Peace churches explained

Peace churches are Christian churches, groups or communities advocating Christian pacifism or Biblical nonresistance. The term historic peace churches refers specifically only to three church groups among pacifist churches:

In addition to the Schwarzenau Brethren and Mennonites, other Anabaptist Christian fellowships, such as the Hutterian Brethren, River Brethren, Apostolic Christian Church and Bruderhof teach pacifism as well.[1] [2]

This phrase has been used since the first conference of the peace churches in Kansas in 1935.[3] [4] [5] [6] [7]

The definition of "peace churches" is sometimes expanded to include Christadelphians (from 1863) and others who did not participate in the conference of the "historic peace churches" in Kansas in 1935.[8]

The peace churches agree that Jesus advocated nonviolence. Whether physical force can ever be justified in defending oneself is controversial. Most believers adhere strictly to a moral attitude of nonresistance in the face of violence. These churches generally concur that violence on behalf of nations and their governments is contrary to Christian morality, but agree that the teachings of Jesus were to explain the principles of the Kingdom of God rather than and contrasted with the ways of any earthly government.

History

Among all Christian denominations, there have always been groups of members who advocate nonviolence, but certain churches have consistently supported it since their foundation. Besides the three historic peace churches, they include the Amish,[9] Old Order Mennonites, Conservative Mennonites, Holdeman Mennonites, Hutterites,[10] Old German Baptist Brethren,[11] Old Order River Brethren,[12] the Brethren in Christ,[13] [14] [15] and others in the Anabaptist tradition; Doukhobors,[16] Molokans,[17] Dunkard Brethren,[18] [19] Dukh-i-zhizniki,[20] Bruderhof Communities, Schwenkfelders,[21] Moravians,[22] the Shakers,[23] and even some groups within the Pentecostal movement.[24] The largest Finished Work Pentecostal denomination, the Assemblies of God, abandoned pacifism around the time of the Second World War.[25] [26] These groups have disagreed, both internally and with each other, about the propriety of non-combatant military roles, such as unarmed medical personnel, or performing non-battlefield services that assist nations in wartime, such as manufacturing munitions. One position might argue that Jesus would never object to helping people who are suffering, while another might object that doing so contributes indirectly to violence by freeing other people to engage in it. Most peace churches support alternative service options such as service to refugees or in hospitals, as long as they are not associated with the military.

In America the first conference of historic peace churches was held in 1935 in Kansas.[3] Five years later in Canada, the Conference of Historic Peace Churches was formed in Ontario in 1940, headed by Harold Sherk to represent Mennonite, Brethren, and Quaker churches as they sought exemption from military service.[27]

At one time, active membership in and acceptance of the beliefs of one of the peace churches was required for obtaining conscientious objector status in the United States, and hence exemption from military conscription, or for those already in the military, honorable discharge. But after a series of court rulings, this requirement was dropped. In the United States, one may now claim conscientious objector status based on a personal belief system that need not be Christian, nor even based on religion.[28]

Peace churches, especially those with sufficient financial and organizational resources, have attempted to heal the ravages of war without favoritism. This has often aroused controversy, as when the Quakers sent large shipments of food and medicine to North Vietnam during the Vietnam War, and to U.S.-embargoed Cuba. The American Friends Service Committee and the Mennonite Central Committee are two charitable denominational agencies set up to provide such healing.

In the 1980s, the Quakers, Brethren, and Mennonites came together to create Christian Peacemaker Teams, an international organization that works to reduce violence and systematic injustice in regions of conflict.[29] [30] This was motivated by the desire for Christians to take peacemaking as seriously as soldiers and governments take war-making.[31]

Other Christian pacifist groups

Christadelphians, 1863

The Christadelphians are one of only a small number of churches whose identity as a denomination is directly linked to the issue of Christian pacifism.[32] Although the grouping which later took the name "Christadelphian" had largely separated from the Campbellite movement in Scotland and America after 1848, it was conscription in the American Civil War which caused their local church in Ogle County, Illinois, to register as conscientious objectors in 1863 under the name "Christadelphians."[33] When the First World War was imminent Christadelphians in the British Empire took the same stance, though frequently faced military tribunals. During the Second World War Christadelphians were exempted and performed civil work – though some of the small number of Christadelphians in Germany were imprisoned and one executed.[34] The position was maintained through the Korean War, Vietnam War and today.[35] [36]

Doukhobors

The Doukhobors are a Spiritual Christian denomination that advocate pacifism.[37] On 29 June 1895, the Doukhobors, in what is known as the "Burning of the Arms",[38] "piled up their swords, guns, and other weapons and burned them in large bonfires while they sang psalms".[39]

