Speak the truth through love, Quakers told
Courageous and kind truth-telling is vital in the current historical moment, Quakers across Britain heard this weekend.
Speaking at the Quakers' annual gathering, American Quaker Diane Randall described how at a time of great national division, US Quakers had upheld democracy by speaking the truth.
Through offering open, honest conversation alongside moral and spiritual support, they allowed elected officials and other Capitol Hill staff to hold courageous positions.
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Human beings being human with one another. This is establishing kinder ground to open space for truth.
- Diane Randall
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Randall, former head of the Friends Committee on National Legislation, founded in 1943 to lobby US Congress on matters of Quaker concern, said: “In what is often a rough landscape of power jostling and competition, kindness can have an impact."
She said: “Lies from political leaders didn't start with Donald Trump, but he made false statements with a frequency which was head-spinning."
Social media algorithms meant that some gravitated towards extremist behaviour, accepting lies from political pundits and candidates, Randall said.
Quakers tend not to talk about their faith, but Randall called on them to speak courageously in conversation with family, friends and strangers, finding common ground for the truth.
Randall observed: “I regularly hear Friends [Quakers] describe the blessing of having conversations with strangers with whom they disagree politically and then finding common ground.
“Human beings being human with one another. This is establishing kinder ground to open space for truth."
In his 2021 Swarthmore Lecture, journalist Thomas Penny discussed “Kinder Ground: Creating Space for Truth", asking how Quaker approaches can help with increased polarisation.
In the run-up to the US midterms, Quakers across the US shared concerns and resources to promote non-partisan free and fair elections. This work continues as the 2024 US presidential election approaches.
In Britain, Quaker concerns over truth and integrity in public life have deepened in recent years, with increased parliamentary and media work undertaken.
These concerns were discussed at the Quakers' Yearly Meeting, held in London from 28 April-1 May, with Randall's ministry echoed in the epistle, or letter describing events.
“Speaking truth to power with love is a ministry and is vital in a time when truth is often corrupted," the epistle said.
Randall said that Quaker commitment to inner truth, which some call the Light, Holy Spirit, or God, is constant. But that outer truth in a social and political sense does evolve.