Quaker Testimonies
Quakerism as a lived faith finds expression in our testimonies and our practices. Both spring from a belief that there is that of God in every person which illuminates every aspect of life.
Quaker practice is rooted in our traditional testimonies, guides to the living out of our faith. Friends are encouraged to seek a better understanding of the testimonies and to lovingly support each other in living them out. Briefly stated, these are testimonies that have guided Friends:
Community	a unifying bond created by shared worship and nurturing each other’s gifts.
Equality	a respect for that of God in everyone, and hence the dignity and value of each person.
Integrity	a genuineness in speech and conduct that brings all parts of life into a consistent whole and leaves no room for deceit or artificiality.
Peace	a commitment to nonviolence and reconciliation that addresses the misuse and abuse of power in all spheres of life.
Simplicity	moderation in our possessions and our daily lives that leaves us free to follow the leadings of the Spirit.

 Quaker Peace Testimony: Letter of George Fox to King Charles II of England, 1661

Our principle is, and our practices have always been, to seek peace, and ensue it, and to follow after righteousness and the knowledge of God, seeking the good and welfare, and doing that which tends to the peace of all. All bloody principles and practices we do utterly deny, with all outward wars, and strife, and fightings with outward weapons, for any end, or under any pretence whatsoever, and this is our testimony to the whole world. The spirit of Christ by which we are guided is not changeable, so as once to command us from a thing as evil, and again to move unto it; and we do certainly know, and so testify to the whole world, that the spirit of Christ which leads us into all Truth will never move us to fight and war against any man with outward weapons, neither for the kingdom of Christ, nor for the kingdoms of the world.

And as for the kingdoms of this world, we cannot covet them, much less can we fight for them, but we do earnestly desire and wait, that by the word of God's power and its effectual operation in the hearts of men the kingdoms of this world may become the kingdoms of the Lord and of his Christ, that he may rule and reign in men by his spirit and truth, that thereby all people, out of all different judgments and professions might be brought into love and unity with God and one another, and that they might all come to witness the prophet's words, who said, "Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more". (Is 2:4, Mic 4:3)