Holiness Pacifists

The Emmanuel Association, Reformed Free Methodist Church, Immanuel Missionary Church, Church of God (Guthrie, Oklahoma), First Bible Holiness Church and Christ's Sanctified Holy Church are denominations in the holiness movement known for their opposition to war today; they are known as "Holiness Pacifists".[40] [41] [42] [43] [44] The Emmanuel Association, for example, teaches:[45]

Seventh-day Adventist Church, 1867

Adventists had sought and obtained exemption as conscientious objectors in 1864, and the Seventh-day Adventist Church from 1914 has a long history of noncombatancy service within and outside the military.[46] In practice today, as a pastor from the Seventh-day Adventist church comments in an online magazine run by members of the Seventh-Day Adventist church: "Today in a volunteer army a lot of Adventist young men and women join the military in combat positions, and there are many Adventist pastors electing for military chaplaincy positions, supporting combatants and non-combatants alike. On Veteran’s Day, American churches across the country take time to give honor and respect to those who “served their country,” without any attempt to differentiate how they served, whether as bomber pilots, Navy Seals, or Operation Whitecoat guinea pigs. I have yet to see a service honoring those who ran away to Canada to avoid participation in the senseless carnage of Vietnam in their Biblical pacifism."[47]

Churches of God (7th day)

The different groups evolving under the name Church of God (7th day) stand opposed to carnal warfare, based on Matthew 26:52; Revelation 13:10; Romans 12:19–21. They believe the weapons of their warfare to not be carnal but spiritual (II Corinthians 10:3–5; Ephesians 6:11–18).[48] [49]

Molokans

The Molokans are a Spiritual Christian denomination that advocate pacifism.[50] They have historically been persecuted for failing to bear arms.[51]

Partially pacifist groups

Community of Christ

Although non-credal and not explicitly pacifist, the Community of Christ (formerly known as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) is emerging as an international peace church through such ministries as the Community of Christ International Peace Award, the Daily Prayer for Peace, and resources to support conscientious objection to war.[52] [53] [54] However, in the United States and worldwide, many church members are active in military service and the church provides active duty chaplaincy for outreach and ministry to military personnel.

Churches of Christ

Once containing a relatively large nonviolence faction, Churches of Christ are now more conflicted. Contemporary Churches of Christ, especially those that hold with the teachings of David Lipscomb, tend toward pacifist views.[55] This means that they believe that the use of coercion and/or force may be acceptable for purposes of personal self-defense but that resorting to warfare is not an option open to Christians.

Fellowship of Reconciliation

As noted above, there are peace groups within most mainstream Christian denominations. The Fellowship of Reconciliation was set up as an organization to bring together people in these groups and members of the historic peace churches. In some countries, e.g. the United States, it has broadened its scope to include members of other religions or none, and people whose position is not strictly for nonviolence. However, in other countries (e.g., the United Kingdom) it remains essentially an organization of Christian nonviolence.[56]

