God’s love has no boundaries
In the Letter to the Romans, the apostle Paul talks of the dilemma of the human condition. If indeed we believe that we are saved by the grace of God and made members of the family of God, then Paul suggests in Romans 12:1-2 (NRSV) that our need is for transformation: “I appeal to you, […]
Unexpected Invitations
An unexpected invitation to spend a summer at a Mennonite church in Pennsylvania impacted the rest of our lives. We had grown up on the fringes of General Conference Mennonite Church, but God led us to serve in its denominational center in Kansas and its eventual merger into Mennonite Church USA. That path included a […]
Student aid for nonregistrants
This special non-budget fund was established in 1983. The purpose is to help replace potential government grants and loans lost by students who for reasons of Christian conscience choose not to register with the U.S. Selective Service System.
Turning 18? Deciding whether to register with the Selective Service System
Registration at age 18: Before you register: Read the information below. Download our Selective Service Choices Poster Talk to your parents, pastor and church Consider your options If you decide to register: You may register several different ways-on line, by mail, at your high school -BUT, if you want to document that you are a CO, […]
Christian Service
Social servants Service made worthwhile by human connections By Sara Alvarez Serving fellow humans is a social activity. Whether it’s conversing in the cafeteria of a food pantry while prepping the food in the kitchen, or outside harvesting vegetables from a garden, at the very least, a volunteer has to communicate with a supervisor who […]
Counter-recruitment materials and other agencies
Documents for counselors including information on the new G.I. Billhttp://co.mcc.org/us/co/advice/ Opt-out forms (English/Spanish)http://www.afsc.org/content/bi-lingual-recruitment-opt-out-form No Student Left Unrecruited palm card (English/Spanish)http://www.nyclu.org/milrec/nochild Alternatives for students, general and by statehttp://www.afsc.org/Youth&Militarism/ht/display/ContentDetails/i/18307http://centeronconscience.org/pubs/urgent-action-alerts/45-2011/184-alternatives-to-killing.html An overview of tips to reduce the military’s appeal to youth in a church settinghttp://co.mcc.org/us/co/form/reducing_military_appeal.pdf Peacemaker registration forms, based on Selective Service regulations http://co.mcc.org/us/co/form/ Other organizations Mennonite Central […]
Getting out of the Military Delayed Enlistment Program
If you or someone you know has already enlisted in the military Delayed Enlistment Program (DEP) for high school students, make sure they know the following: Jesus calls us to love our enemies and overcome evil with good. DEP contracts are NOT legally binding on the student who signed them; these contracts can be terminated […]
Counter recruitment strategies
Before you begin Look around and see if other groups are already involved in your area. The National Network Opposing Militarization of Youth maintains a database of active counter-recruitment groups across the country. Opting out The first step in addressing the Department of Defense’s presence in schools is to investigate the sharing of student […]
What is a conscientious objector?
According to the Selective Service System, a conscientious objector is one who is opposed to serving in the armed forces and/or bearing arms on the grounds of moral or religious principles. Conscientious objection means you simply will not and can not kill because of what you believe. To be certain that people don’t claim to be […]
Why counter-recruit? Military recruiters have footholds in schools and advertizing
Military presence in schools The U.S. Army alone manages 1,650 recruiting stations staffed by 7,600 recruiters across the country. These and other branch’s offices are bases of operation—if one does not count public school districts. Without a draft, the United States is dependent upon a steady flow of new enlistees, and what better hotbed exists […]
Listen, God is calling
Stories of faithfulness By Andrew Clouse When a Jewish family sits down to a Seder or Passover meal, they are entering into a feast of stories. The purpose of the meal is to remember the day God saved the Jewish people from the Egyptians, a moment when God’s faithfulness was tangible. When each child reads […]
Are you on the welcoming committee?
Radical inclusion? But Mama said, ‘Don’t talk to strangers.’ By Andrew Clouse One of the pieces of advice I took to heart as a youngster was, “Don’t talk to strangers.” In my adolescent mind, this refrain was lumped together in a soup of fear that put strangers into the same category as all of the […]