I. Disarmament
One hard fact must be stated bluntly: the The arms race
goes on,. the momentum of the race never
slackens, and However, the danger of a holocaust
is remains imminent as long as
nations maintain nuclear weapons. Meanwhile, millions starve
and, development stagnates., and
international cooperation is threatened. Increasingly sophisticated weapons
systems accelerate arms spending and heighten anxieties without adding to the
security of the nations. Again and again, regional tensions grow,
conflicts erupt, and great powers outside forces
intervene to advance or protect their interests without regard to international
law or human rights.
True priorities...Yet the their availability of
all of these is constantly threatened because of
by the overriding priority given by governments to what is called
"defense."
If humanity is to move out of this period of futility and constant
peril, the search for new weapons systems must be halted through comprehensive
international agreements. Moreover, disarmament negotiations should include all
nations with substantial armaments systems. The vast stockpiles of nuclear
bombs and conventional weapons must be dismantled under international
supervision, and the resources being used for arms must be diverted to programs
designed to affirm life rather than destroy it. Serious consideration should be
given by nations to unilateral initiatives which might stimulate the reaching
of international agreement.
We support disarmament initiatives that go beyond compliance with international treaties. In particular we ask that the nuclear powers dismantle nuclear stockpiles to show good faith to the non-nuclear participants of the extended Non-Proliferation Treaty. We have rejected possession of nuclear weapons as a permanent basis for securing and maintaining peace. Possession can no longer be tolerated even as a temporary expedient. We affirm the prophetic position of our bishops who said in their statement In Defense of Creation: "We say a clear and unconditional NO to nuclear war and to any use of nuclear weapons. We conclude that nuclear deterrence is a position that cannot receive the Church's blessing."
The time to test nuclear weapons is past. The Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty must include a prohibition on all tests that release radiation. We condemn those nations that continue to conduct such tests. Their actions show they are not responsible members of the world community. We ask that measures such as embargoes, boycotts or other peaceful pressures be universally applied against nations that continue to test.
At the same time nations must provide for more secure control of weapons-grade nuclear materials. It is clear deterrence comes from international controls on materials from which bombs are made.
We support the concept of nuclear-free zones where governments or peoples in a specific region band together to bar nuclear weapons from the area either by treaty or declaration.
World public opinion justly condemns the use of chemical or biological weapons. Governments must renounce use of these particularly inhumane weapons as part of their national policy.
We support treaty efforts to ban the development, trade and use of weapons that are inhumane, are excessively injurious and have indiscriminate effects. Such weapons include land mines, booby traps, weapons with non-detectable fragments, incendiary weapons and blinding laser weapons.
We are also concerned about the use of inhumane weapons by civilian or military police. Hollow point ("Dum-dum") or other bullets designed to maim are not acceptable weapons for use by civilian or military forces. We support measures that outlaw use of such weapons at all levels.
We affirm peoples' movements directed to abolition of the tools of war. Governments must not impede public debate on this issue of universal concern.
The goal of world disarmament, demanding demands a
radical reordering of priorities and coupled with an effective
system of international peacemaking, peace keeping and peace building. The
church must constantly keep that goal must be kept
constantly before peoples and governments by the
church.
II. Democracy and Freedom
[Second paragraph] Action by governments...Unless the
prevailing oppression and denial of basic human rights are ended,
violence on an increasing scale will continue to erupt in many nations,
and may spread throughout the world. The human toll in such a conflict
could be conflicts is enormous for they and
could result in new oppression and further dehumanization.
We are concerned for areas where oppression and discrimination take
place, and specifically for Namibia and South Africa, where White
minorities continue to oppress and discriminate against Black majorities
through legal systems. We, as United Methodist Christians, must
build the conditions for peace through development of confidence and trust
between peoples and governments. We are unalterably opposed to those who
instill hate in one group for another. Governments or political factions must
not use religious, class, racial or other differences as the means to achieve
heinous political purposes.
This concern...
III. The United Nations
[Third paragraph] These achievements...Many nations, including the most
powerful, participate in some programs only when those actions
do such action does not interfere with their national
advantage...
We believe the United Nations...
[Substitute bullets for numbering:]
1. The Universal Declaration...International covenants and
conventions which seek to implement the Declaration should
must be universally ratified.
2. Peace and world order...
3. Greater use should be made of the International Court of
Justice. Nations should remove any restrictions they have adopted which impair
the court's effective functioning.
4. Development agencies should not be dominated by the
industrialized world. The industrialized world must not dominate
development agencies. We support eEfforts to make
controlling bodies of these such agencies more
representative should be supported.
5. We support the development and strengthening of
iInternational agencies designed to help nations or
peoples escape from domination by other nations or transnational
enterprises must continue to be created and strengthened.
6. Issues of food, energy, raw materials, and other
commodities are greatly affected by economic and political considerations.
Efforts in the United Nations to achieve new levels of justice in the world
economic order should be considered, reviewed, and supported.
Economic and political considerations greatly affect issues of food, energy,
raw materials, and other commodities. We support efforts in the United Nations
to achieve new levels of justice in the world economic order.
7. We support the concept of
cCollective action against threats to peace must
be supported. Wars fought in the search for justice might well be
averted or diminished if the nations of the world would work vigorously and in
concert in seeking to seek changes in oppressive
political and economic systems.
IV. World Trade and Economic Development
[Third paragraph] In working toward that purpose, we believe these steps are needed:...
Control of international monetary facilities should
must be more equitably shared by all the nations, including the needy
and less powerful...
VI. Peace Research, Education, and Action
The 1960 General Conference established the landmark study "The Christian Faith and War in the Nuclear Age." That study said, "The Christian Church and the individual must accept responsibility for the creation of a climate of opinion in which creative changes can occur." It called work for these creative alternatives, "Our mission field as we live as disciples of the Prince of Peace."
In order to create such a climate of conciliation and compromise,
wWe call upon The United Methodist Church, including
its agencies and institutions of higher education, in the light of its
historical teachings and its commitment to peace and self-
development
of peoples to:
1. Seek the establishment of educational institutions devoted to the study of
peace (such as the National Academy of Peace and Conflict
Resolution).
2. Develop alternatives to vocations that work against peace and support individuals in their quest.
4. Affirm and employ methods that build confidence and trust between peoples and countries, including training in multi-cultural understanding and appreciation of differences, rejecting all promotion of hatred and mistrust.
General Conference Webmaster: Susan Brumbaugh
PETS Creator: John Brawn
Petition Text: 21049-CS-R561-U
1996 United Methodist General Conference