to both of you once approved. I have also attached the minute as a .pdf and Word version.

As is our practice, our Corresponding Secretary, Nancy Johnston, will forward you a printed copy of this minute on our official letterhead.

With love and gratitude, we stand in solidarity with members of the LGBTQIA+ community within our meeting and beyond. 

As Quakers, we believe that there is that of God in everyone. From this belief flows the Quaker testimony of equality, based in the religious conviction that all people are of equal spiritual worth, that each one of us is unique and precious, a child of God. LGBTQIA+ people are no exception. Indeed, it has been our direct experience that the gifts of the Spirit are bestowed without consideration of distinctions such as gender, race, age, disability or sexual orientation.

Accordingly, it is clear to us that acts of discrimination against LGBTQIA+ people, whether by individuals, organizations, or governments, are a grave assault on our most deeply cherished testimonies and beliefs.

Our meeting has been powerfully enriched by the many contributions of our LGBTQIA+ members and attenders. Without them, we would not be the meeting that we are and that we love.

Downingtown Monthly Meeting Minutes Their Support of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting

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At Meeting with Attention to Business this day, Downingtown Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends minutes their support of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting’s recent corporate witness undertaken to block federal immigration enforcement officials from entering houses of worship for immigration enforcement activities. This step was taken to ensure Quaker values are maintained as we support vulnerable community members. We hold in the Light those individuals impacted by this new policy as well as those who are actively moving this lawsuit forward on behalf of long held Quaker principles of peace, equality, and social justice. [Read more…] about Downingtown Monthly Meeting Minutes Their Support of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting

Chestnut Hill Monthly Meeting Letter of Support Concerning Lawsuit for Religious Liberty

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We are with you — and commend your joining with New England and Baltimore Yearly Meetings and Adelphi and Richmond Friends Meetings in recently submitting a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

We admire this speedy reaction to the rescinding of religious protections of people in Religious buildings and the broadened power of the Department of Homeland Security. We agree that our Constitutional guarantee of religious freedom is at stake and that your strong response is exactly what is needed.

In his drafting of the Pennsylvania Constitution, William Penn wrote “No people can be truly happy, though under the greatest enjoyments of civil liberties, if abridged of the Freedom of their Conscience as to their Religious Profession and Worship”. Further, “No men, nor number of men upon earth, hath power or authority to rule over men’s consciences in religious matters.”

We are all struggling with what is currently unfolding in Washington, D.C. However, we are heartened by your forthright and speedy action in defense of religious freedom.

With sincere and heartfelt appreciation,

Miyo Moriuchi
Clerk, Chestnut Hill Monthly Meeting
Philadelphia, PA

Abington Monthly Meeting Minute In Accord with Philadelphia Yearly Meeting

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Abington Monthly Meeting Minute  2/20/25

Abington Monthly Meeting is in accord with Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, associated yearly meetings, and other denominations, in their lawsuit against the US Department of Homeland Security for suddenly revoking sanctuary protections for immigrants in houses of worship. We believe in the freedom of religion, for all to worship as they choose without fear.  Quakers aim to speak to and importantly to live the testimonies that guide Quaker faith especially here Equality, Community and Peace.  Sacred spaces cannot be violated by immigration officials surveilling or seeking to enter them. Our community welcomes new immigrants and would be harmed by the inhumane treatment of them.

In addition, we support the multifaith coalition that includes Friends General Conference together with The Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection (ICAP) in a second lawsuit opposing the recision of ICE’s sensitive locations policy, a policy that has been in effect since 2011.

The Syracuse Friends Meeting Minute of Support in Response to DHS Lawsuit

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Syracuse Friends Meeting shared the following minute with New York Yearly Meeting. They also gave Philadelphia Yearly Meeting a copy to share with the PYM community.

The Syracuse Friends Meeting supports New York Yearly Meeting in its lawsuit seeking to halt the new federal policy of allowing U.S. Department of Homeland Security intrusions in and around houses of worship. We hold in the Light those who have brought this lawsuit and are grateful to them for acting with clarity, courage, and conviction. [Read more…] about The Syracuse Friends Meeting Minute of Support in Response to DHS Lawsuit

Minute of Support from Newark Monthly Meeting

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Minute of Support for Philadelphia Yearly Meeting from Newark (Delaware) Monthly Meeting
Approved at Meeting for Business, 9th March, 2025.

Newark Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends supports Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, acting with Baltimore Yearly Meeting, New England Yearly Meeting, Adelphi Monthly Meeting, and Richmond Monthly Meeting, as plaintiffs, in their lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security for its actions to allow federal immigration enforcement agents to enter places of worship in order to take immigration enforcement action. [Read more…] about Minute of Support from Newark Monthly Meeting

Minute of Support to PYM for suit against DHS from Medford Monthly Meeting

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PSJ Committee
Minute of Support to PYM for suit against DHS
Read at March 2, 2025 Business Meeting

“At the February 2, 2025 Meeting for Worship for Business, Medford Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends approved the following support of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting (PYM) for the courage and conviction shown in joining New England Yearly Meeting, Baltimore Yearly Meeting, Adelphi and Richmond Monthly Meetings as plaintiffs in their lawsuit to block the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from its abrupt shift in policy that enables federal immigration enforcement officials to enter houses of worship for their immigration enforcement actions.
[Read more…] about Minute of Support to PYM for suit against DHS from Medford Monthly Meeting

Minute of Support from Birmingham Friends

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Approved by Birmingham Friends At Monthly Meeting for Business 
March 2, 2025
Birmingham Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends fully supports the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting and all other Yearly Meetings as plaintiffs in bringing a lawsuit to block the US Department of Homeland Security  from allowing federal officials to enter houses of worship to enforce immigration enforcement actions.  We agree that armed government agents monitoring or entering our place of worship is in opposition to our religious practices and beliefs. We believe that houses of worship are sacred spaces and that this kind of activity disrupts worship and instills fear. We fully endorse the position that the Court should declare unconstitutional the enforcement policy that has been issued by the Department of Homeland Security.

Minute of Support from St. Petersburg Monthly Meeting

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Dear friends at Philadelphia Yearly Meeting,

At our Meeting for Business on March 2nd, we recorded the following minute of support:

St. Petersburg Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends is united in our support for the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends et al v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security et al.

[Read more…] about Minute of Support from St. Petersburg Monthly Meeting

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