Quakers attempt to live by our testimonies to the importance of honesty, simplicity,
peace, justice and equality. We try to demonstrate these testimonies in our daily lives.
Much of our ministry is carried out within our families, places of work and through our
community involvements. Sometimes we succeed in advancing our testimonies.
But, many times we feel we have a long way to go to bring our beliefs and our daily
practices together. Not all members and attenders of Albany Friends Meeting are
social activists. Yet, the Meeting as a whole is very supportive of efforts to work for
peace and social justice.
During the Vietnam War we had a Peace Center in our Meeting House. During
the 1980's our Meeting was very involved in the Central America Sanctuary
movement. Members of our Meeting have participated in delegations to Central
America, South Africa, and the Middle East seeking peace, justice and human
rights. A number of Meeting members are very involved with the Alternatives to
Violence program, which offers workshops on nonviolence in area prisons. Most
weeks Amnesty International letters are available after meeting for members and
attenders to send. Our Meeting welcomes lesbian and gay members into full
participation in the Meeting, including marriage under the care of the Meeting.
Members of our meeting are active in local organizations working for peace,
women's equality, an end to the death penalty and racial justice.