Conscientious Participation
Many young Americans go into the armed forces without particularly considering why they should. Christian citizens, however, should be ready to give themselves and others a reason for their faith and action. Most Christians participate for reasons of conscience in the armed forces because they believe that:
1. The Christian gives allegiance to the nation under God. All citizens are dependent on the common life for security, liberty and opportunity. The state protects these rights. Duty to one’s country has been understood as including the obligation to bear arms, and this duty can be overridden only by strong reasons of conscience.
2. Many Christians recognize the problem that each nation determines for itself what is right. Thus Christians have often fought one another because they believe this to be their duty. One must soberly face the fact that we do not yet have a world order that can keep peace. The Christian serves in the armed forces and, if necessary, goes into combat because he or she believes that the responsibility for maintaining world order must be shared in this way.
3. Christian theologians have maintained that war is justified when the following conditions are fulfilled:
- The war must be waged by legitimate authority. In the case of the United States, that is the President and Congress.
- The object must be to vindicate justice. A defensive war, or one to protect rights that have been infringed, is generally held to qualify.
- The intention must be peace with justice.
- The war must be waged without hatred and with love and reconciliation as the ultimate aim.
- The conduct of the war must be just. The opponent has human rights that must be respected. Noncombatants must be protected and not made the object of direct attack. Discrimination must be observed in the targets selected and the weapons used.
- The damages inflicted must not be out of proportion to the injuries suffered or threatened, and there must be a reasonable prospect of success.
- The war must be a last resort only after every possibility of peaceful settlement has been exhausted.
In modern warfare as in earlier times, it is difficult to insure that all these conditions are met. Nevertheless, Christians have participated in war because it seemed that the alternative of non-participation might bring evils worse than the war, and that the leaders of the nation acted as responsibly as possible within this framework.
Enlistment
Local recruiting offices of the various branches of the armed forces can provide specific information on programs and opportunities. The experience of military life sometimes provides an opportunity for clarification of personal values and objectives, but everyone should be clear that the primary purpose of the armed forces is to support national defense policy as determined by the President and Congress.
Conscientious Objection
Both the nation and the Church make provision for the person who believes that he or she cannot participate in war. The wording of the Military Selective Service Act of 1967, amended in 1971, concerning conscientious objection reads as follows:
Section 6 (j). Nothing contained in this title shall be construed to require any person to be subject to combatant training and service in the armed forces of the United States who, by reason of religious training and belief, is conscientiously opposed to participation in war in any form. As used in this subsection, the term “religious training and belief” does not include essentially political, sociological, or philosophical views, or a merely personal moral code.
The Episcopal Church and other communions have recognized the conscientious objector position. Since the 1934 General Convention, the Episcopal Church has recognized “the duty of Christians to put the Cross above the flag, and in any conflict of loyalties unhesitatingly to follow the Christ.”
In 1940 a Registrar for Conscientious Objectors was appointed and a confidential Register established at the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church for conscientious objectors who are baptized or confirmed members of the Episcopal Church.
In 1962 the House of Bishops said: “We must not hesitate to offer a full ministry [to military personnel], realizing the political and military complexity of our national situation, and the fact that the situation for all of us, military and civilian alike, is not totally of our own making. With equal-- in some cases, even greater -- poignancy, we recognize the validity of the calling of the conscientious objector and the pacifist and the duty of the Church to see that we live in a society in which the dictates of conscience are respected.”
In 1979 the General Convention again encouraged “young Episcopalians who consider themselves to be conscientious objectors to war to register that belief with the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church in the Register maintained for this purpose since 1940."
Those who decide for conscientious objection today usually do so because of the following convictions:
1. To take human life, or to participate in a process which may lead to the taking of human life, is immoral and unchristian. A Christian is called to witness to God’s love by refusing to participate in war through any form of military service.
