GC30 Civil Disobedience (1984C323)

WHEREAS the development of nuclear and other weapons of mass and indiscriminate destruction compromise Christian discipleship by making it impossible for Christians to fulfil their calling to be neighbour to one another and gardener to the creation; and

WHEREAS the development of such weapons systems has robbed and continues to rob the peoples of the earth of human, financial and material resources in such a way that injustice and oppression have become their inevitable result; and

WHEREAS Canada’s involvement in the production and testing of parts of the weapons systems of other nations is increasing for economic and geopolitical reasons; and

WHEREAS such weapon systems create a profound moral dilemma for both individual Christians and for the United Church as an institution; and

WHEREAS church history records many occasions when Christians have had to break the civil law in order to obey the law of God; and

WHEREAS the Sixth Assembly of the World Council of Churches called on its member churches and their members to “give witness to their unwillingness to participate in any conflict involving weapons of mass destruction or indiscriminate effects”:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT:

The 30th General Council:

1. INSTRUCT the Division of Mission in Canada, in consultation with the Committee on Theology and Faith, to develop a theological position regarding non-violent civil disobedience and make this available to the church as a resource;

2. CALL on congregations and presbyteries to assess the validity of non-violent civil disobedience and explore any other implications of civil disobedience for the community of faith in relation to its members, to church workers and to others in the local community.

GC30 1984 ROP, pp. 101, 457-458