Westport Friends Meeting

Minute on the FUM Personnel Policy

Westport Meeting of Friends does not support the current FUM personnel policy. Our concern calls us to witness to the truth that the policy as written should be changed to allow participation of all persons on the sole basis of their gifts in ministry and leadership.

We are in unity with the New England Yearly Meeting Minute of Exercise that acknowledges that “Friends’ understanding of the truth has grown to include the belief that an individual’s sexual orientation is no measure of their ability to express God’s love through committed long-term relationships”. We have witnessed to this truth, having joyfully married a same gender couple under the care of the Meeting. We also understand that an individual’s sexual orientation, marital status, or attitude towards celibacy are no measure of ability to express God’s love in the world nor do they diminish the gifts of ministry and leadership he or she may offer. We too have been blessed “by the ministry and leadership of those who would not be allowed to serve under the FUM policies”.

We also believe that the FUM personnel policy is discordant with the New England Yearly Meeting Faith and Practice advices that call upon us to oppose discrimination in all of its forms.

We value our relationship with Friends United Meeting. Friends agreed to stay engaged in prayerful intervisitation and discernment with members of FUM for a period of one year. If we see no movement or tendering on this issue at that point, we will revisit the question of financial support

Approved by Westport Monthly Meeting at the Meeting for Business held on the Seventeenth day of the Seventh month, 2005.

Howard Baker-Smith
Clerk