Seeking integrity in Quaker activism

Fred Doneit
Poughkeepsie (N.Y.) Friends Meeting

Reprinted from the November 2011 issue of
The Spark, newsletter of New York Yearly Meeting

As Friends are led to become engaged in environmental action that calls for public witness, we should be careful to stay close to the truth, to remain nonviolent in our witness, and to always ground our witness in the leadings of the Spirit. It is easy to become influenced by those we ally ourselves with, so that our witness becomes politicized, antagonistic, or judgmental, and we lose sight of that of God in those we oppose.

Many environmental issues are only partly understood, and those groups that wage campaigns opposing a potentially destructive or dangerous project often resort to half-truth and opinion, just as the proponents do in proposing them. This "fighting fire with fire" may be a necessary tactic in the political arena to stop perceived environmental destruction, but Friends should always be mindful of the difference between proven or accepted fact and opinion or estimates. We are far safer to justify our witness on moral grounds or ethical values, than to resort to logical or scientific claims advanced by experts.

Maintaining an attitude of nonviolence is crucial, and must be extended to the language and statements made on banners, posters, and handbills, as well as in oral discussion with those who ask for information, justification, or "proof" for a position being taken. Although Quaker groups have much experience with demonstrations, vigils, and public meetings, such groups should always ensure that new Friends or attenders participating are aware of the manner of Quaker public witness. Friends who join non-Quaker groups to demonstrate must be clear that they will withdraw if violence erupts or tempers flare, or the discourse becomes inflammatory.

More important, our public witness should always be in accordance with leadings we have been given in worship. Convincement and rationalization are not enough; our hearts must be engaged as well as our minds. It is best if we can precede any public witness with a period of worship as a final validation of our intent. This leading of the Spirit serves as both our motivation to give witness and our reason for giving witness that is we justify our witness not solely on logical or scientific arguments but on doing the right thing, as revealed by the Spirit.

Discernment will help us to understand why we are emotionally involved. Is it because the issue threatens our home grounds? Would we hold the same concern if the treat was in another region or country? Understand, self-protection is a powerful motivation and justification for action, but it is a weak basis for Quaker activism or for giving testimony to advance truthonly doing the right thing for the larger community of life can do that.

Individual Friends who join with non-Quaker groups in public demonstrations would do well to bring their concern, leadings, and rationale to their monthly meeting for hearing and discernment. This discipline will help ensure that a proposed course of action has been sufficiently seasoned and is truly Spirit-led. The meeting may minute its support (or nonsupport) of an individual action, or it may minute its approval that the individual Friend may represent the meeting in its witness and public declaration. This time-tested practice among Quakers is often overlooked by activists and is often not discussed with activists who seek membership.

Quakers bring moral authority to activism. We should not diffuse our identity by joining the scientific debate. Our identity and our message will be better served by witnessing on the moral planea place that ultimately carries far more weight than political or scientific argument. <>

Friends and the science behind Earthcare

I was excited to find the above article by Fred Doneit in a recent issue of The Spark dedicated to the theme of "Friends and Earthcare." Fred gives one of the clearest explanations I have read on why we are part of a Quaker Earthcare movement instead of just supporting mainline secular groups.

I totally agree with Fred's view that "Quakers bring moral authority to activism." But I also believe that Quakers have a role to play in political and scientific debate as well. I see much of the science behind the major ecological, economic, and energy issues of our time as reasonably settled. The problem is that essential facts about nuclear fission, hydrofracking, the Alberta Tar Sands project, and many other critical issues are being suppressed and distorted by powerful vested interests, whose short-sighted "solutions" to climate change and Peak Oil are mostly about profits.

I believe that our moral authority also comes from being Friends of Truth. This means discerning and challenging the biases, deceptions, and conflicts of interest that are obscuring or blocking scientifically sound solutions.

—Louis Cox

New pamphlet from QEW

Our newest trifold, Food for a Just, Healthy, and Peaceable Planet, was included in each of QEW's 2011 year-end appeal letters,

Free copies can be ordered from the QEW office. (Contributions to offset costs are welcome.