Quakers make commitments on racism, gender diversity and climate justice
Quakers in Britain concluded their three-week festival of faith and fellowship. At the end of their Yearly Meeting, their governing body, Quakers declared "We have pledged ourselves to continue to be a gentle, angry people who dare to live for truth and justice in a time of crisis."
During the 2021 Yearly Meeting, Quakers in Britain made decisions on three central issues that they considered under the theme of 'For our comfort and discomfort: living equality and truth in a time of crisis'.
Quakers:
- Made a commitment to becoming an actively anti-racist faith community
- Lovingly acknowledged and affirmed the trans and gender diverse Friends in Quaker communities and
- Committed to redoubling their faith-based action for climate justice.
Over three weeks, more than 1,000 Quakers in Britain gathered online to worship, listen and learn together. As well as the three key areas of racism, gender diversity and climate justice, Quakers considered many questions of faith and organisation.
The decisions and reflections of the event are summarised in a letter to all Quaker meetings and communities, which Quakers call an Epistle. The full Epistle of the 2021 Yearly Meeting can be read here (PDF).
See also Quakers pledge to welcome trans and non-binary people