Reformed

April 21, 2012 | Statements: On Conscience

Christian Reformed Church in North America

I. Committee to Study War and Peace

A. Materials: Committee to Study War and Peace Report including

Appendices, pp. 381-452

B. Recommendations

1. That synod approve the following moral statements and direct the executive director to communicate these moral concerns to the U.S. and Canadian governments:

a. Moral clarity requires a careful distinction between preemptive and preventive military actions.

b. Preventive military actions, actions initiated by a government against an adversary who may pose a serious threat at some future date, is inconsistent with the moral standards expressed in the just-war criteria of just cause and last resort.

c. Preemptive military actions, actions initiated by a government against an adversary who will pose a serious threat at some future date, need to be justified under the moral standards expressed in the just-war criterion of the right to resort to force.

—Adopted

The following negative vote is registered: Curtis L. Dubay (Hackensack).

2. That synod instruct the executive director to communicate to the U.S. and Canadian governments:

 
 

a. Our moral opposition to the development or deployment of new weapons of mass destruction.

b. Our continued support for conducting negotiations with other nations to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons and to further reduce nuclear arsenals, with the ultimate goal of multilateral nuclear disarmament as called for under the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (and the recommendations of synod’s report of 1982).

—Adopted

The following negative vote is registered: Curtis L. Dubay (Hackensack).

3. That synod instruct the executive director to petition the President of the United States as well as the Department of Defense to provide a process and establish procedures wherein those who object to selective conflicts on the basis of just-war criteria are honorably discharged.

Grounds:

a. The current policy is from the days of military draft. With the advent of the all volunteer force, the U.S. government has the ability to change policy to include those who conscientiously object to select

conflicts.

b. We have addressed the U.S. government policy of conscientious objection in previous decisions of our synod, noting that the policy stands “quite contrary to that of our church” (Acts of Synod 1973, p. 738). Under this policy, our members “have no legal recourse” (Acts of Synod 1973, p. 738).

c. We have made strong statements concerning the obligation of our members to obey the national authority but also that our ultimate loyalty is to God. We also recognize our church’s pastoral responsibility to counsel and support commitment to that ultimate loyalty when conscientious objection is based on “intelligent and adequate grounds to be convinced that the given war to which he is summoned is an unjust war” (Acts of Synod 1939, p. 249)

d. We have pastoral responsibilities as previously outlined in the Acts of Synod 1977.

—Adopted

The following negative vote is registered: Curtis L. Dubay (Hackensack).

4. That synod direct the executive director to present a copy of this report and its recommendations to the Canadian government to encourage study of the peacebuilding components of its foreign policy.

—Adopted

The following negative vote is registered: Curtis L. Dubay (Hackensack).

5. That synod urge the Board of Trustees to encourage the Christian Reformed Church through its members, assemblies, appropriate agencies, and committees to participate more intentionally in policy development and programs for peace building, such as Project Ploughshares in Canada and other interchurch policy dialogues on war and peace issues.

—Adopted

6. That synod refer the study report, adopted recommendations, and supplemental materials to the churches for study, debate, discussion, and prayerful reflection and that synod dismiss the committee with thanks.

—Adopted

For further information, contact: Dr. David H. Engelhard, General Secretary, Christian Reformed Church in North America, 2850 Kalamazoo Avenue SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49560; <engelhad@crcna.org>; Chaplain (COL) Herman Keizer, Jr. U.S. Army, retired Director of Chaplains CRCNA, Emeritus hkeizer@comcast.net

REFORMED CHURCH IN AMERICA

 
 

The Right of Dissent and Conscientious Objection

The Reformed Church in America affirms the right of all Christians to engage in such debate and dissent as their conscience may compel them. Indeed, we believe that both laymen and clergy stand under the obligation to speak in terms of moral concerns which are likely to be lost in the heat of war. Churches are reminded that their ministers have a prophetic function to fulfill, which can be done only as the freedom of the pulpit is maintained. When hate and violence fill the air, it is the Church alone which can keep alive the voice of love and mercy and compassion.

