The Church of the Brethren seeks to become a living peace church. Christians are called by God to witness to the gospel of peace with such intensity that nations repent and history is changed. Less than a radical witness can only lead us to accept idols of materialism, blind nationalism, the glorification of military strength, dependence on technological solutions for human problems, and personal and national security at the expense of justice.
Proclaiming peace and preventing war
Ending drone warfare – Cutting Pentagon spending – Preventing gun violence – Eliminating torture
The Church of the Brethren believes “that war or any participation in war is wrong and incompatible with the spirit, example and teachings of Jesus Christ”. We bring this message to Capitol Hill to be a witness to Christ’s peace in a place full of conflict. The United States has seen two of the longest wars in our country’s history wind down in the last couple of years, but the militarism of our culture has not been wiped away. We are not yet out of Afghanistan and covert operations still have our military involved in many areas across the globe. Not to mention the US has been involved in an intervention in Libya and the temptation to continue to intervene in other countries remains as crises like the Syrian Civil War continue.
We completely dissent from this increasingly militaristic worldview and we instead publicly witness to Christ’s peace because we remain “convinced that good citizens in a good society must work out a better way than war to resolve international conflict.” (1970 Statement on War). Our commitment to form partnerships in ecumenical and interfaith contexts and to work to find creative, non-violent solutions to the world’s problems is just another way we witness to the transformative power of Christ’s peace.
Ending drone warfare
Drones have surged to the forefront of America’s public consciousness. You can’t say the word without generating all sorts of discussion and controversy. Much of the talk has surrounded the legality or effectiveness of these weapons or whether these weapons could legally be used on American citizens. While these conversations make nice political theater, we at the Church of the Brethren’s Office of Peacebuilding and Policy feel that engaging in this conversation misses the larger point of the human and moral cost of engaging in this type of warfare.
Our understanding of Jesus’ incarnation stands in direct opposition to this manner of dealing with conflict. Jesus, as the Word incarnate, came to dwell among us in order to reconcile humanity to God and bring about peace and healing. In contrast, the United States’ use of armed drones has distanced the decisions to use lethal force from the communities in which these deadly strikes take place. We find the efforts of the United States to distance the act of killing from the site of violence to be in direct conflict to the peaceful witness of Jesus.
Read the Church of the Brethren’s “Resolution Against Drone Warfare” for a fuller explanation of our perspective.
Cutting Pentagon spending
Pentagon spending still dwarfs the military spending of both the United States’ allies and enemies, and money continues to be spent on nuclear weapons that are both immoral and financially wasteful. We collaborate with other church offices to advocate on Capitol Hill for substantial and long-term cuts to the Pentagon’s budget.
As a Church, we have historically worked to change these destructive political structures that have perpetuated militarism and violence, and by working to cut the Pentagon’s budget, we plan to carry on that tradition. We will adhere to our Brethren tradition and continue to witness to Christ’s Gospel of Peace by working for drastic reductions in Pentagon spending.
Preventing gun violence
The Church of the Brethren has consistently worked for peace and called on its members to be powerful witnesses to the tragedy of Gun Violence. Annual Conference statements from 1978, 1987, 1994, and 1999 have called on Church of the Brethren members and the United States government to address this violent epidemic that affects the entire world.
We work with the interfaith coalition Faiths United to Prevent Gun Violence to advocate for legislation that will reduce gun violence here in America, while also working diligently with the World Council of Churches to secure an effective Arms Trade Treaty that will reduce gun violence around the world.
Our work with Faiths United to Prevent Gun Violence and other gun violence prevention efforts builds off of the Mission and Ministry Board’s Resolution in Support of the National Council of Churches of Christ, USA: Ending Gun Violence. In this resolution, members were implored to:
“Call upon our local, state, and federal legislators to enact reforms that limit access to assault weapons and handguns, including closing the so-called federal ‘gun show loophole,’ which allows for the purchase of firearms from private sellers without submitting to a background check, or providing documentation of the purchase.”
