Greetings, Friends in Philadelphia Yearly Meeting,
I am writing on behalf of Fayetteville Friends Meeting, North Carolina. We may be different, living out our various leadings at each of our meetings, but we will never be leaderless as long as we follow the lead of divine Mercy. We may not be fearless people, but we can move forward in spirit together while steadfastly seeking to lay down any fears in devotion and obedience to our Creator.
Today, I share with you a minute created under Divine Guidance. Our hope is to inspire a sense of fellowship among meetings, united in the work of recognizing that of God in every human being. We invite you to please share this among your member meetings and welcome any correspondence regarding how the Spirit is moving amongst you and so encourage us in our own walk.
We thank you for following your leading to join in the lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security; this was a tremendous step to protect our faith communities.
In Holy Peace,
Michelle Downey, Clerk of Fayetteville Friends Meeting
Nate Crew, Clerk of Peace & Social Action, FFM
Minute of Intent to Protect
As human beings we are all children of God and recognize that among us are many dear friends, family, neighbors, coworkers and others who are immigrants in this country or otherwise marginalized.
Some of us have achieved citizenship, some have green cards, some have visas, some are in pending status or similar legal limbo, and others still lack official documentation. Often, this variety of circumstances exist within a family, and the resulting vulnerabilities can be very real, complex, and difficult.
As faith communities inspired by a common sense of divine standards in goodness and compassion, we join in publicly stating our intent to peacefully yet determinedly defend the defenseless and vulnerable in their need. In all morally upright and ethically sound matters we will continue as faithful Americans to cooperate with our government and receive all government agents in goodwill; however, if a case arises of persecution, oppression, or forcible removal of immigrant populations from among us, we will weigh human authority against our leadings to submit to Divine Authority regarding disgraces against the humanity of those in our community.
As and when the situation calls for action, we will readily provide shelter, cover, aid and advocacy for our beleaguered neighbors.
We earnestly hope that such a preemptive posture as represented by this minute may prove unnecessary. Yet behind our hopes and prayers, and even as we operate from a general stance of political neutrality, we yet agree to stand ready together to physically assist those persons who may seek our help, to facilitate legal assistance as far as possible, to persistently petition legislators, to send delegations and speak with key government officials, and/or to publicly denounce inhumane government policies which would aim to tear apart immigrant families or inappropriately harass harmless people.
We hereby state our intent to take these and similar peaceful actions as such needs may arise. Remembering that we are all flawed and oft-mistaken human beings, we take this stand not from a spirit of pride or conflict, but in a soul-searching hope for an American future of harmony, peace on earth, and goodwill toward everyone.
The above statement began circulating in November 2024 and has been signed, endorsed and
committed to by Fayetteville Friends Meeting along with a growing number of churches of several
separate denominations in various cities and towns of North Carolina and other states.
