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Anabaptist Leaders Meet to Discuss Alternative Service

When the Council of Moderators and General Secretaries (COMS) of Anabaptist denominations gathered in Washington, DC in early December, the possibility of reinstatement of a military draft in the United States loomed large on their agenda. And although everyone with whom the group met, including legislators and representatives from the Selective Service System, assured Council members that a draft is not in the current administration’s planning, the denominational leaders agreed that a proactive stance is the wisest course at this time.

The Council discussed alternative service placements under church agencies and non-church agencies, support for registrants, staying in relationship with soldiers, relationship of the churches to the government and Selective Service and collaboration with other historic peace churches and the Center on Conscience and War. Each representative at the COMS meeting was asked to continue the discussion with his respective denomination and report back to the group in the spring.

COMS also met with Richard Cizik, vice-president for governmental affairs for the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE), who reviewed a publication outlining seven principles for Christian political engagement. Additionally, in a meeting on the Faith-Based Initiative, Jim Towey, director of the Faith-Based Initiative for the White House, explained President Bush’s Faith-Based and Community Initiative Plan. The meeting in Towey’s office ended with prayer, as did meetings in several congregessional offices.

Anabaptist churches that are members of the council include Church of the Brethren, Mennonite Church USA, Brethren in Christ Church, Conservative Mennonite Conference and U.S. Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches.

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