The Reformed Church in America recognizes that while some may be led to support war by participation in the armed forces, there are others, who, for conscience's sake, cannot do so. We, therefore, reaffirm the position of past General Synods supporting the right of men to choose the path of conscientious objection, and we ask the churches to report such decisions and to support them in their ministry. For the sake of the record, we hereby include actions of past Synods:

1938—We should maintain our Christian fellowship both with those whose conscience leads them to participate in war and with those whose conscience forbids them to participate in war. Christians, as citizens, must resolutely resist the increasingly prevalent reliance upon militarism as expressed by militarizing our youth by compulsory military training in schools and colleges.

1939—We recognize, in the event of war, the right of any minister or communicant member to follow the leading of his conscience before God concerning the support and participation in any armed conflict.

1940—Remembering the words of our Lord—"They that take the sword shall perish by the sword"—and anticipating the powerful influence America may exert when fighting has ceased, we reaffirm our purpose to do all in our power to keep America out of present wars.

1941—We commend the government for its wisdom in recognizing the legitimacy of the conscientious objector's interpretation of Christ's commands.

1942—The General Synod approved a recommendation that: "The Church acknowledge the right of individual conscience, and maintain the unity of Christian fellowship among (a) men in our armed forces; (b) religious objectors to war; and that the freedom of the pulpit be upheld."

(Endorsed by the General Synod of 1967)

Requests all churches and pastors to provide counsel to young men who are torn by the dilemma of conscience regarding war, making known to them the alternatives provided within the Selective Service Act both for service within the armed forces and for the provision of choosing conscientious objector status.

Asks the churches to give supportive help to young men who have chosen the unpopular position of conscientious objector, and help in interpreting this decision of conscience to the people in the church and in the community.

(1968 General Synod)

Resolves to continue to urge local consistories and churches to support those young men among their constituents who have chosen the conscientious objector's position and [that] the recommendations [supporting positions of individual conscientious objectors] accordingly be made to the proper officials (local draft boards) and that they give support and assistance to competent draft counseling groups in their communities where possible, and, also, that the consistory assist the conscientious objectors in finding the type of employment which may satisfy the requirements of the law in lieu of military service.

(1971 General Synod)

To remind pastors, youth leaders and consistories of their responsibility to counsel young people and congregations about Christian perspectives toward war and options relating to participation in the military service.

(1980 General Synod)

To encourage the colleges to continue to provide assistance and guidance (financial and otherwise) to those students who, because of conscience, are not eligible to receive federal grants or loans. (Conscientious objectors faced financial hardship because the federal government required that all male students register for the draft in order to receive federal grants or loans.)

(1988 General Synod)

For further information, contact: Paul Boice, Director of Communication, Reformed Church in America, 475 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10027; at pboice@rca.org or generally at <questions@rca.org>; www.rca.org

United Church of Christ

Policy Statements and Resolution Summaries: Conscientious Objection

Recognizes and affirms the right of conscientious objection to participation in or support of war; urges support of such objectors; charges Council for Christian Social Action [CCSA] to provide information regarding conscientious objection. (3rd General Synod Resolution, July 7, 1961)

Affirms right of conscientious objection to participation in a particular war or in war waged under particular circumstances, as well as the right of conscientious objection to participation in war as such; calls for church support for such objectors; urges amendment to Selective Service Act to provide suitable alternatives. (Council for Christian Social Action [CCSA] Statement on Selective Conscientious Objection, January 31, 1967)

Adopts CCSA statement of January 31, 1967, as General Synod Policy, augmented by reminder to conscientious objectors not to take this position lightly, but only after careful examination of the issues at stake. (6th General Synod Resolution, June 28, 1967)

 
 
 

Urges churches to maintain counseling services for young people prior to [selective service] registration to understand their rights and obligations, including the right of conscientious objection and the moral right for reasons of conscientious objection either to enter military service or resist a war and military service; calls for continuing spiritual and financial support. (7th General Synod Resolution, June 28, 1969)

(From The Prophetic Vision: Social Policy Statements from the United Church of Christ [1957 to 1992])

For further information, contact: United Church of Christ's Justice and Witness Ministry [Washington Office], 110 Maryland Avenue NE, Washington, DC, 20002; www.ucc.org