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Cover Letter


To:      Persons Inquiring about CO Registration

From: The Revd. G. Douglas Fenton
            

Re:      Registration Procedures

In response to your inquiry, we are sending you this packet which includes the following items:

  1. The Episcopal Church and Conscientious Objection to War
  2. Military Service and the Young Episcopalian
  3. Biblical Basis of a Peace Witness
  4. What Do I Believe About War?
  5. Advice to Youth Facing Draft Registration
  6. A selected bibliography of books on non-violence theology and conscientious objection
  7. Letters of Support for Conscientious Objector Claims
  8. Worksheet on War Objection
  9. Registration Form with instructions

Items 1-4 should help you to decide whether you are a conscientious objector.  Items 5-8 will be of assistance to you should you decide to register as a conscientious objector.

Please be assured that any and all correspondence or questions with my office will be handled as confidentially as possible.

I want to be very clear about one point.  Your registration as a Conscientious Objector (CO) does not exempt you from the selective service procedures, nor does it guarantee that you will be exempt from conscription or military service, or some other form of non-combatant service in the event that future legislation is enacted restoring the draft.

It has been our previous experience that many CO claims were denied because the registrant did not identify himself at the beginning.  Between 1970 and 1972 only 20% of those who applied to the Selective Service Board for CO status were classified as COs.  One of the reasons for this is that a claim for CO status was often filed late in the process leading to induction into military service.  If you have made a decision, it is important to have your statement on file as early as possible.

If you think that you might want to register as a CO or if you have decided to officially register as a CO, please read through items 1 through 7 before making any final decisions.

Then:

  1. Complete three (3) copies of the registration form.  An online version of this form is available on this web site.
  2. Do not sign any of the copies.
  3. Take the unsigned copies to your minister.
  4. With the minister, sign all three (3) copies.
  5. Send the original to my office:

    The Revd G. Douglas Fenton
    The Episcopal Church Center
    815 Second Avenue
    Fifth Floor
    New York, NY 10017-4503
    6.
  6. Keep one (1) copy for your own records.
  7. Hold the third copy for the Selective Service Board in the event that a draft is reinstated.
  8. Note that you will also need to give the place and date of your baptism and confirmation.

This should complete the process. However, if you have any questions at all, please don’t hesitate to contact my office:  800/334-7626 or dfenton@episcopalchurch.org