Friends from Wilmington Yearly Meeting (WYM), which has meetings in Southwest Ohio and East Tennessee, recently shared two minutes with Philadelphia Yearly Meeting. These minutes were approved by WYM at their Spring Gathering on March 14.
They are sharing these with the wider Quaker community to reach Friends who have taken, or are considering, similar positions. Philadelphia Yearly Meeting is asked to share this, and to pass it along more broadly.
Minute on Violence in Iran
As a community of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), we are disturbed and deeply concerned about the recent violence in the Middle East.
Our Quaker and Christian faith teaches us to affirm the dignity and sanctity of every human life and pursue peaceful solutions. While we hope and pray for the best outcomes of the current campaign, history shows that the gains from violence are not worth the losses, including civilian deaths, increased instability, generations of terror and trauma, and the creation of new resentments and hatreds.
We grieve the loss of life that has already taken place, including American service members, Iranian civilians, and the children in Minab. We hold in the Light all those impacted, praying for decision-makers, service-members, and civilians in the region who now live in constant fear of further destruction and violence.
As a spiritual community, we call for an immediate end to the bombing and a shift toward seeking alternative paths to peace:
- De-escalation and Ceasefire: We join the Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) and other Quaker organizations in calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities to prevent this conflict from spiraling into a catastrophic regional war.
- Diplomatic Engagement: Lasting security cannot be won on the battlefield. We urge the U.S. government and international leaders to prioritize dialogue and diplomacy as the only sustainable way to address long-standing grievances and nuclear concerns.
- Congressional Accountability: We support the Khanna-Massie War Powers Resolution and other efforts to assert the constitutional role of Congress in matters of war, ensuring that no president can unilaterally lead the nation into an unauthorized conflict.
- Humanitarian Concern: We urge all parties to respect international law and protect civilian lives, ensuring that humanitarian aid can reach those in need.
Approved by Lakeway Quaker Meeting for Worship for Business
March 11, 2026
Approved by Wilmington Yearly Meeting of Friends
Meeting for Worship with Attention to Business – Spring Gathering
14 March (3rd Month) 2026
Wilmington Yearly Meeting Friends Affirm God-Given Rights
Since the United States was “conceived in liberty,” we have held dear the God-given rights of equality, freedom, and opportunity to thrive. Similarly, we members of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) trace our embrace of equality to the words of our founder, George Fox, that “there is that of God in everyone.” As citizens and as people of faith, we are dismayed when our nation’s actions stray from our founding beliefs. Quakers also believe in a life of integrity: we aim to make our words and deeds match our stated beliefs. We are poorer as Americans and we deny that of God in others when we as a nation bully, kill, take away homelands, or otherwise engage in violence, including denying due process to those we imprison or failing to hold accountable those who sexually abuse children.
Additionally, Friends believe that God is present not only in each person but in the natural world, where we may find comfort and the face of the divine. Undermining the protection of land, water, and air quality threatens human health and our future, and denies the interconnectedness of all living things. It is time to restore our civic faith and affirm the moral value of civil rights and of nature. We call on public servants—elected officials, emergency responders, and government employees—to respect the dignity and rights of all persons and of the natural environment upon which all our lives and our future depend.
Approved by Wilmington Yearly Meeting
16th of March (Third Month), 2026
Originally presented by the Eastern Hills Monthly Meeting,
They having approved it on the 22nd of February (Second Month), 2026
More information about the Minutes can be found on the Wilmington Yearly Meeting website at https://wilmingtonyearlymeeting.org/
