Youth and advisors gather for opening worship

Chris Douglas, Director of the Youth and Young Adult Office, addresses the group.

One of the many small group sessions where youth and advisors were able to reflect on the speakers and activities.

A variety of speakers shared perspectives representing a wide range of viewpoints. Phil Jones, director of the General Board’s Brethren Witness/Washington Office and one of the seminar’s coordinators, said the program was designed to have youth “struggle with your head, your heart, and your spirit . . . the things that guide your conscience.”

Former conscientious objectors (COs) Enten Pfaltzgraff Eller and Clarence Quay shared the stories of their struggles, as did more recent CO’s Andrew Engdahl and Anita Cole. Eller and Quay each chose not to register and instead did alternative service, though Eller’s came after a lengthy court case. Engdahl and Cole arrived at their decisions after entering the military and asked for reclassification.

“When Jesus said ‘Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,’ that has to be now, not later,” Eller said. “You have to struggle with where God is calling you and how you’re going to follow.”

Enten Pfaltzgraff Eller, a non registrant to the selective service, tells his story of how he could not cooperate with the draft system and the court case that followed.

Clarence Quay, a WWII CO, explains how he served his country through alternative service, including fighting forest fires in Montana.

Andrew Engdahl shares his story of conscientious objection.

Anita Cole explains how she became a CO during her time spent as a high ranking military interrogator.

Others, like Indiana pastor Jack Cary, offered a different voice: that of a church that strives for peace but isn’t necessarily pacifist—a stance he says in shared by many in the denomination today.

“You have a unique opportunity to express your personal beliefs,” Cary said. “This is where I am, and this is what I must do. . . . Make sure it’s not your decision, but that it’s God’s decision for you.”

Other differing viewpoints were shared later in the week. Representatives of Selective Service explained the need for draft preparation and the provisions made for alternative service while assuring the group that, “No one wants a draft.” Center on Conscience and War director J.E. McNeil, meanwhile, said that peace churches must be concerned about such a possibility.

Clarence Quay and youth symbolically plant seeds.

Jack Carey, pastor in Middlebury, IN, shares his views of a church that strives for peace but isn’t necessarily pacifist.

J.E. McNeil and Theo Setther explain their views on a draft and how the peace churches and conscientious objectors need to confront issues related to the draft. J.E. McNeil is the director of the Center for Conscience and War and the G.I. Rights hotline, a nonprofit organization that helps conscientious objectors in and out of the military. Theo is a lobbyist.

Several speakers addressed a different form of conscientious objection, in the form of being war tax resisters. Phil and Louie Reiman of Indianapolis and Alice and Ron Martin-Adkins of Washington, D.C., explained why they had decided not to pay the portion of their taxes that support military operations—and the consequences that can come with that choice. Marian Franz of the National Peace Tax Fund provided additional background on this form of witness.

"If we say that war is wrong, and we believe war is wrong, then why would we pay for it?" Louie Reiman said.

David Berry, of Indianapolis, IN, and youth listen to a presentation on war tax resistance.

Phil and Louie Reiman, of Indianapolis, IN, tell their story of war tax resistance and how they cannot, conscientiously, pay for war.

Alice and Ron Martin Adkins, pastor and member of Washington City Church of the Brethren, share similarly their story of resisting war taxes.

Other events during the week included a tour of the United Nations, worship at a diverse selection of New York churches, dinner at ethnic restaurants around Washington, a visit from moderator Jim Hardenbrook, small-group discussion, and visits with congressional representatives to give voice to the issues.

Jim Hardenbrook, Moderator of the 2005 Annual Conference, briefly addressed the conference.	Picnic on Capitol Hill before congressional visits.
Phil Jones, Director of the Witness/Washington Office, addresses the group before heading off to the various lobby meetings.	Brethren visit staff at Rep. Rangel’s (D-NY) office. Rep. Rangel introduced a draft bill last year.
David Steele leading worship singing.	A closing prayer after worship.
Christian Citizenship Seminar is held annually for youth except National Youth Conference years; it is sponsored by the General Board’s Youth/Young Adult Ministry office and the Brethren Witness/Washington Office. —Walt Wiltschek, Editor of Messenger	Closing worship at the Washington City Church of the Brethren.