*We..utterly ....deny all outward wars and strife and fightings with outward weapons, for any end or under any pretense whatsoever. And this is our testimony to the whole world....the Spirit of Christ which leads us into all Truth will never move us to fight and war against any man with outward weapons.....we cannot learn war any more..... (The Journal of George Fox)

This testimony of non-participation in war in any form has been maintained by the Society of Friends ever since. In a world in which conflict in the social, economic and political arenas often leads to war, the peace testimony remains central to the broad structure of Friends' social concern and is the foundation of other Friends's Testimonies.

The Society of Friends is known as a "Peace Church", yet some Quakers have discarded or ignored the faith's traditional peace testimony.

We urge that the message of The Peace Testimony be brought forth into the light and shared with all meetings in Baltimore Yearly Meeting. We believe a dialogue needs to be brought forward in all Monthly Meetings, Quarterly Meetings, and at Baltimore Yearly Meeting, to bring about a greater understanding of ourselves, our Meetings, our faith, and our Testimonies.

We submit this minute to be presented to Yearly Meeting for consideration at this Year's Annual Session and distributed to the constituent Monthly and Quarterly Meetings. We ask that Monthly Meetings respond to York Monthly Meeting with a written minute.

In Faith,
Louise Heckert, Clerk
York Monthly Meeting