Our understanding of faith is that true human fulfillment comes from an attempt to live life in the spirit of love and truth and peace, answering that of God in everyone.
Quaker testimonies are expressions of the commitment to put those beliefs into practice. They do not exist in any rigid, written form; nor are they imposed in any way. Each Quaker searches for how the testimonies can best be expressed in his or her own life.
There are six Quaker testimonies: Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community, Equality, Stewardship.
SIMPLICITY
Simplicity is a testimony which has assumed many forms. It implies sincerity, clarity, genuineness, and avoidance of the superficial or superfluous. For Friends, the purpose of a simple life is to remove the distractions that interfere without our conversations with the Divine. Excessive preoccupation with how we look to others, how much we are paid, what awards we have received, or indeed anything that becomes and obsession for us can create “noise” that keeps us from hearing and honoring the voice of the Inner Teacher.
PEACE
Friends oppose and refuse to engage in war and violence. In pursuit of lasting, sustainable peace, they seek to eliminate causes of violent conflict, such as poverty, exploitation, and intolerance. In renouncing war and violence, Friends embrace the transforming power of love and the power of nonviolence, striving for peace in daily interactions with family, neighbors, fellow community members, and those from every corner of the world. Friends endeavor to see “that of God” in every person, regardless of nationality, race, gender, sexual orientation, age, ability, or social status.
INTEGRITY
The need to deal honestly with all others and with oneself has long been a foundational belief among Friends, summarized by the old injunction: “Let your yea be yea and your nay be nay.” For Friends, having integrity means being authentic and having consistency between one’s values and one’s actions. Lack of integrity separates us from our own soul, from the Light within, and from our community.
COMMUNITY
Community is the necessary foundation for justice and peace. As we live in a community to honor that of God in all, we re, as individuals, strengthened in the work to which we are called. Within Friends’ spiritual community, the collective search for truth, undertaking in the Meeting for Worship, is the foundation for the beloved community to which Friend aspire. Living faith is not a private matter. It calls us outward to the needs of the community at large.
EQUALITY
Friends hold that all people are equal in the eyes of God and have equal access to the “inner Light.” This profound sense of equality leads Friends to treat each person with respect. We reject all forms of discrimination, whether based on race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, immigration status, class, gender, age, ability, or sexual orientation. We work to change the beliefs, practices and institutions that perpetuate prejudice, and we support affected communities in seeking their own liberation and equality.
STEWARDSHIP
Friends strive to use God’s gifts wisely, with gifts conceived in the broadest of terms. These gifts include our talents and our possessions, as well as our natural environment. Friends believe that such gifts are not ours alone. To Friends, good stewardship means taking care of what has been given, not just for ourselves, but for the people around us and for future generations as well. Friends strive to use their gifts in accordance with their beliefs.
A simple way to remember these is the acronym SPICES.
Adapted from Baltimore Yearly Meeting Faith and Practice and the AFSC Testimonies Pamphlet