At the annual convocation in Greenville, SC, in April 2005, the Alliance approved a motion to establish a Registry for Conscientious Objectors "to provide documentary evidnece that those registered are by reason of religious training an dbelief. . . conscientiously opposed to participate in war in any form."
Read the Statement on Conscientious Objection which gives Aliance members a basis for cliaming CO status per the Military Selective Service Act (50 U.S.App. § 456 6(j)). Although there is no military draft at present, most men between the ages of 18 and 25 are required to register with the Selective Service System. Men who will want to claim CO status in the future may lay the groundwork for such a cliam by the following instructions found in the Alliance conscientious Objector Registration Form.
Women who wish to state their beliefs about Conscientious Objection may also register with the Alliance. Download the Registration Form from the link above. Anyone needing assistance with the registration process or wanting to discuss this topic is welcome to send a message to peaceandjustice@allianceofbaptists.org
To learn more about conscientious objection, check out the following resources.
Hays, Richard B. (1996). The Moral Vision of the New Testament: A Contemporary Introduction to New Testament Ethics. Chapter 14, “Violence in Defense of Justice” 317-346. San Francisco: Harper Collins.
Hauerwas, Stanley. (October 2002). “September 11, 2001: A Pacificist Response” in Hospitality. Vol. 21, no. 10, Atlanta: Open Door Community.
Hauerwas, Stanley. (February, 10, 1991). Editorial Special to the Observer. Charlotte, NC: Charlotte Observer.
Volf, Miroslav. . (1996). Exclusion and Embrace: A Theological Exploration of Identity, Otherness, and Reconciliation.. Chapter 7, “Violence and Peace”, 275- 307. Nashville: Abdingdon Press.
Yoder, John Howard. (1971, 2003). The Original Revolution: Essays on Christian Pacificism. Chapter 3, “If Christ is really Lord”, 52-84. Scottdale, PA: Herald Press.
Macgregor, G.H.C. (1936/1953). The New Testament Basis of Pacifism; Fellowship of Reconciliation, 38 Gordon Square, London, WC1, England
Gregg, Richard B. (1935/1959). The Power of Nonviolence; Richard B.; Shocken Books, NY. (This book is a secular, psychological explanation of how nonviolent resistance works.)
Thoreau, Henry David. (1849). “On the Duty of Civil Disobedience”. Thoreau’s essay has appeared in many editions; often included with his Walden.
An informed decision for Conscientious Objection or Pacifism must also understand and overcome the best arguments against these positions:
Niebuhr, Reinhold. (1986). “Why the Christian Church is Not Pacifist” in The Essential Reinhold Niebuhr: Selected Essays and Addresses. ed. Robert McAfee Brown Cambridge: Yale University Press.
*Buchanan, J. M. and Heim, D., eds. (2002). War as Crucifixion: Essays on Peace, Violence and ‘Just War’. Chicago: Published by The Christian Century Press. *(This resource includes essays on both sides of the issue.)
John Shelly, Ph.D. Furman University Religion Department, Greenville, SC provided consultation to the Alliance Peace and Justice Committee and contributed this select bibliography as a resource.
