Mennonite
Central
Committee

Winnipeg conference explores issues of conscientious objection

Gladys Terichow
November 6, 2006

Every seat was filled at a weekend history conference here, Oct. 20-21, exploring issues related to war and conscientious objection.

The unwavering stand against military service during World War I and World War II was discussed by speakers representing several faith groups, including Mennonite, Doukhobor, Quaker and Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Although the speakers and audience were keenly supportive of conscientious objection, they noted the historic commitment to pacifism is in danger of eroding.

Conrad Stoesz, the archivist at Mennonite Heritage Centre in Winnipeg, reflected on the historical negotiations between Mennonite church leaders and the Canadian government to establish the alternative service program during World War II.

He read an excerpt of a heated exchange between a Mennonite church leader, Rev. Jacob H. Janzen and Major General LaFleche.

"La Fleche asked the delegation, ‘What will you do if we shoot you?’ That was too much for Janzen, who had survived several desperate situations in the Soviet Union," said Stoesz.

"Obviously agitated, he replied: ‘Listen General, I want to tell you something. You can't scare us like that. I've looked down too many rifle barrels in my time to be scared in that way. This thing is in our blood for 400 years and you can't take it away from us like you'd crack a piece of kindling over your knee. I was before a firing squad twice. We believe in this!’"

More than 60 years later, Janzen’s comments prompted a spontaneous applause from the audience.

But Harry Loewen, Professor Emeritus of Mennonite History and Studies at the University of Winnipeg, said he fears that Mennonite church leaders and their congregations are losing their strong convictions to uphold this founding principle of the Mennonite church.

"It is important that we deal with these issues now," he said, noting he has heard people from Mennonite churches say that the historical peace position of the Mennonite church is not relevant today. "I disagree," he added. "This principle must not be abandoned, it must be strengthened."

Other speakers noted conscientious objectors have made many worthwhile contributions during and after wars, but their stories remain virtually untold. “Files on conscientious objectors were intentionally destroyed because archivists thought this was not worth keeping,” said Jim Penton of the University of Lethbridge.

Several speakers discussed the contributions made by 11,000 men, mainly Mennonite and Brethren in Christ, who participated in the civilian based alternative service program during World War II. They planted trees, fought forest fires and built roads but when the war was over this work was not recognized.

Some speakers insisted that conscientious objection is not just a thing of the past. Lisa Martens, who has served with Christian Peacemaker Teams in Iraq, Colombia and northwestern Ontario, said, “Now is a very good time to be a CO.” She urged the audience to resist war and militarism by withholding payment of the military portion of their taxes, speaking out against Canada’s military industry, and supporting American war resisters who seek refuge in Canada.

Chr istian Kjar, a U.S. marine deserter in Canada, told his story of becoming a CO. He joined the marines after high school because his family could not afford to provide him with a college education. But through boot camp and military police training, he became increasingly disillusioned with what the military was all about.

Just days before Christian was to be deployed to Iraq, he heard a clear call from God that he should not kill. He got on a bus for Canada the next day. Currently he is living in Toronto where he, and other U.S. war resisters, are seeking refugee status.

The conference was hosted by the Chair in Mennonite Studies at the University of Winnipeg and sponsored by Mennonite Historical Society of Canada (Divergent Voices), Mennonite Central Committee Canada and Manitoba Mennonite Historical Society.