Resolution on a Jubilee Year of Repentance and Action Regarding Nuclear Weapons (General Conference Mennonite Church, 1995)

Text

Whereas, the year 1995 is the fiftieth anniversary of the beginning of nuclear warfare at Hiroshima, Japan, on August 6, 1945, and at Nagasaki, Japan, on August 9, 1945;

And whereas, Christians recognize in the ministry of Jesus Christ the renewal of the Jubilee message of Leviticus 25, the freeing of those in bondage, the restoration of land, the cancellation of debts, and the study of Scripture;

And whereas, in the present time, the world's people and creation itself continue to groan from the sinful concentration of resources in the testing, construction, deployment, and threatened use of nuclear weapons;

Therefore, be it resolved

That the General Conference Mennonite Church in cooperation with New Call to Peacemaking and other religious organizations, declare 1995 to be a "Jubilee year of repentance and action regarding nuclear weapons";

That congregations of the General Conference Mennonite Church promote study concerning nuclear weapons through material produced in cooperation with New Call to Peacemaking; and

That we communicate with the U.S. Congress and the Canadian Parliament to take the lead among nations in ceasing production of nuclear weapons and in calling negotiations to reduce all nuclear stockpiles as the first step in a spirit of breaking with Cold War policy and setting in motion a new, downward spiral of armaments and a renewed attention to human needs.

Adopted by the General Conference Mennonite Church, July 29, 1995