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ON CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTION
Assemblies of God
Article XVII. Military Service
As a Movement we affirm our loyalty to the government of the United States in war or peace.
We shall continue to insist, as we have historically, on the right of each member to choose whether to declare their position as a combatant, a non-combatant, or a conscientious objector.
For further information, contact: Keith Surface, Special Projects Coordinator, The General Council of the Assemblies of God, 1445 Boonville Avenue, Springfield, MO 65802-1894; ksurface@ag.org or generally at www.ag.org.
United Pentecostal Church International
We recognize the institution of human government as being of divine ordination, and in so doing, affirm unswerving loyalty to our Government; however, we take a definite position regarding the bearing of arms or the taking of human life.
As followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, we believe in implicit obedience to His commandments and precepts, which instruct us as follows; "that we resist not evil" (Matt. 5:39); "Follow peace with all men" (Hebrews 12:14). (See also Matt. 26:52; Rom. 12:19; James 5:6; Revelation 13:10) These we believe and interpret to mean Christians should not shed blood nor take human life.
Therefore, we propose to fulfill all the obligations of loyal citizens, but are constrained to declare against participating in combatant service in war, armed insurrection, property destruction, aiding or abetting in or the actual destruction of human life.
Furthermore, we cannot conscientiously affiliate with any union, boycott, or organization which will force or bind any of its members to belong to any organization, perform any duties contrary to our conscience, or receive any mark, without our right to affirm or reject same.
(From Articles of Faith of the United Pentecostal Church, 1930)
However, we regret the false impression created by some groups of so-called "conscientious objectors" that to obey the Bible is to have a contempt for law or magistrates, to be disloyal to our Government and in sympathy with our enemies, or to be unwilling to sacrifice for the preservation of our commonwealth. This attitude would be as contemptible to us as to any patriot. The Word of God commands us to do violence to no man. It also commands us that first of all we are to pray for rulers of our country. We therefore, exhort our members to freely and willingly respond to the call of our Government except in the matter of bearing arms. When we say service, we mean service—no matter how hard or dangerous. The true church has no more place for cowards than has the nation. First of all, however, let us earnestly pray that we will with honor be kept out of war.
We believe that we can be consistent in serving our government in certain non-combatant capacities, but not in the bearing of arms.
(From Articles of Faith of the United Pentecostal Church, 1940)
For further information, contact: Robin Johnston, PhD, Editor in Chief, United Pentecostal Church International, 8855 Dunn Road, Hazelwood, MO 63042; rjohnston@upci.org or generally at <main@upci.org>; www.upci.org
