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Faith and Practice

Pacific Yearly Meeting

of the

Religious Society of Friends

a guide to quaker discipline in the experience of pacific yearly meeting of the religious society of friends.
published 2001

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Contents page

appendix 6: marriage

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6C: PYM Minute with Regard to Equality of Marriage Rights
preface
pym in context
quaker faith & spiritual practice
testimony & experience of friends
organization of the society
procedures
activities & organization of the YM
glossary
bibligraphy
appendices
sources of quotations
index of sources
subject index

We gratefully acknowledge the generosity of Friends who have permitted us to use material for this Faith and Practice.

 

 pym 96-14 Pacific Yearly Meeting approves the following Minute on Equality of Marriage Rights.

 As Quakers, some of the reasons we recognize marriages are to affirm the individuals in their choice, to support loving families, and to strengthen our spiritual community. It is also fundamental to Quaker faith and practice that we honor the equality and integrity of all human beings.

 Therefore, it is our belief that it is consistent with Quakers’ historical faith and testimonies that we practice a single standard of treatment for all couples who wish to marry. Given that the State offers legal recognition of oppositegender marriage and extends significant privileges to couples who legally marry, we believe that a commitment to equality requires that same-gender couples have the same rights and privileges.

 Therefore, we believe that the State should permit gay and lesbian couples to marry and share fully and equally in the rights and responsibilities of marriage.

 The minute quoted above was approved at Chico, California by the Pacific Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends in August 1996.