Quakers and peace

From early in our 350 year history, Quakers have taken a clear stand for peace. The words we have written, and action we have taken in opposition to war and in support of peace, have come to be known as ‘the Quaker peace testimony’.

The peace testimony is often identified with a declaration by early Quakers in 1660 but it has always been more than that. It is an active expression of our understanding of the nature of how we should live in this world; an understanding that comes from our experiences of meeting together in worship. It is an evolving expression of an insight at the heart of our approach to faith, challenging us in every generation. It is not simply about international conflict, but also about building peace and challenging the causes of violence in our everyday lives. Quakers engage with the transforming power of nonviolence at every opportunity.

We try to live out our commitment to peace individually and together. Sometimes, we set up and support long-term Quaker action as an expression of our peace testimony. For example, we develop and support alternative ways of resolving and engaging in conflicts, and work for a reduction in armaments in the world and a change to the conditions and circumstances that lead to war. At other times, simply ‘bearing witness’ to a different way is all we can do as individuals. But this too is an important part of our testimony.

It is important to realise that there is no requirement for individual Quakers to be pacifist; Quakers do not subscribe to creeds and there is no need to be in unity with other Quakers on every issue to be part of our meetings. Although Quakers have a long-standing concern for peace, the consequences of our peace testimony are not simple, and Quakers will have different understandings of what to do in any given situation.

For news of current Quaker work for peace, see Quaker Peace & Social Witness.