The Pluralism Project at Harvard University

An Alliance Emerging from WWI

The Center on Conscience & War (CCW) first began as The National Service Board for Religious Objectors (NSBRO) in June of 1940 after the enactment of the first peacetime draft. At the initiation of the Second World War, the Board met to discuss the abuse of conscientious objectors during World War I and to promote alternative service for conscientious objectors whose only other option was sitting in jail. The coalition was unique in that it did not just include religious leaders from historic peace churches like the Mennonites, Quakers, Brethren, and the Amish. For example, Methodists--"one of the groups who went to jail if they conscientiously objected during WWI“--were in the initial coalition.

At the group’s founding, members were primarily from Protestant and Anabaptist Christian denominations, but membership steadily grew to include Catholics, Jews, Muslims, and Buddhists. In 1964, the organization’s name was changed to the National Interreligious Service Board for Conscientious Objectors (NISBCO). The new name reflected both that the group desired to support conscientious objectors who did not come from a religious background and that the group's primary support came from religious communities. In June of 2000, the name was changed again to the Center on Conscience & War in response to greater interfaith participation and the shift to a self-perpetuating board.

Lobbying for Conscientious Objection

Throughout its history, CCW has mainly aided individuals objecting to war on religious grounds, but in the early 1950’s it began providing assistance for anyone interested in conscientious objection (CO). Additional support for concerns beyond conscientious objection began in 1998 with the establishment of GI Rights resources. The group has also adopted an international scope to aid conscientious objectors during times of war and peace in both the United States and abroad in places like Columbia, Russia, Turkey, Israel, and Iraq. Even though related work is going on, CCW remains the only independent group that lobbies specifically for conscientious objection to war since its creation more than sixty years ago.

The group’s outreach strategy has been two-part, employing both direct service for individuals and multilateral coalition building to aid in its lobbying efforts. Thus far, CCW has partnered with several interfaith groups and non-profit organizations including: Fellowship of Reconciliation, Washington Interfaith Staff Community (WISC), the National Campaign for a Peace Task Fund, New Call to Peacemaking, and Prison Visitation Service (PVS). Additional support has been rallied through attending national church meetings and gatherings of local congregations and peace committees.

Communicating “Words of Conscience”

CCW provides information and educational materials on topics concerned with conscientious objection, military enlistment policies, draft registration, the GI bill, and other issues related to war. Religious persons pursuing the conscientious objection route, for instance, can attain the formal statements on war that were issued by their religious communities by contacting the CCW. In particular, referrals and legal counseling for individuals via the internet and phone encompasses the largest segment of CCW’s direct service. Executive Director J.E. McNeil says that on a daily basis the group communicates with about 3 to 4 people who are filing for CO rights, as well as 2 to 3 people inquiring about the potential of CO in the event of the war. Another 3 to 4 inquiries deal with other issues related to the military.

Information for the group's advocacy base is supplied through urgent e-mail action alerts; posting legislative highlights, news stories and an ongoing event schedule on the CCW website; and distributing and selling pamphlets, flyers, and books. Past publications include a comprehensive guidebook of religious statements on conscientious objection entitled Words of Conscience, and guides which list state and local agencies providing alternative service opportunities. Online publications, such as Conscientious Objectors and the Draft, provide information on what to expect in the case of a national draft for prospective conscientious objectors. Information for those who conscientiously refuse to register for the Selective Service and who are, as a result, excluded from receiving federal financial aid, can find information online about CCW’s Fund for Education and Training (FEAT), which supplies money for college loans.

Religious Direction

The two main governance bodies of the group are the Board of Directors and the Advisory Council. The Board is composed of interfaith leaders from Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and Buddhism, and meets three times annually to approve the policy and budget. The Advisory Council meets once a year on May 15th, which is International Conscientious Objection Day. Members also meet together yearly to sponsor an annual lobbying day for conscientious objection in conjunction with the Peace Tax Fund and others.

Previously, a consultative council of thirty different religious communities handled the management of the organization. However, in the late 1980's the group shifted to having a self-perpetuating board. The main impetus behind this change was to keep conscientious objection among the primary concerns of religious groups, despite the reality that conscientious objection was often put at the end of the religious communities' priority list when the country was not engaged in war. Despite the change, says McNeil, CCW continues to have support that is widespread among all faith groups.

A Few Historical Highlights

*At the onset of its establishment in 1940, the CCW was responsible for running the alternative service program for the Federal Government (Civilian Public Service).

*In the 1980's, it was a key force in representing non-registrants for the Selective Service.

*Most recently, the CCW was instrumental in spearheading the Child-Soldiers protocol with the United Nations.