The World We Seek guides the efforts of the Friends Committee on National Legislation. Whether through our team of expert lobbyists meeting with policymakers on Capitol Hill or our grassroots network of passionate advocates building power for the voices of people across the country, these words form a foundation for our work.
So, what does “The World We Seek” have to say about the economic responsibility of the United States federal government? How do we as Friends approach the need to address past and present economic injustices, and how are we called to live into our commitments to uplift the wellbeing of all our communities?
For centuries, Quakers have sought to align our lives with the values and spiritual practices of this tradition. These core principles, of equity, integrity, peace and more, are grounded in the belief that every being has that of God within them and we must hold the actions of both individuals and corporations accountable in this pursuit.
On matters of federal policy, FCNL’s Legislative Statement extends this concern, stating “Friends acknowledge the indispensable role of government in safeguarding the integrity of our society” (II.Intro.1) because the decisions made in Congress lay the foundation for life in the United States.
These commitments have led Quakers to act, even in opposition to predominant social structures. Quakers have often been people who are intentional in relationship to money. Historic practices show these intentions in action: resisting taxes that fund military endeavors, wearing plain clothing to protest the use of enslaved labor, and calling for more equitable distribution of resources. Friends have stayed committed throughout an evolving world to oppose harmful systems that the United States government has promoted at the cost of its citizens and global community.
Friends have stayed committed throughout an evolving world to oppose harmful systems that the United States government has promoted at the cost of its citizens and global community.
Today, many Quakers work intentionally, both locally and globally, to address economic inequities. Organizations like the Right Sharing of World Resources, American Friends Service Committee, the Quaker United Nations Office, and many local projects address the multifaceted components of economic justice in the United States and around the world.
Along with these historic and modern protests, Friends have continuously embodied a value of integrity that calls us also to examine how economic systems perpetuate injustice. In this work, “we strive to create an economic system that is equitable and that preserves and enhances resources for future generations.” (III.1.4) Justice, whether economic, racial, or environmental, requires acknowledging the need for fair distributions of financial and social resources and taking action to create those systems in the present.
As we navigate these efforts, we acknowledge the complexity of the United States financial systems as we persevere in our work to create more equity across our communities. Our legislative work promotes the success of individuals, communities, and the nation as a whole because we know that “by relieving extreme economic inequality and enabling self-reliant efforts to satisfy basic human needs, we can increase both national and global security.” (I.4.2)
FCNL’s work has steadily evolved alongside the witness of Friends. We call on the U.S. government to provide access to safe, affordable, and nutritious food (III.2.4), enable affordable, effective, and comprehensive health care (III.2.6), and safeguard the integrity of our society and the essential dignity of every human being. (II.intro.1) These rights are currently under threat as programs like SNAP and Medicaid face drastic cuts.
Advocating for peace, justice, and integrity means challenging political leaders to remember that “in our time, governments are instituted, in part, to promote and protect basic human rights. These are rights, not mere privileges subject to easy denial.” (II.Intro.1) It will take continuous and collaborative efforts, as Friends have shown throughout the centuries, to hold the people making these decisions accountable for the living conditions of this society.
I hope you will join this long legacy of witness today and take action to support economic justice in our federal policy.
