Whereas to me and many other Friends, engaging Congress and the President on the big issues of our times is an essential aspect in the practice of our Quaker faith.

By now you’ve heard many times the perspective on Quaker work that, when our service work is at its best we do two things: 1. We offer the crust of bread and the cup of cool water to those in need, and 2. We look to the causes of that need and try to change or replace the structure of violence that create the need for our humanitarian work.

The second one is policy work, and policy work takes place in the political arenas. When we do policy work, we Quakers attempt to answer that of God in every situation. Joe Volk Friends Bulletin October 2001