Community
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Some Minutes relating to our Community testimony
- May 2007: AFM approves the formation of an ad hoc Committee on Nurturing Young Friends. The committee will consider new ways to integrate young friends into our meeting community and worship. They are asked to focus on the query: What support do, or should, Atlanta Friends put in place in order for our youth to grow into functioning Quaker adults? The committee is asked for a progress report after they have held two meetings.
- October 1997: Friends seek a world where each life is
welcomed at birth, valued as a child of God and supported in a
community where resources are available to provide individual growth
and loving care.
Something has happened to this beautiful creation. As we look around our earth, we see rapid population growth in an ecosystem with finite natural resources„resources that will be unable to sustain the population growth in the future. We are led to take a position on these issues, because population growth and unwise use of resources threaten life support systems of the earth.
We ask all to search together for the leading of the Spirit. We urge Friends everywhere to examine openly and fully the problem of world population growth, overconsumption, and the resultant disruption of the entire earth community. We ask you to consider how further damage can be prevented.
After long and prayerful consideration, we share with you some actions which seem timely:- Renew affirmation and practice of Friends' testimonies on simple living and reduced consumption, including possible lifestyle changes;
- Renew affirmation and practice of Friends' testimonies on equality, supporting measures to improve the status, education and economic opportunities for women;
- Work to end economic colonialism and promote sustainable and equitable economic development the world over;
- Educate Friends and others about how to evaluate the human and environmental costs and benefits of different approaches to economic development and consumption;
- Support local and international actions to curb global warming, such as the European established goal of cutting carbon dioxide emissions by fifteen percent below 1990 levels, with a deadline of 2010;
- Work together with people of diverse faiths in our communities and across nations to practice environmental stewardship;
- Urge U.S. financial support of United Nations population programs and other international planning efforts;
- Promote sex education, counseling and family planning for men and women, which encourages responsible individual sexual behavior and makes safe, voluntary contraception available to all;
- Develop accessible, effective health care for all, with a particular focus on women and children's health and nutrition, including breast feeding;
- Work for drastic reduction of military spending and reallocation of resources to accomplish the above goals.
- April 1973: A Called Meeting on April 4 approved an
amendment to the 1969 minute on hospitality to objectors to military
service. The issue was brought to Business Meeting where it was again
approved. The revised minute follows:
Consistent with FriendsÍ opposition to all wars for more than 300 years, the Atlanta Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends will offer hospitality and moral support to conscientious objectors to war and/or military service and those troubled by their military service.
Implicit in the Minute is the mutual understanding that non-violence shall prevail in whatever procedures may be followed resulting from this peace witness, that the person receiving hospitality shall demonstrate intent of returning to confront the military; that there shall be no secrecy in offering hospitality; and the Executive Committee shall be the Committee in charge.
It was understood that working up a case with CCCO or a lawyer was demonstration of intent. Openness would be evidenced by Quaker House making its position on hospitality known publicly. - May 1969: Consistent with Friends' opposition to all
wars for more than 300 years, the Atlanta Monthly Meeting of the
Religious Society of Friends will offer hospitality and moral support
to conscientious objectors to war and/or military service.
Implicit in the Minute is the mutual understanding that non-violence shall prevail in whatever procedures may be followed resulting from this peace witness; that there shall be no secrecy in offering hospitality; and the Ministry and Counsel shall be the Committee in charge.
In our Meetings for Worship with Attention to Business, we often make public statements, called Minutes. Because we do all business by consensus, these Minutes represent the unanimous will of our entire community.