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Learning in ActionCO RegistryA number of years ago, MCC established a ConscientiousObjector Registry as a means whereby Christian individualscould record personal statements, identifying their commitment to peace andto a position of conscientious objection to participation in war. The mainreason for making a recorded statement is help to clarify one’s beliefs andconvictions. Another important reason is that, in the event of military conscription,a written record of a position on conscientious objection could assistin establishing a CO claim. You may wish to create an opportunity for thepeople in your church to consider this registry. Information about the CORegistry, with accompanying study materials, is found atmcc.org/canada/co/registry.Registry signing ceremonyDuring the fall of 2003 Charleswood Mennonite Church in Winnipegembarked on a study of war and conscientious objection. They used theMCC Conscientious Objector Registry kit and the Mennonite Confessionof Faith as resources. Both adult and youth Sunday school classes werepart of the process. At first the classes met on their own, but later theycame together for two Sundays. During these sessions adults and senioryouth worked on writing out their statements of conscientious objection.In the current National DefenceAct there is no recognition ofconscientious objection. And, asCanada currently does not haveconscription, there is no legislationwith respect toconscientious objection.However, Canada’s Charter ofRights and Freedom’s recognizesthe right of freedom of conscience,“Everyone has thefollowing fundamental freedoms:(a) freedom of conscienceand religion” (Sec.2). GivenCanada’s historic record, it ispresumed that individuals couldmake a claim for conscientiousobjector status on the basis ofthe charter and historicprecedents.During the worship service on Peace Sunday, November 9, 2003, three individualsread their statements to the congregation. These three, together with 11 others,presented their statement for blessing and for witnessing by the congregationalchairperson. After the service the statements were placed on file in the church office.Sunday school studyDevote one quarter of the Sunday school year for all youth and adult classes to study thechurch’s teaching about war and peace. Use the Bible, as well as other resources as thestudy texts (see Resources section for complete references). Youth might find it particularlyhelpful to use the format of answering the tough questions that come up when one namesoneself a pacifist.• Thermostat: How Can We Turn Toward Peace in a Time of Fear? A DVD andresources booklet for Grade 7 and up.• Decide for Peace: A Guide for Personal Bible Study and Reflection on ConscientiousObjection, Hall Eddy. Considers such timeless questions as the causes of war, whetherwar can be just, and whether Christians should always obey their governments. Foryouth and young adults.• Second Mile: A Peace Journey for Congregations. Invites congregations and smallgroups to enter a journey of worship, study, action and reflection that will help thembecome active signs of Christ’s peace in a broken world. 20 sessions.www.gosecondmile.org/whatis.htm• What Would You Do? John Howard Yoder. Tackles the questions most often posed tothose who identify themselves as pacifists.30
Story treasure huntPut out the challenge to find stories of resistance to war and peacemaking from withinyour own congregation. Youth or older children could be divided into teams (withsupervision) and encouraged to find either the most stories, or a story that no-one hasheard. These stories could be brought to the Peace Sunday service or compiled in writtenform. Note that the Mennonite Heritage Centre is interested in compiling names ofconscientious objectors.Artistic responseRead some of the stories in this packet to the children and have them respond with visualart or poetry, then use their responses as part of Peace Sunday worship service.Have a conscientious objector dayPlan a testimonial service where individuals from the congregation will be invited toshare their experiences. Special recognition could be given to youth who make theirpeace commitment public on this occasion.Peace workshopDevote worship and Sunday school hours to a peacemaking theme, eat a potluck mealtogether, and hold an afternoon intergenerational session. Use your congregation’s gifts ofmusic and leadership to organize a unique event to provide a forum for learning aboutpeace.Peace counsellorsDesignate one or two peace counsellors in the congregation. Assign them responsibilityfor personally contacting every young person to discuss conscientious objector registration(see above).Plan a public witness for peaceThis could be a prayer vigil, a public rally, a meeting with a Member of Parliament, or aletter-writing session. For suggestions: see MCC Canada’s “Public Witness for Peace: Atoolkit for Christians” at mcc.org/canada/peace/resources/smallkit.pdf ormcc.org/canada/peace/resources/toolkit.pdf.Wear a T-Shirt or create your ownBrethen Press sells a T-shirt that reads, “When Jesus said, ‘Love your enemies,’ I thinkhe probably meant don’t kill them.” Order from www.brethrenpress.com.Mennonite Church USA has T-shirts that state “Peace Takes Guts” and feature severalhistoric peacemakers. The shirts come with a brochure telling the story of eachpeacemaker. Order from peace.mennolink.org/resources/toorder/index.html.(Please be aware that these orders would be cross-border and subject to duties.)31
Page 1 and 2: Cultivating Peace:Courage, Conscien
Page 5 and 6: Cultivating Peace:Courage, Conscien
Page 8 and 9: FridayA different way of lifePut yo
Page 10 and 11: On becoming a COHow does one learn
Page 12 and 13: swords into ploughshares. Is.2:4Str
Page 14 and 15: Committed even unto death:the story
Page 16 and 17: Public witness for peaceToday there
Page 18 and 19: Objecting to paying for warCanadian
Page 20 and 21: Our task is not only to keep our so
Page 22 and 23: Litany of ResistanceJim Loney, who
Page 24 and 25: Mennonite Church ManitobaTo listen
Page 26 and 27: Love your enemies. Mt 5:44More Old
Page 28 and 29: Digging deeperThese reflections on
Page 30 and 31: inevitable, the last and often firs
Page 34 and 35: Peacemakerswho sow inpeace raise ah
Page 36 and 37: The Powers That Be: Theology for a
Page 38 and 39: AppendixSample sermonBlessed Are th
Page 40 and 41: Readers’ theatreO Bind Us in That
Page 42 and 43: Voice 3: Blessed are those who trus
Page 44 and 45: How did the church/family react to
Page 46 and 47: pious answers, and sitting back to
Page 48 and 49: “Our beards,” Joseph interjects
Page 50: Peacemakerswho sow inpeace raise ah

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