Clerk Roni Kingsley asked for discernment on an urgent issue in response to the new administration’s intention to rescind the long-standing sensitive locations policy. This policy limits immigration raids and other enforcement  actions in or near such locations as places of worship, schools and hospitals. Without it, Immigration and  Customs Enforcement (ICE) can go to these locations at will and make arrests. The incoming president has said he will rescind this policy “on Day One.” Tomorrow is inauguration day – “Day One.”

Democracy Forward, a non-profit, non-partisan legal services organization, is the group poised to bring legal action against the US Government on behalf of houses of worship that would be affected if this policy is indeed rescinded. Sarah Gillolly, General Secretary of Baltimore Yearly Meeting has asked Richmond Friends Meeting to consider joining the lawsuit. In a recent Zoom meeting Roni, clerks of Ministry & Worship, Peace & Social Concerns, the laid down sanctuary working group, and the Trustees met with an attorney with Democracy Forward, Bradley Girard.

Some of us, most likely the clerk and trustees, would be required to make statements and sign documents attesting to how the revocation of this policy would violate the tenets of our beliefs. It is unlikely any of the signees would have to appear in court.

F/friends asked many questions. The legal work would be pro-bono. The rescinding of the policy would not only affect anyone attending our meeting, but anyone in a group using the meetinghouse. We do not know if any other faith group in Richmond has been asked to participate. A Friend who is a member of a racial minority in this country said he feared being mistaken for an undocumented immigrant. Another Friend said this action would be unprecedented for our meeting, but also appropriate. We were in unity to participate in this action.

We, the members of the Richmond (VA) Friends Meeting are heartbroken and stricken with horror and grief at the recent renewed eruption of violence in Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank. We call for an immediate ceasefire by both Israel and Hamas, the prompt release by Hamas of all hostages, and the release of all uncharged prisoners by Israel. We call on the U.S. to urge Israel to expedite the flow of humanitarian aid to relieve the tremendous suffering that has been created in Gaza with the immediate provision of food, shelter, water, and medicine. We strongly urge the United States to no longer provide Israel with weapons or funding for weapons.

As Quakers, we believe that each life is sacred, and we know that the use of violence as a means of settling conflict is unacceptable and leads to further violence, which we see happening around the region.

We strongly condemn Hamas’ horrific deadly October attacks on Israeli civilians, the inhumane treatment of civilians, and the taking of hostages, many of whom are still being held and are in danger. We also condemn the ongoing unrestrained and violent response by Israel in its siege of Gaza, which has left tens of thousands of civilians, including elderly, women, and children, dead or wounded and caused a humanitarian crisis in Gaza. People are suffering, dying, and being displaced in Gaza as a preventable humanitarian crisis worsens. Also, Palestinians in the occupied West Bank are increasingly endangered by escalated violence by settlers and the military.

We hold in our hearts and in the Light all those in Israel, Gaza, the West Bank and beyond, who grieve and mourn the deaths of their family and friends. We hold in the Light those who await the return of their loved ones who are being held by Hamas or who are held in Israeli prison without charges or trial. This ongoing violence continues to rip the hearts of those who grieve and leads to fear and hatred of the “other.” We condemn Antisemitism and Islamophobia and their accompanying rhetoric which dehumanizes the “other.”

We further call for Israelis and Palestinians from Gaza and the occupied West Bank to undertake a meaningful dialogue, with the support of international powers including the US. All must use every available resource to support a diplomatic rather than military resolution to the conflict – a resolution that prioritizes safety for all Israelis and Palestinians and which accords equal human rights to the Palestinians and respect for all.

We ask that Friends hold in the Light this urgent concern for peace and, if you are soled, to join us in calling for what we have set forth in this Minute.*

*Thank you to Virginia Beach Monthly Meeting for the template used for this Minute.

