Statement from North Carolina Yearly Meeting (FUM)
Approved by Representatives, March 2, 2002
North Carolina Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends reaffirms its historic peace testimony. Our Book of Discipline (Faith and Practice) states explicitly that we are strongly opposed to war. We base our testimony upon the clear teachings of Jesus Christ as expressed in the Scriptures.
"We condemn war as the greatest violation of the sacredness of
human life and reaffirm our faith that all war is absolutely
contradictory to the plain precepts of Christ. We hold that no
argument of necessity or policy, however urgent or peculiar, can
avail to release individuals or nations from obedience to the teaching
of Him who said, ‘love your enemies.’ It is our purpose to live in the
spirit that takes away the occasion for war and to suffer violence,
if necessary, as did our Lord, but never return evil for evil."
(Taken from Faith and Practice, 1981 edition, page 46)
We grieve and repudiate the actions of September 11, 2001 by the terrorists and the motivation behind their massacre of innocent civilians. We cannot condone hate or violence to further political ends. We are sensitive of those who have struggled with the issues. We understand the families who feel that they must fully support the government in its efforts to bring the terrorists to justice. We recognize that justice must be done to the perpetrators of these evil deeds. We also recognize that there is a fine line between retaliation and justice.
We feel that we must hold to the principles and precepts that Jesus Christ taught his followers. We believe that Jesus Christ taught us a more excellent way which is the way of love.
"In enjoining this love, and the forgiveness of injuries, He who has
brought us to Himself has not prescribed for man precepts which are
incapable of being carried into practice, or of which the practice to be
postponed until all shall be persuaded to act upon them. We cannot
doubt that they are incumbent now, and that we have in the prophetic
Scriptures the distinct intimation of their direct application not only to
individuals, but to nations also. When nations conform their laws to this
divine teaching, wars must necessarily Cease."
(Faith and Practice, pages 138, 139)
He left us an example to follow:
"To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you
an example, that you should follow in his steps. ‘He committed no sin.
and no deceit was found in his mouth.’ When they hurled their insults
at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats.
Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly."
(1 Peter 2:21 - 23)
We encourage each individual to search his or her own conscience aided by the Holy
Spirit and the guidance of the community of faith called the Religious Society of Friends
to arrive at the proper response to the actions and threats of terrorists. Jesus
prophesied "You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not
alarmed." (Matthew 24:6) We are called to be faithful witnesses to the Prince of
Peace in a world full of hate and violence and that calls for patient endurance in the
face of the onslaught of the forces of darkness. We are called to be the light of the
world and to reflect him who is the Light of the world in all that we say and do. In order
to help take away the occasion of war we encourage each individual to become better
informed about peace issues and to actively support humanitarian aid efforts to the needy
people of the world.