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
- Brethren and the National Farm Worker Ministry: 50 years of service
In 1971, the coalition officially rebranded as the National Farm Worker Ministry (NFWM) in order to expand their mission to include supporting farm worker movements and attracting other communities of faith to their cause. The Church of the Brethren proved to be one such faith community that walked alongside the NFWM following its establishment, and it is in the spirit of celebration that we recognize 50 years of good work by the NFWM and their partners.
- JESUS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD: STORIES FROM CONGREGATIONS: Franklin Grove Church collaborates with Dixon congregation to celebrate the International Day of Peace
Franklin Grove (Ill.) Church of the Brethren honored the International Day of Peace through a special Sunday service and by giving away grant-funded, custom-made peace bookmarks and Dove-brand mini ice cream bars. Dixon (Ill.) Church of the Brethren collaborated with Franklin Grove. Their giveaway was the same day at Oliver’s Corner Market in Dixon.
- Children’s Disaster Services responds to Hurricane Ida, Afghan evacuation
respond to Hurricane Ida and to provide care for children of Afghan evacuees, after a busy few weeks monitoring several deployment possibilities as well as preparing for multiple trainings to continue to prepare volunteers to respond to the special needs of children in disaster and trauma-related situations.
- Office of Peacebuilding and Policy signs letter supporting Afghan refugees, urging humanitarian action by Biden administration
The Church of the Brethren’s Office of Peacebuilding and Policy is one of 88 faith organizations and 219 faith leaders sending a letter to President Biden urging him to provide a robust humanitarian response to the crisis in Afghanistan and to expand opportunities for Afghans to seek refuge in the US. The letter was organized by the Interfaith Immigration Coalition.
- Remembering Dale Brown, professor emeritus at Bethany Seminary and a leading theologian in the Church of the Brethren
Dale Weaver Brown, 95, professor emeritus at Bethany Theological Seminary and a leading theologian in the Church of the Brethren as well as a former moderator of the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference, passed away peacefully on Aug. 30, in the presence of family.
- A statement of concern for Afghanistan from Church of the Brethren general secretary David Steele
he Church of the Brethren stands by our conviction that “all war is sin” and “we may not participate or benefit from war” (1970 Church of the Brethren Annual Conference statement on war, www.brethren.org/ac/statements/1970-war) but we must ask how we have been complicit in the war in Afghanistan and how we are called to turn now to repentance and right living.
- Office of Peacebuilding and Policy monitors AUMF and withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan
In line with our 2004 Annual Conference “Resolution: Iraq,” 2006 Church of the Brethren “Resolution: An End to the War in Iraq,” and 2011 Church of the Brethren “Resolution on the War in Afghanistan,” the Church of the Brethren Office of Peacebuilding and Policy along with our ecumenical and interfaith partners are watching and engaging with developments on the repeal of the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 (2002 AUMF) and withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan.
- Office of Peacebuilding and Policy signs letter to Senate Armed Services Committee regarding Selective Service
The Church of the Brethren Office of Peacebuilding and Policy has signed a letter sent by peace church organizations and other peace groups to the Senate Armed Services Committee. The letter urges an end to the Selective Service System and rejection of any attempt to add women to the group on which the burden of draft registration is imposed. The letter supports a piece of bipartisan legislation, S 1139, that would repeal the Military Selective Service Act.