– Approved May 19, 2024

As Friends, our belief that there is “that of God” in everyone grounds our practice of upholding the worth of each human being. Each person is guided by an Inward Teacher toward truth; each has the capacity to experience and be transformed by Spirit. The fullness of our lives – as individuals and as a community – unfolds as we live into these spiritual truths. Just as we value each person, these core beliefs lead us to value the diversity of culture, race, and ethnicity that enrich the human family.  Richmond Friends Meeting commits to being a faith community of deep hospitality for and inclusion of all
people.

We recognize that inequality and injustice based on race are deeply rooted in our society. Richmond Friends Meeting commits to challenging and repairing racism and racial bias in ourselves as individuals, within our Meeting, and in our Meeting’s relationships with the wider world.

We embrace these commitments as guides for our personal lives, our life as a community, and our Meeting’s engagement in the wider world. Living more fully into our commitments will require listening, humility, and a willingness to be transformed. It will require holding the creative tension between discernment and the urgency to right action. We hold this minute as a guide as the Meeting seeks to live into our commitments in these ways:

• • RFM will make it a clear, strong priority to understand and act on issues related to race and racism.
  • We will be undergirded by our Quaker faith as we embark on this work, seeking to reflect and strengthen our relationship with Spirit.
  • As expressions of our faith, our commitment to justice, love, and compassion —and our testimonies of equality, community, peace, integrity, simplicity and stewardship — will guide our work.
  • We seek to be in community among different races to provide positive
    opportunities for mutual learning and spiritual growth.
  • Living with integrity means consistency between our actions and our deeply held beliefs. The actions we take will make clear RFM’s stand against racism and will uphold our commitment to nurturing a community inclusive of all people.
  • RFM will research and reflect on our history as a meeting in order to discern right response to any past harm and injustices, as well as to be emboldened by previous Quaker efforts at racial progress and healing.
  • We will seek to understand the history – and we lament the ongoing realities – of systemic racism. This understanding will be fundamental in discerning action.
  • RFM will collaborate with groups and organizations that promote racial healing and seek to dismantle some aspect of structural racism.
  • We will seek to support and learn from the initiatives of people of color and those of Quaker organizations that are addressing issues of race and racism.
  • We recognize that this is an ongoing process, and we will hold each other in the Light and accompany one another as we seek to learn, to be transformed, and to be of service.

– Approved January 21, 2024

Richmond Friends Meeting openly affirms that our spiritual community strives to be a safe nurturing place for people of all sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions. Our testimony of equality and the principle of continuing revelation ground our stance. Richmond Friends Meeting extends our loving care and support in welcoming individuals of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions including those who seek to share our Quaker spiritual journey and join with us in our corporate life. By affirming this minute Richmond Friends Meeting is in unity, clearly and energetically advocating for full social acceptance and full legal rights and privileges for people of all sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions.

– Approved June 18, 2017

Richmond Friends Meeting has reached unity to become a member of the Central Virginia Sanctuary Congregation Network.  In becoming a member of this Network, our Meeting will offer solidarity and support to our immigrant neighbors who fear being detained, deported, or profiled, many of whom have families that would be torn apart. We are led by the Spirit and our testimonies to provide love, compassion and hospitality, to work  against injustice, and to protect these oppressed immigrants from suffering today, just as Richmond Friends were led in 1987, when we adopted the minute in support of sanctuary for Central American refugees.

– Approved June 18, 2017

In keeping with our Quaker testimonies of integrity and equality, Richmond Friends Meeting offers the same marriage under the care of Meeting to all couples. Because civil marriage is not legally available to all in the state of Virginia, we lay down our practice of signing marriage licenses, until such time that it is available to all.

– Approved March 16, 2014

Richmond (VA) Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends believes deeply in the dignity and value of every human life. We support the de-funding and closing of the School of the Americas/Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (SOA/WHINSEC),  a U. S. Army military training school for Latin American military. Located in Fort Benning, Georgia. Since 1946, SOA/WHINSEC graduates have gone on the be members of death squads, and have also committed many other human rights violations. We stand firmly opposed to torture. Because it is our belief that violence begets violence, we find it imperative to shut down the School of the Americas (SOA/WHINSEC).

– Approved February 15, 2009