Faith and Practice

marriage and gender

 Although Monthly Meetings vary in belief and practice regarding same-gender marriage, there is a growing acceptance of the principle that gender and sexual orientation should not influence Friends’ decision to take a marriage under its care. † It is consistent with Quakers’ historical faith and testimonies that Friends practice a single standard of treatment for all couples who wish to marry. The same level of careful discernment should be used in interviewing a gay or lesbian couple as a heterosexual couple. All such ceremonies should be blessed occasions where life partners join together in the presence of God.

Junior Yearly Meeting has reached unity in supporting same sex marriages. We reached this conclusion at a business Meeting after two hours of deep worship-sharing. In our decision of unity, Junior Yearly Meeting urges Pacific Yearly Meeting to support the loving bond of marriage between two people regardless of their gender.

pacific yearly meeting, 1996,
minutes of plenary vii

† Some Meetings are not comfortable calling a same-gender union a marriage. However, some will take under their care ceremonies of commitment for homosexual couples.