See also

Further reading

(1999) Radical Faith. Scottdale PA: Herald Press.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Jones . Charles Edwin . A Guide to the Study of The Holiness Movement . 1974 . 213-314 . English.
  2. Web site: The Way of Peace . . 17 June 2022 . English.
  3. Concise Encyclopedia of Amish, Brethren, Hutterites, and Mennonites p6 Donald B. Kraybill – 2010 "In 1935, BRETHREN, Mennonites, and Quakers met in North Newton, Kansas, for a conference on peace. The term HISTORIC PEACE CHURCHES was developed at this conference in order to distinguish between the groups' biblically based peaceful ..."
  4. The Brethren encyclopedia 1983 p608 "The American Civil War brought the peace churches together in combined appeals to government, both in the North and in the South ... This conference used the term historic peace churches as more acceptable to Mennonites than the term pacifist churches because the latter connoted theological liberalism. Called without prior agenda, the three-day meeting concluded with "
  5. Mark Matthews Smoke jumping on the Western fire line: conscientious objectors p36 – 2006 "CHAPTER TWO The Historic Peace Churches – The three historic peace churches that united to lobby for reforming the treatment of conscientious objectors during World War II shared many religious beliefs, but they also differed in many "
  6. Speicher, Sara and Durnbaugh, Donald F. (2003), Ecumenical Dictionary: Historic Peace Churches
  7. G. Kurt Piehler, Sidney Pash The United States and the Second World War: New Perspectives on 2010 p265 "The Selective Service, in collaboration with the historic peace churches, created Civilian Public Service to provide ... In October 1940, to coordinate administration of the CPS camps, the historic peace churches established the NSBRO. "
  8. Law review digest 1957 "Among the peace churches may be listed the Mennonite, Brethren, Friends, Christadelphians and Molakans. Other sects having a degree of pacifism in their doctrines include the Seventh Day Adventists, Assemblies of God and Churches of Christ. A more complex situation arises in connection with those registrants who do not base their nonresistant claims on church membership. "
  9. Web site: The Amish: Massacre at the Amish school in Nickel Mines, PA . Religioustolerance.org . 2010-05-02.
  10. Web site: Religion . Hutterites.org . 2010-05-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100511031317/http://www.hutterites.org/religion.htm . 2010-05-11 . dead .
  11. Web site: Anabaptists Today . Anabaptistchurch.org . 2007-06-20 . 2010-05-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100513044647/http://www.anabaptistchurch.org/anabaptists_today.htm . 2010-05-13 . dead .
  12. Web site: Old Order River Brethren . Geocities.com . 2010-05-02. https://web.archive.org/web/20091027000245/http://geocities.com/riverbrethren/. 2009-10-27.
  13. Web site: Thomas . Devin . Brethren in Christ Weren't the Only "Holiness Pacifists" in the Early 20th Century . . 24 July 2019 . 18 June 2014.
  14. Book: Wittlinger, Carlton. Quest for Piety and Obedience: The Story of the Brethren in Christ. Evangel Press. 1978. 0-916035-05-0.
  15. Web site: Christians & War. 2009-06-28. The Brethren in Christ.
  16. Web site: Pacifism and Anastasia's Doukhobor Village . Doukhobor.org . 2010-05-02 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20091214064741/http://www.doukhobor.org/Anastasia.htm . 2009-12-14 .
  17. Book: Moroi, Yuichi. Ethics of Conviction and Civic Responsibility: Conscientious War Resisters in America During the World Wars. 2008. University Press of America. en. 9780761840794. 54.
  18. Web site: Dunkard Brethren Church . Dunkard Brethren Church . 2010-05-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100728075127/http://www.dunkardbrethrenchurch.com/sections/beliefs . 2010-07-28 . dead .
  19. Book: Durnbaugh, Donald. Fruit of the Vine: A History of the Brethren. Brethren Press. 1997. 0-87178-003-8. registration.
  20. Web site: Taxonomy of 3 Spiritual Christian groups: Molokane, Pryguny and Dukh-i-zhizniki — books, fellowship, holidays, prophets and songs . Conovaloff, Andrei. 2016-10-16.
  21. Web site: Brethern, Schwenkfelders and Other Plain People . https://archive.today/20120802201356/http://www.horseshoe.cc/pennadutch/religion/brethern/brethkle.htm . dead . 2012-08-02 . Horseshoe.cc . 2010-05-02 .
  22. Web site: Moravian Peacebuilders . 2008-09-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20081202111940/http://www.moravianpeacebuilders.org/ . 2008-12-02 . dead .
  23. Web site: Essay on Shaker History – Shaker Historic Trail – National Register of Historic Places . Nps.gov . 2010-05-02.
  24. Web site: PCPJ – Pentecostals & Charismatics for Peace & Justice . Pcpf.org . 2010-05-02.
  25. Book: Alexander, Paul. Peace to War: Shifting Allegiances in the Assemblies of God . Cascadia Publishing House. 2009. 978-1-931038-58-4.
  26. Web site: issue-12-alexander-1 . Quaker.org . 2010-05-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100706163921/http://www.quaker.org/quest/issue-12-alexander-1.htm . 2010-07-06 . dead .
