Capital Punishment
1. The Church's Position
The church took an initial stand against the death penalty by
the Standing High Council in 1995. At the April 2000 World Conference an
approximately two-thirds majority voted in favor of the following resolution:
Healing Ministry and Capital Punishment
World Conference Resolution 1273
Adopted April 8, 2000
Whereas, An increasing amount of research clearly documents
the ineffectiveness of the use of the death penalty as a viable means to
deter violent crime; and
Whereas, Application of the death penalty often
discriminates against the poor, minorities, uneducated, and the mentally
impaired; and
Whereas, In this century we have seen dramatic examples of
the redemptive value of unconditional love, based on the teachings of Jesus
(e.g., Gandhi, M.L. King); and
Whereas, A growing number of nations and faith groups
including Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, Jewish, and other traditions have
either already rejected or urged extreme caution in using the death penalty
as a means of punishment or as a deterrent for violent crime; and
Whereas, As a faith movement we humbly affirm that "one
being is as precious in God's sight as the other" (Jacob 2:27); and
Whereas, The Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter
Day Saints reaffirms that as disciples we seek to be faithful living
expressions of the life and teachings of Jesus; therefore, be it
Resolved, That we stand in opposition to the use of
the death penalty; and be it further
Resolved, That as a peace church we seek ways to
achieve healing and restorative justice.
Church members are encouraged to work for the abolition of the
death penalty in those states and nations that still practice this form of
punishment.
2. Resources
Please contact Roy
Schaefer to let him know what you are doing and if you need any further assistance.
3. Other Links
Campaign for the abolition of the death penalty
www.politicalresources.net/c-death.htm
Amnesty International
www.amnesty.org
Amnesty International (USA)
http://www.amnestyusa.org/home.html
Top
Conscientious Objection and Community of
Christ
1. The church has from its earliest beginnings strongly affirmed individual
free will, conscience, or what is sometimes called agency. This also applies
to the question of military service. The right of individuals to be sincerely
motivated conscientious objectors, and register that objection with church
headquarters, has existed by World Conference Resolution since 1960 (WCR
1020:3). That right has been affirmed several times since in 1968 (WCR
1061:IV), in 1970 (WCR1087: IV, VII), in 1974 (WCR 1129), in 1982 (WCR
1177:VI), and in 1996 (WCR 1249). At the same time the church has affirmed the
conscientious right of those who choose to serve in the military. As the 1996
resolution puts it:
[A] person making a decision of conscience either to participate or not to
participate in military service has the respect, the support, and the
ministry of the church.
The World Peace Committee for 1998-2000 produced a leaflet for church
members and friends who are citizens or permanent resident aliens in the USA.
Called “Conscientious Objection and Military Service," it outlines the
various options available for conscientious objection and military service. A
registration form has also been produced whereby a young person can register a
statement of conscientious objection to military service with the Church
Secretary in the First Presidency’s office at World Church Headquarters.
Advice is also available from a both military and pacifist perspectives by
contacting Peace and Justice Ministries at World Church Headquarters.
All men aged 18-25 in the United States are legally obligated to register
with the Selective Service. Although nobody is currently being drafted in the
U.S.A. the Selective Service System has procedures and regulations currently in
force that can be implemented by the U.S. government. It helps a young
person’s case if they can present evidence of a well-thought-out
conscientious stand if called before a draft board. Registering a stand with
the church is one such piece of evidence of a thought-out conscientious
objector position.
It is possible to obtain copies of this leaflet and the registration form
from by writing to: Conscientious Objection, Peace and Justice Ministries,
1001 W. Walnut, Independence MO 64050 or calling (816) 833-1000.
For other nations the Peace and Justice Ministries office is willing to
work with local church members to develop appropriate procedures within that
nation. A list of nations and their position on military service and
conscientious objection can be found at web site of based on a report from the
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Geneva,
Switzerland http://www.c3.hu/~farkashe/english/countries.htm
Free subscriptions to the Herald are also available for active-duty
military personnel. Call Herald House at 1-800/767- 8181 for more information.
Both conscientious objectors, as well as those serving in the military,
will continue to have access to the full ministry of the church.
2.
Resources for further study: Military
Service, Pacifism, and Discipleship
Top
Ownership and Personal Use of Firearms
1. A Controversial Issue
The ownership of guns is controversial for some church members, particularly in
the United States where some feel it is their constitutional right to bear arms based on
the Second Amendment. Others feel that gun ownership is incompatible with the
teachings and example of Jesus and becoming a world-wide church dedicated to
the pursuit of peace and reconciliation.
2. World Conference Action
World Conference meeting in Independence, Missouri, adopted the following
resolution, 1270, on April 8, 2000:
Personal Use of Firearms
Whereas, Firearms cause much death and pain worldwide; and
Whereas, We are called to be peacemakers; therefore, be it
Resolved, That the church encourage in its members a thoughtful and
reflective stewardship regarding the use of firearms for professional or for
sports purposes; and be it further
Resolved, That the church encourage its members to renounce the personal
use of firearms for all other purposes as a response to the call to
recognize the worth of all persons.
3. Resources For Further Study
Jean Miller with Andrew Bolton, Swords into Plowshares? - Dialogue on
Guns in Our Homes, Communities and Beyond (Peace and Justice
Ministries: Independence, MO, 1999). This 64- page resource is an adult study
text suitable for church school classes, reunions, and personal reading.
It can be obtained for $3 (plus postage and handling) from Herald House
1-800/767-8181. E-mail: heraldhouse@heraldhouse.org
Top