2. Under the conditions of modern warfare, it is impossible to wage a justified war as defined by Christian tradition.
3. While some Christians believe limited war both justifiable and possible, many others object to any war on the basis that the present state of military art makes it impossible to have a “limited war” within the framework of Christian moral obligations. The danger of nuclear war, which may lead to the destruction of all human life, is so great that no considerations are strong enough to justify war of any kind.
4. Although it might be a Christian’s duty in particular circumstances to support military action in the service of justice, there may be other occasions when some Christians may reject a specific military action as unjustified. (This is “selective conscientious objection” and is not recognized under current national law.)
Options for the Objector
Two options for the conscientious objector are allowed under the Military Selective Service Act.
1 . The term “noncombatant training” refers to any training unrelated to the study, use or handling of arms or weapons. “Noncombatant service” is performed in a unit of the armed forces, usually in the medical corps or in some other assignment not requiring the bearing of arms.
2. Instead of actual enlistment into the armed forces, work may be assigned by the Federal, state or local government or by a non-profit organization working for the “maintenance of the national health, safety or interest,” including related educational and scientific activities. In the past, such work has included the Peace Corps, VISTA, the teaching trades, and work in social service agencies or community development projects. Many Church-sponsored programs have qualified. Such assignments may be available if the draft is activated.
The law does not protect the “selective objector” or the noncooperating resister to draft registration or induction.
Conscientious Resistance
Some Christians believe that war as a method of settling international disputes is incompatible with the teaching and example of Our Lord Jesus Christ. This leads them to conclude that any form of cooperation with the Selective Service system or the military is contrary to the will of God as they understand that. This belief is most often acted out in one of two ways:
- by refusing to register for the draft at all;
- by registering for the draft but then refusing induction if and when the draft is reinstated.
It must be emphasized that such actions will almost certainly result in legal consequences, including a substantial fine and a prison term. Anyone considering such action is strongly urged to discuss in detail the proposed course of action with a qualified draft counselor. Both the National Interreligious Service Board for Conscientious Objectors and the Central Committee for Conscientious Objectors provide this service (see back page for addresses).
The House of Bishops has established guidelines for those who engage in acts of civil disobedience (House of Bishops Position Paper III on Christian Obedience, 1964). See page 25 of Cross Before Flag.
The Church’s Concern
Your Church is concerned for the welfare of all its young members. The conscientious objector, the conscientious participant and the conscientious resister must accept the consequences of their decision.
All are the concern of the Church’s pastoral ministry. If you are in the armed forces, make worship a regular part of your life. Get to know your unit chaplain or the priest in the area where you are stationed, and keep in touch with your priest at home. For those in the armed forces, the Episcopal Church maintains a program under the direction of the Bp. George Packarde, Bishop for Chaplaincies at the Episcopal Church Center, 815 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10017. Telephone: (212) 716-6202 or (800) 334-7626, gpackard@episcopalchurch.org.
If you are a conscientious objector, you should register this decision as soon as you can in the confidential Register at the Episcopal Church Center. The Registrar for Conscientious Objectors at the Center will supply you with registration forms and information on the Church’s position on request. There are several national organizations listed below which can counsel and support you as you make your decision and afterwards provide fellowship, printed materials and other resources which may help you to clarify your position.
Registrar for Conscientious Objectors
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Registrar for Conscientious Objectors
Episcopal Church Center
815 Second Avenue
New York, NY 10017
(212) 867-8400 or
(800) 334-7626 |
Episcopal Peace Fellowship
637 South Dearborn St.
Chicago, IL 60605-1839
(312) 922-8628
website: www.epfnational.org |
Center on Conscience & War (CCW)
1830 Connecticut Avenue N W
Washington, DC 20009-5732
(202) 483-2220
website: www.centeronconscience.org
Central Committee for Conscientious Objectors
In whatever position you find yourself, as a conscientious objector, a conscientious participant or a conscientious resister, try to maintain your attitude as a Christian. Act in such a way that you can respect and live with yourself. Respect the rights and consciences of others. Join with others in penitence for the evils that still make conflict possible. Finally, work as a Christian citizen for justice, mercy and love.
EC.7.98
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