Minutes of Concern & Statements of Conscience

In the Quaker tradition, a concern is more than an issue someone cares about. It is a matter that has taken hold of a person or community strongly enough to invite prayerful attention, discernment, and often action.

When Friends gathered for business come to unity around such a concern, they may record a minute of concern — a statement that names what has been discerned, often calling Friends, Meetings, or the wider community to one or more specific actions.

A statement of conscience serves a similar purpose, giving public expression to a conviction that has emerged from worship, discernment, and the shared life of the community.

This collection brings together documents approved by IMYM as a Yearly Meeting and documents contributed by Monthly Meetings within IMYM. Together, they offer a record of how Friends across our community have sought to respond faithfully to the concerns of their time. In the collection below, related minutes and statements are grouped by topic where that is useful, with other documents listed individually.

Contribute to this collection

If your Meeting has reached unity on a minute of concern or statement of conscience that you would like to share with the wider IMYM community, we welcome your contribution to this collection. Please send approved minutes or statements to assistant@imym.org