Internationally, instituting and enforcing the Arms Trade Treaty will play an important role in reducing the suffering caused by small arms around the world. Participating in this work is a practical expression of our commitment to love our neighbor, care for persons vulnerable to violence, and cooperate with international efforts to build peace.
Learn more and keep up with the World Council of Churches’ ratification efforts.
Eliminating torture
Torture is a forgotten issue. Many think it is something that America used to do, but has now repented from, but nothing could be further from the truth. Guantanamo Bay is still open, despite President Obama’s pledge to close it, and in early 2013 a hunger strike began where many detainees were force-fed daily. These ugly developments are just the latest manifestation of the immorality and inhumanity of torture.
Our 2010 Resolution Against Torture expresses our position unequivocally:
“Torture is a blatant violation of the tenets of our faith. It injects into our character the sense that we are better than others and dehumanizes people. It seeks to break the human spirit. In reality it devastates both the one who is tortured and the one who tortures.”
At the Office of Peacebuilding and Policy, we partner with the National Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT) to work in an interfaith context to raise a prophetic voice on issues of torture. We support NRCAT in their work to close Guantanamo Bay, end solitary confinement, and join them in calling on the government to be more transparent and accountable on issues of torture. We join NRCAT in believing that Torture is a Moral Issue.
Peace news
- Children’s Disaster Services team deploys to Uvalde
A team of six Children’s Disaster Services (CDS) volunteers traveled this morning to Uvalde, Texas, to provide specialized assistance to children and families impacted by the shooting. These volunteers are experienced and specially trained for critical responses that involved the loss of lives.
- Shipment from Brethren Service Center sends relief to Ukraine
“This shipment has been in the works for quite a while but FINALLY is on its way,” reported Loretta Wolf, director of Material Resources for the Church of the Brethren.
- Middlebury Church sponsors book event on peacemaking legacy of Michael Sharp
We believe in working for peace, not war. We try to live in harmony with our families, our friends, and our neighbors. But very few go out seeking violent places and trying to bring the peace of Jesus to people even there. Michael “MJ” Sharp was one of those who did.
- Office of Peacebuilding and Policy signs on to letter to President Biden encouraging creative peacebuilding for Ukraine
The Church of the Brethren’s Office of Peacebuilding and Policy signed on to an April 6 letter to President Biden, that was sent cooperatively with several other partner organizations. The letter called on the President to “think creatively about how to end this catastrophe rather than maintaining it through violence and escalations” and offered “examples of creative, courageous nonviolent resistance.”
- Nothing quite compares to this: A reflection on the war in Ukraine
As director of Humanitarian and Disaster Response for World Relief, and someone who has attended a Church of the Brethren congregation for many years, I am stunned and saddened by what is happening in Ukraine. As a member of the Integral Alliance, World Relief has witnessed many natural and man-made disasters over the years. Nothing quite compares to this.
- Mission and Ministry Board’s Spring meeting addresses Ukraine, reviews Strategic Plan initiatives and BFIA guidelines, among other business
A statement on the war in Ukraine topped the agenda of the Church of the Brethren Mission and Ministry Board at its meeting on March 11-13, held in person at the General Offices in Elgin, Ill., and via Zoom. Chair Carl Fike led the meeting, assisted by chair-elect Colin Scott and general secretary David Steele.
- Mission and Ministry Board issues statement on Ukraine, calls for time of concerted prayer and action for peacebuilding
The Church of the Brethren Mission and Ministry Board issued a statement on Ukraine during its Spring meeting at the denomination’s General Offices in Elgin, Ill. Board chair Carl Fike, who led the meeting, signed the statement with the unanimous consent of the members of the board.
- Brethren Disaster Ministries distributes first round of grant money for Ukraine crisis
Responding to this crisis will be a massive, multi-year effort. Brethren Disaster Ministries is working with partners to determine the best avenues of support, including immediate assistance as well as a longer-term response. An initial Emergency Disaster Fund (EDF) grant of $10,000 has been given to CORUS International.