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Service
Action on Social Issues
Minutes on Social Concerns
Quaker Activism

Once, a visitor to a Quaker meeting stood up after five minutes of silence and asked, “When does the service begin?” An old Friend rose after a brief reflection and said, “Service begins when the worship ends.”

Friends’ faith has led them to take an active role in social issues and service throughout the history of the Religious Society of Friends. Historically, Quakers have passed down testimonies that embody much of what guides our practice. Quakers hold testimonies regarding integrity, simplicity, equality, peace, community, and stewardship. Because our experience changes as times change, the testimonies have evolved in response to changing contexts, new needs, and new perceptions of the world.

Boulder Friends, as a continuation of their worship, are involved in social issues and service both as individuals and as representatives of the Meeting. Some current Meeting projects are described below.

Service

Assistance for the homeless in Boulder County: The Service Committee organizes a hot meal preparation and service once a month at All Roads – Boulder Shelter for the Homeless. This is an opportunity for members and attenders to serve those experiencing homelessness in our communities.

The Service committee provides cleaning and personal hygiene supplies to Echo House, a program of EFAA, which supports families with children under the age of 18 who are experiencing homelessness. https://www.efaa.org/get-help/family-housing/

The Meeting provides financial assistance to All Roads, Boulder Bridge House, Emergency Family Assistance Association (EFAA), Harvest of Hope Pantry, Homeless Outreach Providing Encouragement (HOPE) Longmont, and Safehouse Progressive Alliance for Non-Violence (S.P.A.N.), with the Service Committee’s recommendation.

Service in the Boulder community: Find a list of current volunteer needs at Opportunities to Serve.

Assistance to groups in need, here and abroad: Recent Meeting work includes aiding Sudanese refugees in Boulder, assisting rural communities at Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, and providing financial assistance for projects in a community in Togo, Africa.

Service and spirituality: Friend Bob Atchley explores the spirituality of service in “Mapping the Service Landscape” (PDF, 2018).

Action on Social Issues

The Peace and Social Justice Committee (PSJ) currently focuses on action projects in these areas: Healthcare; peace building/war prevention; environmental justice & stewardship; immigrant rights/sanctuary; and racial justice.

The Indigenous Peoples Concerns Committee (IPC) seeks to increase our understanding and appreciation of Indigenous Peoples, to learn from them and their cultures, and to support them in exercising their rights and achieving their goals.

The IPC committee originally sponsored the project Toward Right Relationship with Indigenous Peoples, developed by Paula Palmer. The project offers workshops for adults and for students in middle school, high school, and college, examining the roots of injustice and the ways it is perpetuated in our communities, and considering steps we can take to build right relationship among all peoples. The TRR project is now a part of Friends Peace Teams.

Spiritual Activism Resources bibliography: A reading list on Spiritual Activism, Earth Care Witness & Creation Justice/Stewardship (PDF), compiled by Rich Andrews.

Review information on the American Friends Service Committee.

Colorado Faith Leader Public Statement: Truths About Immigration, 2025

Minutes on Social Concerns

In our Meetings for Worship with a Concern for Business, we occasionally make public statements on issues of social concern, called Minutes. Recently approved Minutes on social issues are listed below. Each link is a PDF that opens in a new tab.

Minute on Immigration (February 9, 2024): For full text click Immigration Minute.

Minute in Opposition to the Mass Detention
and Deportation of Immigrants (December 8, 2024): For full text click Deportation Minute.

Minute on Israel/Palestine (November 2024): For full text click Israel/Palestine Minute.

Minute Supporting Land Return to Nisenan Tribe (April 14, 2024):For full text click Land Return.

Minute on Mt. Blue Sky (November 13, 2022): For full text click Mt. Blue Sky Minute.

Minute on Peace in Ukraine (July 10, 2022): For full text click Ukraine Minute.

Minute in Support of a Truth and Healing Commission for Native Peoples (May 2021): For full text click Truth and Healing.

Minute Supporting Palestinian Children and Families (Oct. 10, 2021): For full text click Palestinian Children.

Land Acknowledgment Statement (July 12, 2020): For full text click Land Acknowledgement.

Minute Condemning Organized Racism (August 13, 2017): For full text click Eradicate Racism.

Minute in Solidarity With the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and Other Indigenous Peoples in Protecting the Earth (October 9, 2016): For full text click Standing Rock.

Minute in Solidarity With Black Lives (January 10, 2016): For full text click Black Lives Matter.

Minute on Confronting Racial Bias, in Solidarity with Charleston (July 12, 2015): For full text click Minute on Confronting Racial Bias.

Minute on Syria (Sept. 8, 2013): For full text click Minute on Syria.

Minute to Repudiate the Doctrine of Discovery and to Affirm the U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (Mar. 10, 2013): For full text click IPC-Minute-March-10-2013.

Visit the Minutes page for a more complete list of Minutes of Conscience