Quaker Testimonies

In the Religious Society of Friends, the word “testimony” is used to refer to the ways in which Friends testify or bear witness to their beliefs in their everyday lives. In this context, “testimony” refers not to the underlying belief, but the committed action which arises out of our beliefs, and testifies to our beliefs. Commonly Friends are said to testify to simplicity, peace, integrity, community, equality, and stewardship.

Quakers’ experience of the Divine impacts:

• What we do in our personal lives.

• What we believe.

• Changes we work for in the wider world.

Testimonies are what Quakers call the ways we have found to live and act based on our beliefs. As a group, we find that listening to and following God leads to:

• Simplicity: Focusing on what is truly important and letting other things fall away.

• Peace: Seeking justice and healing for all people; taking away the causes of war in the ways we live.

• Integrity: Living as whole people who act on what we believe, tell the truth, and do what we say we will do.

• Community: Supporting one another in our faith journeys and in times of joy and sorrow; sharing with and caring for each other.

• Equality: Treating everyone, everywhere, as equally precious to God; recognizing that everyone has gifts to share.

• Simplicity: Focusing on what is truly important and letting other things fall away.

We do not always hear and follow Divine guidance; being in community with other Quakers helps us to be faithful.

If you are interested in learning more about our values, history, and customs, a very good place to start is the Baltimore Yearly Meeting Faith & Practice.