Conscientious objection

The Church of the Brethren has consistently opposed war. This opposition to war and desire to work for peace is considered a matter of conscience. By this we mean that our theology and commitment to Jesus preclude our involvement in war. We believe that participation in war is incompatible with the way of Jesus.

Call of Conscience, a web-based curriculum to help Brethren youth develop their beliefs about peace and conscientious objection to war, will be available before the end of the year. The four study sessions will help youth think through their beliefs as taught by the Church of the Brethren:

Part 1. Holy Obedience: What do I do when God tells me to love my enemies and the government says I must kill them?

Part 2: Going by the Book: What the Bible says about violence and peace

Part 3: Taking a Stand: The historic peace position of the Church of the Brethren

Part 4: Making a Defense for Hope: Declaring my case for conscientious objection.

Study sessions are designed to be led by an adult and will include full session plans and downloadable resources. Each will contain a page for youth with suggestions for further reflection and activities. The curriculum will be adaptable for different settings and a variety of time periods. The four basic one-hour sessions will be designed also to be compressed and used as a weekend retreat or a three-hour workshop. By using the additional activities in each session, the curriculum will expand to a longer course of eight or more weeks.

More information will be available soon.