  27. Book: Josephson, Harold. Biographical Dictionary of Modern Peace Leaders. Greenwood. 1985. 0-313-22565-6. Connecticut. 878–9.
  28. Web site: Selective Service System: Fast Facts . Sss.gov . 2010-05-02 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090507211133/http://www.sss.gov/FSconsobj.htm . 2009-05-07 .
  29. About CPT | Christian Peacemaker Teams . Cpt.org . 2010-05-02.
  30. Web site: History | Christian Peacemaker Teams . Cpt.org . 2010-05-02.
  31. Sider . Ron . God's People Reconciling . Christian Peacemaker Teams . Mennonite World Conference. 28 June 2016. Strasbourg, France . 1984 . What would happen if the Christian church stationed as many praying Christians as the U.S. government has sent armed guerrillas across that troubled border? ... Do we not have as much courage and faith as soldiers?.
  32. [Bryan R. Wilson]
  33. Lippey. C. The Christadelphians in North America
  34. James Irvin Lichti Houses on the sand?: pacifist denominations in Nazi Germany p65 – 2008 -"Albert Merz was executed in Brandenburg military detention prison on April 3, 1941 "
  35. Book: Norris, Alfred . The Gospel and Strife . Christadelphian Magazine and Publishing Association . Birmingham, UK .
  36. Book: Watkins, Peter . War and Politics: The Christian's Duty . Christadelphian Auxiliary Lecturing Society . Birmingham, UK .
  37. Book: The Rough Guide to Canada. 1 June 2016. Apa Publications. en. 9780241279526. 957. The Doukhobors were a sect who fled southern Russian in 1899 after being persecuted for their religious and political views. Fiercely pacifist, they rejected secular government and ignored the liturgy and procedures of the organized church, believing God resided in each individual rather than in a building or institution..
  38. Web site: Tarasoff . Koozma J. . Conovaloff . Andrei . Historic 1895 Burning of Guns : descriptions, selections and translations . Spirit-Wrestlers.com . June 24, 2009 . October 31, 2021.
  39. Book: Rak, Julie. Negotiated Memory: Doukhobor Autobiographical Discourse. 2005. UBC Press. en . 9780774810319. 37.
  40. Book: Lewis . James R. . The Encyclopedia of Cults, Sects, and New Religions . 2001 . Prometheus Books . 9781615927388.
  41. Book: Manual: First Bible Holiness Church . 1956 . First Bible Holiness Church . . 4.
  42. Book: Discipline of the Reformed Free Methodist Church . 17 March 1960 . The Sound of Trumpet Ministries . 14 . English.
  43. Book: Guidebook of the Emmanuel Association of Churches . 2002 . . . 15-17 . English.
  44. Book: Alexander . Estrelda Y. . Black Fire: One Hundred Years of African American Pentecostalism . 3 May 2011 . InterVarsity Press . 978-0-8308-2586-8 . 82 . English.
  45. Book: Beaman . Jay . Pipkin . Brian K. . Pentecostal and Holiness Statements on War and Peace . 2013 . Wipf and Stock Publishers . 9781610979085 . 73–74, 98–99, 124. en.
  46. Historical Dictionary of Seventh-day Adventists Gary Land
  47. Web site: Adventist Tomorrow: Militant Pacifism. 25 May 2018. November 12, 2019.
  48. http://www.churchofgod-7thday.org/Publications/Doctrinal%20Points%20Final%20Proof.pdf Doctrinal Points of the Church of God (7th Day)
  49. Web site: Church of God 7th Day.
  50. Book: Hennacy, Ammon. The Book of Ammon. 1 May 2010. Wipf and Stock Publishers. en. 9781608990535. 406. Molokan means “Milk Drinker.” This name was given the Molokans in Russia by the Orthodox, because they were dissidents from the regular church, led communal lives, and were pacifists..
  51. Book: Waters, Tony. Crime and Immigrant Youth. 31 March 1999. SAGE Publications. en. 9781452263373. 37. The Molokan Russians were an ascetic religious sect of the Russian Orthodox Church that settled in the Boyle Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles in 1904-1906. Their religious ideals included pacifism; indeed, the demands of the Russian draft for the Russian-Japanese War were cited as the cause of their flight from Russia in the first place..
  52. Web site: Communication Services of Community of Christ, Independence Mo. . Community of Christ International Peace Award Honor Roll . Cofchrist.org . 2010-05-02 . dead . https://archive.today/20120904124131/http://www.cofchrist.org/peaceaward/honorroll.asp . 2012-09-04 .
  53. Web site: Communication Services of Community of Christ, Independence Mo. . Community of Christ International Peace Award Nominations . Cofchrist.org . 2010-05-02 . dead . https://archive.today/20120723214824/http://www.cofchrist.org/peaceaward/nominate.asp . 2012-07-23 .
  54. Web site: Peace and justice events, issues, action . 2010-06-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140722124828/http://www.cofchrist.org/peace/statements/consc-object.asp . 2014-07-22 . dead .
  55. Web site: Civil Government . Mun.ca . 2010-05-02 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090410082703/http://www.mun.ca/rels/restmov/texts/dlipscomb/civgov.html . April 10, 2009 .
  56. Web site: Stan Morris . Naomi Bolderhey . Laura Visser . International Fellowship of Reconciliation . Ifor.org . 2010-05-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20091129133225/http://www.ifor.org/mission.htm . 2009-11-29 . dead .

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