Our Position on DEI
Building the Beloved Community: Our Commitment to Justice, Equity, and Love
Our Statement Reaffirming Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Adopted by the Pendle Hill Board on 03-25-2025
Adopted by Chattanooga Friends Meeting (CFM) on 05-18-2025
As members of the Religious Society of Friends, we affirm that every person is created with inherent dignity and worth. Rooted in the sacred call to love our neighbors as ourselves, we embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion as sacred mandates, not optional ideals. Our commitment to justice calls us to build a community where every individual—regardless of race, ethnicity, gender identity and orientation, ability, economic status, or creed—is welcomed, valued, and empowered.
We believe that diversity is a reflection of divine beauty, an expression of the vastness of human experience woven together in a tapestry of shared purpose. Equity is our moral imperative, requiring that we not only open doors but remove the barriers that have long stood in the way of true belonging. Inclusion is our practice of radical hospitality, ensuring that every voice is heard and every heart is embraced.
Guided by these principles, we pledge to:
- Foster a culture of belonging where differences are celebrated, not merely tolerated.
- Actively dismantle systemic inequities within our organization and the communities we serve.
- Speak out against injustice wherever it arises, knowing that silence is complicity.
- Commit to continuous learning, reflection, and action to uphold the ideals of justice and love.
- Extend grace and compassion in the work of healing and reconciliation, striving to embody the Beloved Community envisioned by prophets, peacemakers, and justice-seekers throughout history.
As people of faith and conscience, we do not seek mere coexistence but true kinship—where justice flows like a mighty river, where love casts out fear, and where all people can flourish in the fullness of their humanity. In this sacred calling, we stand together, undivided in our pursuit of a world made whole.
