“Testimony” is used by Friends to describe actions and attitudes based on the realization that there is “that of God in everyone,” that all human beings are equal, and that all life is interconnected.   It is affirmative but may lead to action that runs counter to practices common in society at large.  Shunning conventional dogma, Quakers look to the testimonies to reflect our beliefs, wherever individual Friends may be on their personal spiritual journeys.  Many use the acronym “SPICE” as a reminder of our testimonies.

Simplicity
This testimony means seeking to focus our attention on what is essential and eternal, without distraction by the transitory or the trivial.   Plain and honest speech is an expression of simplicity.   Respect for God’s creation and, therefore, concern for the environment and the right use of the world’s resources is another obvious expression of this testimony. Extravagance, wastefulness and artificially stimulated wants is seen to be a fundamental violation of the testimony of simplicity.

Peace
This leads Quakers to avoid war and violence, while also encouraging efforts to ease suffering of victims of war on all sides. It means efforts to be or to seek a reconciling force between peoples and nations in conflict. It means a constant search for nonviolent means of conflict resolution.  It means a continuing search for peace and social justice through personal and group nonviolent techniques for mediation and social change.

Integrity
Integrity (truth) is a complex concept in Quakerism, involving honest, reliable truthfulness, honor, uprightness.  Sometimes the word is used more generally for the conviction and way of life and arise from worship.  One example:  The concern for truthfulness led early Friends to refuse to take oaths, which they considered a sign that there were different levels of truthfulness.  They believed that truth was constant and that we should tell the truth all the time.

Community
Since there is “that of God in everyone, all human beings are brothers and sisters, one human family, no matter how great our differences of experience, of culture, of age, of understanding.  Friends have found that the Light may illuminate a gathered group as well as an individual heart and bind the group together in a community of faith, conscience and experience.

Equality
If God is within and directly accessible to all persons, then all persons are to be equally valued.  This has been manifest in many ways, from opposition to slavery and the death penalty to our early incorporation of same-sex marriage within meeting.

Some Friends also include other testimonies, such as Unity, Compassion, Justice, Truth, and Stewardship, all consistent with our shared understanding and experience in silent worship.