Minutes

Harrisburg Monthly Meeting (HMM) of the Religious Society of Friends strongly supports 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 a 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 immigration enforcement actions. We appreciate the swift response of the General Secretary, Clerks and committee members who acted with purpose and clarity in making this happen. HMM is in unity with PYM and believes that houses of worship are sacred spaces and not a place where, “criminal aliens go to hide.” We fully endorse PYM’s position that the Court should “declare unconstitutional any policy permitting government agents to carry out immigration enforcement at or near houses of worship when the policy is limited only by individual agents’ subjective ‘common sense,’ vacate the 2025 Policy, and enjoin DHS and its constituent agencies from implementing or enforcing the policy.”

With deep appreciation and support,

Harrisburg Monthly Meeting, February 23, 2025

Gwynedd Monthly Meeting fully supports the decision made by Philadelphia Yearly Meeting to take legal action to block ICE agents from entering our meeting houses and other houses of worship to arrest undocumented immigrants. As noted by our Yearly Meeting, the current administration has rescinded a 31-year policy that prevented immigration enforcement in “sensitive locations” such as schools and churches. We expect that this administration’s new policy will be overturned so that our constitutionally guaranteed freedom of worship will once again be protected.

Approved at Monthly Meeting for Business,

February 16, 2025

Doylestown Friends Meeting honors the Religious Society of Friends’ practice of gathering together to seek that of God in everyone, a practice rooted in the open doors of our meetinghouse inviting and welcoming every person who seeks to worship among us.  It is antithetical to Quaker belief that anyone should reside in fear among us.  It is contrary to the First Amendment to the US Constitution that such fear should obstruct this “free exercise” of worship.

Our Meeting supports the litigation begun by Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, in conjunction with other Religious Society of Friends’ Meetings against the Department of Homeland Security, whose recent actions have defied a long history sparing religious houses from raids by immigration enforcement agents.  Our meetinghouse doors must remain joyfully open so that there might exist no barrier between people’s hearts and their closeness to God.

We further applaud Philadelphia Yearly Meeting for swiftly and courageously forging this path for all other faiths to follow their example.  Our Meeting remains in gratitude to the leadership of the Yearly Meeting for acting to secure the sanctity of sacred spaces and to embrace the individual worth of our immigrant neighbors.

In Peace,

Doylestown Friends Meeting

The Barnegat Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) feels called to join with other Quaker Meetings in voicing support for the suit filed by Philadelphia Yearly Meeting and other religious organizations against the Department of Homeland Security. We believe it is right and necessary to challenge any immigration enforcement action that violates the sanctity of religious houses of worship and the free exercise of religion. [Read more…] about Barnegat Monthly Meeting Support For the Suit Filed by Philadelphia Yearly Meeting

2025.03.4: Minute of Support for U.S. Friends

Friends shared their thoughts and concerns after which the following Minute was approved: [Read more…] about Canadian Yearly Meeting Minute of Support for U.S. Friends

State College Monthly Meeting has approved the following minute of support:

State College Friends Meeting affirms our support for Philadelphia, Baltimore and New England Friends Yearly Meetings, as well as Friends General Conference and other Friends and faith communities, in the pursuit of legal action to oppose the Trump administration rescinding the policy to protect places of worship (sensitive places) from immigration enforcement raids. [Read more…] about State College Monthly Meeting Minute of Support

Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security.  

We have heard about this recent lawsuit and agreed to send this statement of support to PYM: [Read more…] about Hemel Hempstead Local Meeting in Unity With the Decision of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting

Minute of Support for Philadelphia Yearly Meeting:

Yardley Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends fully supports Philadelphia Yearly Meeting for the courage and conviction shown in joining New England Yearly Meeting, Baltimore Yearly Meeting, Adelphi Friends Meeting, and Richmond Friends Meeting as plaintiffs in bringing a 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. We appreciate the swift response of the General Secretary, Clerks, and committee members who acted with purpose and clarity in making this happen.  [Read more…] about Minute of Support for Philadelphia Yearly Meeting from Yardley Monthly Meeting

MINUTE REAFFIRMING QUAKER VALUES IN LIGHT OF CURRENT EVENTS

In light of current events in our country, Newtown Friends Meeting (Quakers) affirms basic truths that guide and support us in good times and in trying times. These truths we share with religious traditions around the world:

There is one human family without regard to nationality, ethnicity, religion, race, gender, immigration status, sexual orientation, or any other category. Truth, honesty, and love bind our human community together.

Connected with one another and the Holy Spirit, the source of all life, we value compassion, empathy and mutual respect above wealth and power.  There is that of God in everyone. We humans are part of nature, not outside or above it. [Read more…] about Minute of Reaffirming Quaker Values in Light of Current Events from Newtown Friends Meeting