Truth Commission on Conscience in War

In mid-November [Ed. Note: on August 25th, shortly after the posting of this message, an announcement was made by conference organizers that the date of the Truth Commission was postponed/changed to March 21-22, 2010 — please note that change in all future references] a group of religious and peace organizations will host a "truth commission" on the topic of selective conscientious objection. Like "just war theory," the issue of selective C.O. has long been a controversial one, as some pacifists and most military and political leaders alike believe that one must be opposed to ALL war to receive C.O. status. But spurred by the recent success of the documentary film Soldiers of Conscience, and the fact that increasing numbers of the U.S. armed forces have claimed that they would be willing to serve in certain wars, but are morally opposed to the actions in Iraq and/or Afghanistan, this topic has drawn increasing attention.

Current publicity info about the November 15-16 [Ed.: March 21-22, 2010] Truth Commission on Conscience in War, which will be hosted by the Riverside Church in uptown Manhattan, NYC, says:

The Truth Commission on Conscience in War (TCCW) will:
• Launch a nationwide conversation about the requirements of Just War and the protection of moral conscience for soldiers who object to an immoral war;
• Hold a public forum to hear the profound moral dilemmas facing soldiers who exercise conscience in war;
• Foster strategies for improving U.S. Conscientious Objection regulations that limit CO status to objection to “war in any form;”
• Generate national momentum for protecting the freedom of conscience of our nation’s service members.

Testimony will come from veterans, families of veterans, chaplains, and experts in law, medicine, ethics, and journalism, as well as a screening of the critically acclaimed documentary, “Soldiers of Conscience.” The 100 Commissioners include veterans, scholars, artists, and leaders from various religious traditions, nonprofit organizations, and the media. For more information, visit www.ConscienceInWar.org.

TRUTH COMMISSION ON CONSCIENCE IN WAR
A project of Faith Voices for the Common Good; Program for Religious Leadership, Starr King School for the Ministry; Union Theological Seminary; The Riverside Church; Luna Productions.

To sign up as a co-sponsor or to nominate commissioners, please contact Ian Slattery by e-mail or phone at (510) 526-9500.

TRUTH COMMISSION ON CONSCIENCE IN WAR

Testifiers:

• Veterans from the Documentary “Soldiers of Conscience”
• Christopher Hedges, former war correspondent for the New York Times and author of War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning
• Rev. Herm Keizer, retired U.S. Army Chaplain and former chair, National Conference on Ministry to the Armed Forces
• J. E. McNeil, Director, Center on Conscience in War

Commission Chair: Rev. Dr. Kaia Stern, Harvard Law School

Confirmed Commissioners:

• Rev. Dr. Maxine Beach, President, Drew University Theological School, NJ
• Dr. Elizabeth Bounds, Professor, Candler School of Theology, GA
• Rev. Dr. James A. Forbes, Jr., Senior Minister Emeritus, Riverside Church, NY
• Dr. David Gushee, Professor, McAfee School of Theology, GA
• Dr. Serene Jones, President, Union Theological Seminary, NY
• Rev. Dr. Michael Kinnamon, General Secretary, National Council of Churches, NY
• Dr. Kristen J. Leslie, Professor, Yale University Divinity School, CT
• Dr. George Hunsinger, Professor, Princeton Theological Seminary, NJ
• Dr. Alice Hunt, President, Chicago Theological Seminary, IL
• Mr. Mark Johnson, Executive Director, Fellowship of Reconciliation, NY
• Mr. Amir Soltani, Omid for Iran Program Director, Semnani Foundation, UT
• Rabbi Arthur Waskow, The Shalom Center, PA

Co-sponsoring Organizations:

• Center on Conscience & War
• Disciples Justice Action Network
• Drew University Theological School
• Fellowship of Reconciliation
• Justice & Witness Ministries, United Church of Christ
• Mennonite Central Committee
• Park Avenue Christian Church
• Progressive Christians Uniting
• The Shalom Center
• Yale University Divinity School

Please join FOR and many colleague organizations for this provocative program & discussion.