From FCNL's "request discernment" webpage 

FCNL’s Policy Statement, The World We Seek, serves as our foundational document, outlining FCNL's broad policy positions. Section III.2.7 of The World We Seek states that since Friends are not in unity on abortion issues, "FCNL takes no position and does not act either for or against abortion legislation."

After the Supreme Court’s ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, overturning Roe v. Wade,

the Policy Committee heard concern from Friends around the country

about FCNL’s lack of position on the issue of abortion.

FCNL’s Policy Committee has invited Friends to listen deeply in their communities around issues of reproductive health care, including abortion.

Queries and Structure to Support our Discernment

• FCNL’s Policy Committee invites your Quaker discernment group [at BFM] to focus on the issue of reproductive health care, including abortion, and advise us whether FCNL should revise our policy statement.

Queries to discuss to support BFM's discernment 

• What does reproductive health care look like in the world that you and your community seek?
• How are Quaker values and testimonies relevant to the issue of reproductive health and abortion?
• Should the FCNL Policy Statement be revised on the issues of reproductive health and abortion?
• If so, what should the Policy Statement say?

As we answer these queries, please reference this clip

from FCNL's full Legislative Policy Statement "The World We Seek":

III.2.6: Health Care. Universal access to affordable, effective, comprehensive health care is a right and is necessary to allow all people to fulfill their potential. Comprehensive health care includes primary, acute, and long-term care, including prescription drugs, as well as mental health and substance abuse treatment. To ensure access, health services should be provided where an individual’s needs can best be met. Our country can only maintain and improve the physical and mental health of its population with affordable health care that covers the entire life span, from prenatal to end-of-life care. Public health services, which protect us all, require robust federal support.

III.2.7. NOTE: Members of the Society of Friends are not in unity on abortion issues. Therefore, FCNL  takes no position and does not act either for or against abortion legislation. On occasion, FCNL may appeal to lawmakers not to use the abortion debate to paralyze action on other legislation. 

UPCOMING ACTIVITIES to discuss these topics  

• Wed. March 22, 6:30 p.m.: FCNL: Supporting Friends Discernment on Reproductive Health.  Online conversation among Friends on their discernment on this issue.  Registration required. Click on the Register LINK on this page.  
• Sun. March 26, 9:00 a.m.: BFM Peace and Social Justice Committee Meeting (via Zoom) to discuss this topic.  Interested attenders and members are welcome to attend. Please use our Contact Us form to request the Zoom link.
• Sun. April 2, 2023: BFM Dialogue and Discernment on Reproductive Justice - In-person at the Meeting House at 12:15 and via Zoom. Please use our Contact Us form to request the Zoom link..
• Sat. April 15. 9:30-3:30: Baltimore Yearly Meeting (BYM) Networking Day (via Zoom and in-person).  At Friends Meeting of Washington, DC.  One session at this gathering will be on Reproductive Justice issues. Click here to download the event details and registration. Please use our Contact Us form to request the Zoom link. Sponsored by BYM’s Peace & Social Concerns Committee.  

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY MATERIALS 

• Baltimore Yearly Meeting (BYM) adopted a pro-choice Minute in 1979, illustrating a history of local Friends supporting reproductive justice and the right to abortion. To read a summary of all the BYM Minutes, please click here. To read a copy of all BYM Minutes, please check with the BFM Library. 

• "The Baltimore Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends opposes any U.S. Constitutional Amendment which would outlaw abortion.  Baltimore Yearly Meeting 1979 yearbook, p P. 8."

• The 1979 Minute reads:  "Baltimore Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends recognizes and reaffirms the basic commitment of Friends to the sacredness of life as well as the quality of life. We do not advocate or encourage abortion as a desirable method of birth control. Nevertheless, we acknowledge that in some extremely unfortunate circumstances a woman might find abortion the least undesirable of several tragic options. The responsibility for making such a decision ultimately rests with the pregnant woman herself. We affirm every pregnant woman’s right to safe and effective medical care throughout her pregnancy and the birth. When abortions are performed, safe and professional medical procedures should be assured."  Source: Baltimore Yearly Meeting 1979 yearbook, p P. 8
• Bethesda Friends Meeting (BFM) adopted a Minute on "Privacy and the State" at their July 17, 2022 Meeting for Worship with a Concern for Business. Please click here to read about Quaker "Minutes" and to read the Privacy Minute in full.  
• The discussion at the BFM Worship Business Meeting spoke to the Supreme Court's Dobbs decision and the clear and present danger it has and continues to present to women and girls all across the country. Many Friends spoke about the need for us to go beyond the right to abortion to support reproductive justice, which means fully financing and supporting pre- and post-natal care as well as child care and income support for mothers and children. We also reviewed the Friends Committee on National Legislation's call for a review and reconsideration of Friends' views on abortion, and spoke about the work of Meetings, like Friends Meeting of Washington (FMW), that have adopted similar Minutes.

• Efforts within BYM to Advance Reproductive Justice and Rights since the Dobbs Decision, dated October 27, 2022. Please click here to access the full document, which includes the activities and approved Minutes of various Monthly Meetings. 
• The opening statement reads: The U.S. Supreme Court decision, Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, overturning Roe v Wade, allows individual states to enact restrictions on abortion.  As the dissenting justices noted, in overturning Roe and Casey, the majority rejected the right to privacy as a foundation to other freedoms involving bodily integrity, familial relationships, and procreation.  These changes came as some states seek to restrict the rights to vote and limit voice in our democracy.  Friends across BYM Monthly Meetings responded with planned actions and newly drafted minutes.  BYM Peace and Social Concerns reviewed past BYM minutes and convened a Working Group on Reproductive Justice.