Southampton Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends met on February 9th at 9:00am to discern a path forward, “in unity”, regarding recent changes in our country’s immigration and enforcement policies. We are clear in our support of those among us who are committed to answering that of God within them to help forge a better life here in the United States for both themselves and those in the greater community. We are equally clear in our support for Philadelphia Yearly Meetings’ actions in response to recent immigration enforcement changes.
In 1660, The Society of Friends declared to King Charles II of England:
“We utterly deny all outward wars and strife, and fighting with outward weapons, for any end or under any pretense whatsoever; This is our testimony to the world.”
This declaration was born out of our belief that there is “that of God” in all humans and as such we have an obligation to listen for the word of God from the mouths of all those that seek to share it. Five years after this declaration, Quakers were being arrested by the authorities in large numbers (2100 from 5 London Meetings). 1 in 3 Quakers were imprisoned between 1652 and 1687. This historical experience leads us to declare that no person is illegal.
Our Testimonies of Peace, Integrity, and Community compel us to stand and speak to the injustice, and inhumanity in our current immigration system just as our ancestors spoke out to King Charles II.
Our faith demands us to “let our lives speak” just as William Penn did when he established the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as a “Holy Experiment” that would accept all people regardless of religion, race, gender, or nationality. In keeping with this belief Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, in unity with New England Yearly Meeting and Baltimore Yearly Meeting, has filed a suit against the Department of Homeland Security to ensure that ALL people under the jurisdiction of the United States are afforded, not only their rights under the constitution, but also, their basic human rights…which includes the right to worship unimpeded by a government that seeks to prevent them from doing so.
Southampton Friends Meeting is heartened by our Yearly Meeting’s actions and emboldened to say this is OUR “Testimony to the world”
Stephen Moyer – Clerk of Meeting
