Peace and Social Concerns Committee

Central Philadelphia Meeting (CPM) organizes its work through committees. Peace and Social Concerns Committee (PSCC) is a very active, socially-engaged group of people who work together to address some of the most pressing issues of our time, particularly those of interest to committee members.

Current areas of concern include:

More Sun More Wind More Peace
  • Climate Crisis and Environmental Justice
  • Middle East Conflict
  • Voting Rights and Voter Suppression
  • War in Ukraine
  • Reproductive Rights
  • Gun violence

Recent Decisions and Actions

  • CPM is deciding whether to sign the Apartheid Free Pledge. This Pledge recognizes the systemic and structural discrimination in Israel againsApartheid Freet Palestinians and will commit CPMM to working to end violence and discrimination in Israel and Gaza.
  • Minute supporting Immediate Ceasefire and Peace in Israel and Gaza.
  • Minute supporting Carbon Cap and Trade,
  • Donation drive to benefit humanitarian relief in Gaza and Ukraine through AFSC and Razom.
  • Sponsored workshops and worship sharing on Gaza and Israel.
  • Made a grant to Quaker Action Mid Atlantic Region.
  • Held workshops on sponsoring immigrants fleeing war zones in Ukraine.
  • Conducted a discernment process to develop policy guidance for the Friends Committee on National Legislation on the issue of Female Reproductive Rights.
  • Awarded several small grants to local nonprofit corporations.

Relationships with Other Organizations

We work closely with a number of other Friends organizations, including the Eco Justice Collaborative and the Middle East Collaborative, FCNL, AFSC and EQAT as well as with non-Quaker organizations involved in similar issues.  These collaborations are always developing and strengthening to increase our effectiveness.

Grant Funding

Peace and Social Concerns Committee is the steward of two small funds of the meeting that support community organizations whose work benefits our neighbors in Philadelphia. We announce the availability of these funds through this website and other channels and solicit applications. As a committee we then make funding decisions. Occasionally we have sponsored events to supplement these funds.

At Christmas we choose a specific organization that we feel deserves our support, decorate a holiday tree with envelopes of donations and announce the total raised to the meeting during our Twelfth Month Dinner in December.

Relationship to the Monthly Meeting for Business in Worship

Whenever an issue should be brought to the attention of the meeting as a whole, we ask to be put on the agenda of the monthly meeting and one or more members of our committee reports to the meeting.

Join us in letting our lives speak

We feel that as members of the Religious Society of Friends we are called to “Let our Lives Speak” as an act of putting our faith into practice. Should you feel drawn to be in community with others of like mind we welcome you.

Peace and Social Concerns Committee welcomes both members and attenders at our meetings. You are welcome to attend one of our meetings to get a feel for our work. If you are interested in getting more involved, please express your interest to the meeting's Nominating Committee. Members of the Peace and Social Concerns Committee are appointed for a 3-year term which can be extended to a second 3-year term. We meet once a month on the second Monday at 6:45 pm. Currently we are meeting virtually on Zoom. If you are not a member and wish to attend, you should contact the clerks of the committee.

Learn More

You can contact the clerks of the committee or request a full roster of the committee from the meeting's office, office@cpmm.org.

The Committee's charge

The Peace and Social Concerns Committee (PSCC) provides advice and support to the meeting on issues of peace and social justice. It also encourages members and attenders to participate in the work for social change of larger Quaker groups or other bodies, or to independently pursue leadings to social actions consistent with Friends’ testimonies.

Download a pdf of the full document, Peace & Social Concerns Committee Charge.

 

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