The Quaker Way (Testimonies)

Early Quakers’ experience of civil war and persecution convinced them of the moral and spiritual power of nonviolence. Since 1660, friends have sought the non-violent resolution of conflict in personal, social, national and international relations – this is our Peace Testimony.  

For Quakers, world peace begins at home in the building of families and communities skilled in nonviolent conflict resolution. Read our Statement on Social Justice here.

Historically, Quakers have acted to relieve the suffering caused by war and oppression. In 1947, we were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for relief work with the victims of war and famine. Quakers have always been active opponents of war and militarism. Many have been conscientious objectors to war. However, this is not a requirement for membership in the Society of Friends. 

The peace testimony includes action against all violence, including social injustice, racism, the denial of human rights, and other forms of oppression. We promote worldwide economic and cultural development, self-determination and dignity for all. As peace-builders, we continue to mediate in world conflicts, promoting dialogue instead of the use of force.

The Quaker way to peace includes a harmonious relationship with the life-forms and diverse riches of our planet, living as one part of Earth's systems, not as proprietors. Responsible living means choosing not to waste, exploit or destroy. We encourage reverence for life and a sense of the splendour of the natural world. You can read our Yearly Meeting Peace Statement (1987) and Peace statement (2014).

Quaker simplicity doesn’t mean following strict rules of dress or conduct or eschewing technology, but moderate living avoids over-indulgence and slavery to fashion. Our integrity requires that we use our personal resources to sustain ourselves but also to sustain all life on earth. Children and young people are under particular pressure to acquire, consume and do what is fashionable and are subject to aggressive advertising. Adults can help children to develop inner strength by their own example, and by working out together what is right and possible, given the family's circumstances.

Living simply is about putting first things first: the people around us, the natural world, and our spiritual lives.

Simplicity has its own beauty. It does not exclude artistic creativity, which is a deep human need, and can be an expression of the divine. Quakers look for an inner stillness in worship and in personal spiritual life, and a simplicity which lets go of inessential commitments in order to be truly centred.  Here is a QuakerSpeak video on living a simple life.

Quakers seek to honour our responsibilities, as family members and as citizens. We try to ensure that our own lives are clear of any practice to which we object. 

We aren’t perfect, so we try to approach life with humility. We remind ourselves to ‘think it possible you may be mistaken’. We are aware that authenticity is hard to achieve when our culture is pushing us to consume and compete. We value our silent Meetings for Worship and our Meeting community that help us to stay open to the truth, and to act lovingly towards others and towards the Planet. 

Integrity requires us to be forthrightly honest to power-holders whom we discern to be acting unjustly, oppressively or exploitatively, whilst seeking justice and reconciliation. 

Early Quakers were exceptional in according equal status to women and men – women’s ministry and writings were valued. Margaret Fell was highly esteemed as an early leader of the Quaker movement. We avoid hierarchy – we are all equal and every voice counts.

The principle of equality was a radical acceptance of universal human rights long before such rights were generally understood. Early Quakers were opposed to the grave inequality between the aristocratic wealthy and the poverty-stricken peasantry. Friends today oppose systems that allow the 1% to own more than 50% of the world’s wealth, or for corporate leaders to ‘earn’ huge salaries while paying their workers less than a living wage.

Recognition of the equality of all races was an early understanding of Quakers who fought against slavery. We continue to be inspired to try to change systems that cause injustice and to advocate for people who suffer injustice, such as prisoners of conscience and indigenous peoples. We strive to uphold Te Tiriti o Waitangi. 

Quakers campaigned for independent juries in the 17th century, for marriage equality in the 20th, and today campaign for equality for all irrespective of gender, faith, race, sexual orientation, gender identity, abilities, ethnicities, wealth or class.

You may also read our Statements on:

• Bi-cultural Issues
• Maori-Pakeha Issues
• Affirmation of Same-Sex Relationships
• Transformative Justice

Because equality is so important to the Quaker worldview, there is no formal hierarchy. Decisions are made by weighing each person’s concerns in light of what is best for all, for the community, and for the world at large. In this way, each person’s views and varied experiences are celebrated and valued equally, and all are helped to open to guidance, inspiration, and new possibilities as we discern the best ways forward together.

Our new testimony in the year 2000 was to recognise our spiritual responsibility to live with reverence and compassion for all of life. Read more in our  Statement on Environmental Sustainability. 

We are aware that western lifestyles are degrading our environment and exhausting our resources. The Earth’s systems are not resilient enough to cope with the damage that humans have done to them, and our future is daunting. To care for the environment involves a shift to an economy that nurtures rather than destroys, an ethic that respects and values all life, and a spiritual reformation that leads to an inner peace and richness beyond material gain. In 2012, at a world conference of Friends held at Karbarak University near Nakura, Kenya, The Kabarak Call for Peace and Ecojustice was approved. 

More recently, Quaker activity has focused on responding to the tremendous threat to life on our planet posed by climate change. In 2016, we signed an international Quaker statement on climate change. We have resolved as an organisation to divest from any funds invested in the fossil fuel industries, and Friends have joined demonstrations to call for an end to fracking, oil and gas exploration and for climate justice. Read more about climate change and the work of the Quaker Climate Emergency Correspondent here.