Steadfast in Our Truth

Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) reaffirms our unwavering commitment to Anti-Racism, Anti-Bias, Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Integrity (AJEDI) work. This commitment arises directly from our spiritual grounding as Friends. We understand that all people have that of God in them, and our faith calls us to remove the barriers — personal and systemic— that obscure that Light in ourselves and in the world.  

Friends have long sought to live in right relationship with one another. This guides us as we strive to witness truth in love and to act faithfully in the world. Our work for justice and equity is not separate from our spiritual practice; it is a living expression of our faith in action, shaped by continual discernment and the ongoing revelation of the Spirit.  

Our work for justice and equity is not separate from our spiritual practice; it is a living expression of our faith in action, shaped by continual discernment and the ongoing revelation of the Spirit.  

We recognize that the climate for AJEDI in the United States has shifted dramatically in recent years. Changes in law, policy, and culture are driving us backward, undermining and undoing victories of the last century. Across sectors—government, business, education, and civil society—many are retreating from previous commitments. Some have denounced or dismantled their diversity and equity efforts; others have chosen silence, thereby becoming complicit in the forces that seek to reverse hard-won progress. At the same time, we stand alongside many organizations, communities, and faith bodies that remain steadfast in their commitments, continuing to build toward a more just and equitable society. We find strength and hope in this shared labor.  

The work of AJEDI is therefore not “another issue” among many, but integral to the preservation and promise of a multiracial democracy and the building of the Beloved Community….

We understand that this current backlash is not merely an echo of past resistance but a direct continuation of it—rooted in the same narratives, fears, and systems that have long used exclusion and oppression to divide people and concentrate power in the hands of a few. The work of AJEDI is therefore not “another issue” among many, but integral to the preservation and promise of a multiracial democracy and the building of the Beloved Community, standing in direct resistance to the forces driving our society toward authoritarianism. In keeping with the ongoing revelation that guides Quaker faith and practice, this work envisions a world in which power is shared equitably, every person’s humanity is honored, and we live in right relationship with one another.  

We are proud of the ways FCNL has embodied these commitments—through our Strategic Plan; Statement on AJEDI;  Policy Statement; Legislative Priorities, and the faithful efforts of staff,  governance, and the broader network over the past couple of decades. FCNL continues to examine its own structures and culture, seeking to reflect the diversity of the nation it serves and to model the justice it advocates.  

We acknowledge that the journey toward equity and inclusion is ongoing, requiring humility, courage, and continual discernment. In this moment of national retrenchment, we are clear: FCNL will not turn away. We will continue to labor faithfully for a society and a world rooted in equality, peace, integrity, and love.  

2025 Originally written by the AJEDI Working Group

2026 Updated and approved by the AJEDI Sub-Committee, the Quaker, Governance & Engagement Committee, and the Executive Committee of the FCNL General Committee