First Day, March 8, 2009

Hudson Monthly Meeting
Religious Society of Friends
343 Union Street
Hudson, NY 12534

Minute on Marriage Equality

We, the members and attenders of the Hudson Monthly Meeting, after a process of sustained discernment, upholding the equality of all people, affirm that the Religious Society of Friends must not discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation. There must be in our Society no exclusion from membership, leadership, compensation for services rendered, participation in meeting, or marriage on this basis.

We acknowledge that Quakers have differed in their beliefs regarding many topical issues, among them women’s equality, slavery, war, and others. Quakers, like other people of faith, have cited Scripture to support either side of these controversies. But Friends have oftentimes united in their differences by referring to our most basic principles. These are the recognition of the Light in all persons, and guidance from the Spirit.

We hold, with the Elders of Balby and with Scripture itself, that the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life; and we hold, with Robert Barclay, that Scripture is the declaration of the fountain but not the fountain itself. We affirm the statements on Equality and Social Justice expressed in Faith and Practice of the New York Yearly Meeting. We believe that discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation has been an oppressive force throughout history, akin in every way to discrimination based on gender, race, or creed, and we believe that the tenets of the Society call on us to oppose discrimination and injustice wherever we may find it. We refer to Margaret Fell’s testimony against the exclusion of women and find that it pertains equally to the exclusion of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, and queer persons and families worldwide. We hold that marriage is a covenant between two people who live in commitment and loving kindness, irrespective of their gender.

The history of persecution against Friends should commit us especially to reject intolerance, prejudice, and injustice. We hold, with George Fox, that whoever wrongs his neighbor wrongs him/herself.

We call on all Friends to search out their hearts and to find there not only a tolerance of difference, but open welcome to those who differ from us. We call on meetings to create minutes that go beyond the language of “tolerance” to “loving acceptance, welcoming, and outreach to” and “full equality, human and civil rights for” all.

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