RESOLUTION - R4

TITLE : National Missile Defence System

ORIGINAL SOURCE: Peace and Justice Working Group, World Affairs committee

CONFERENCE ACTION:Carried

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:  postage

SOURCE OF FUNDS:Peace and Justice Working Group

STAFFING IMPLICATIONS: support for letter-writing to government
preparation and postage

VOLUNTEER IMPLICATIONS:research, letter writing

MOTION by June Malabar/June Anderson that this 77th annual meeting of Toronto Conference of The United Church of Canada urge the government of Canada to:

1)decline any role in the United States’ anti-missile national defence system; and
2)examine the root causes of the reason for such a system and suggest other less destabilizing responses


RATIONALE AND FAITH BASE

Matthew 5: 43 – 48
The National Missile Defence (NMD) system is an attempt to find a technical solution to a human problem. This problem of “enemies” is a most difficult one. Jesus’ response was “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. If you love only those who love you…what more are you doing than others?” Certainly we are called, and we call our government to seek political, including citizen diplomat, and legal responses to our dealings with other countries. While it may be beyond our ability at times to “love” our enemies or our potential enemies, at least we ought to be prepared to stop or prevent hatred and look to the possibility of reconciliation. “Security is mutual. It cannot be wrested from adversaries, instead it is advanced when we seek the security of our adversary.” (Report to 35th General Council, August 1994, Beyond Military Force: Seeking Peace after the Cold War.)