International Conscientious Objector Day:
Sunday Closest to May 15

On International Conscientious Objector Day, we remember and appreciate people of all nations who resist war as a statement of their conscience. We remind ourselves of the Nuremberg principle:

“Individuals have international duties which transcend the national obligations of obedience. Therefore individual citizens have the duty to refuse to obey domestic laws to prevent crimes against peace and humanity from occurring.” —Nuremberg War Crime Tribunal, 1950

The United Nations has recognized that persons already performing military service may develop conscientious objections based on their experiences. Church authorities have long argued that an individual can conscientiously object to a particular war or act within a war, without being opposed to war in all forms. The church definition of conscientious objection includes both the obligation and right of a Christian to follow his/her own conscience in regard to particular circumstances.

Purpose

• Honor our spiritual obligation to reflect on the ‘justness’ of what government asks us to do.
• Remind people of faith about the sacred right and obligation to follow their conscience, regardless of civil law.
• Acknowledge our reliance on a Power that transcends earthly power and politics.
• Remember that the church supports those who follow their conscience when they are in conflict with directives of authorities or governments.

Process

• Lift up the peace-making mandate of scripture during the Sunday worship service.
• Honor people of faith who followed their conscience in refusing to wage unjust war.
• Honor members of the military who stopped their comrades from killing civilians.
• Educate people on local, national, and international peace efforts (e.g.“Decade of Non-violence”).