Friends and the U.S. Election

Editor’s note: During this election season, when our political life in the United States seems especially contentious, Friends United Meeting has invited a variety of Friends to share their thoughts on how to navigate as a Quaker through these divided times. Our eighth installment is by Ruthie Hadley Tippin.  She attends Bridge City Friends Meeting (North Pacific Yearly Meeting) and is a member of Western Yearly Meeting.‍

Elections are an exercise in integrity. Whether choosing high school cheerleaders or determining the presidency of the United States integrity matters, regardless of choice or time.  Perhaps the strongest testimony of Quakers is that of integrity.  Query 38, London YM asks this: ‘If pressure is brought against you to lower your standard of integrity, are you prepared to resist it? Our responsibilities to God and our neighbour may involve us in taking unpopular stands.  Do not let the fear of seeming peculiar, determine your decisions.’  Oh, but we are peculiar people! Rather than eschewing responsibility, Quakers can take on responsibility for integrity in elections.  We and our meeting houses can be safe, neutral places for inviting discourse, for use as polling places. We can exercise our integrity.  

“And we are not for Names, nor Men, nor Titles of Government, nor are we for this Party, nor against the other… but we are for Justice and Mercy, and Truth and Peace, and true Freedom, that these may be exalted in our Nation; and that Goodness, Righteousness, Meekness, Temperance, Peace and Unity with God, and one with another, that these things may abound.”   Edward Burrough, To the Present Distracted and Broken Nation of England (1659)

Ruthie Hadley Tippin

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