SDA-Military-Sv-Bk for Web 2.Pdf

SDA-Military-Sv-Bk for Web 2.Pdf

AN ESSAY AND STUDY By Gary R. Councell Copyright © 2011, Gary R. Councell Copyright © 2011, Gary R. Councell Designed by Ron J. Pride Brief Biography of the Author ary R. Councell embarked on his military min- G istry in 1969 as a Second Lieutenant Staff Specialist while attending the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary at Andrews University in Michigan. After ordination, Councell’s first active duty assignment as a U.S. Army chaplain commenced with the First Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas. Subsequently, his mission led to four-year tours in Germany and Fort Lewis, Washington. Following this, Councell served four years as the Facilities and Logistics Manager in the Office of the Chief of Chaplains. His next assignment was spent serving two years as the Fourth Infantry Division Chaplain. He then attended the U.S. Army War College. During that time he was promoted to Colonel and then returned to Germany as the 26th Area Support Group Chaplain. The Chief of Chaplains requested Councell to close the religious program and chapels at Fort McClellan, Alabama, before his return to Fort Hood as the III Corps and Installation Chaplain. Two years later, Councell moved to Hawaii and was assigned as the U.S. Army Pacific Command Chaplain. Prior to retiring from the Army, Councell served as the Director of Information, Resources Management and Logistics for the Office of the Chief of Chaplains, Headquarters, Department of the Army, at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. During his service, Councell was involuntarily extended two years beyond the normal thirty-year limit of active duty and retired in 2006. Presently, Councell is the ecclesiastical endorser and director of the Adventist Chaplaincy Ministries Department in the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. He also serves as the Secretary for the Executive Committee of the National Conference on Ministry to the Armed Forces. This is an organization of over 180 national faith groups with national standing that “loan” their spiritual leaders to the military to serve as chaplains. Gary, and his wife of forty-seven years, Joyce E. White-Councell are the proud parents of three adult children: Brenda, a national board-certified elemen- tary teacher; GS-13 Terry, a hydrologist and chemist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture; and Larry, a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Air Force. The Councells have five grandchildren. Table of Contents PREFACE SOCIETAL ISSUES Current World Situation/8 Economic Challenges/8 Political and Social Unrest/9 Changes in Warfare/11 Changes in the Military/12 Loss of Freedom/12 Purpose and Role of Government/14 Just War/15 Citizen Responsibilities/15 Christians and Culture/16 BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVES Origin of Warfare/18 Dialectical Interpretation/18 Paradoxical Principles/21 Old Testament/22 New Testament/24 Respect for Life/25 Biblical Mandates/26 Freedom of Faith/27 CHALLENGES FOR THE CHURCH Situational Awareness/28 Adventist Chaplaincy Ministries and the National Service Organization/30 Official Position/30 Ellen G. White Comments on Military Service/31 Moral Obligation to Protect and Defend/32 Models for Consideration/33 Moral and Spiritual Principles/34 Recommendations/37 APPENDICES Appendix A – Noncombatancy/40 Appendix B – A Timeline of Conscientious Objection and Noncombatancy within the Seventh-day Adventist Church/42 BIBLIOGRAPHY PREFACE hristians hold citizenship in this advocates development of a strategy to world by accident of birth and prepare church members for potential C in the “kingdom of heaven” by future conflicts that would require con- choice of “new birth.” This dual citizen- scription into military or public service. ship often creates spiritual dilemmas From four decades of experience as of allegiance and priorities, further a teacher, district pastor, military chap- intensified by cultural, ethnic, linguistic, lain, and General Conference depart- and national differences. Seventh-day ment director, the author poses con- Adventist Christians belong to a reli- cepts and questions to consider when gious “United Nations” of members who Adventists think about their relationship live in two hundred countries around the as a Christian to the greater community. world. In particular, should an Adventist serve Most Adventists readily agree in in the military, or in law enforcement theory that matters of faith take pre- agencies, or intelligence gathering? cedence over temporal concerns, yet Is such service incompatible with the probably would admit their actual prac- Christian faith? This essay does not pur- tice is often incongruent with beliefs. port to give all the answers, but it does So how can spiritual priorities be more try to stimulate some thought that may consistently applied in daily living? Is assist individuals in the decision-making service in government agencies yielding process as they seek to determine allegiance to modern Caesars and this God’s will for their lives. world? When governments require citi- zens to serve in ways that conflict with All thoughts in the essay are the opinions and views of the conscience, how should an Adventist author, and except where credits and quotes are given, Christian respond? reflect his summation of experience, reading and study on In our rapidly changing world of the subject. This essay is not necessarily the official position these last days, clearly stated bibli- of the Adventist Chaplaincy Ministries (ACM) Departments cal and ethical principles on issues of of the General Conference and North American Division of public and military-related service are Seventh-day Adventists, nor is it the official position of the needed to help guide decision-making Seventh-day Adventist Church. Please address comments by church leaders and individual mem- to Chaplain Gary R. Councell, GC ACM Department Director, bers. The author contends that the 12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, Maryland 20904, current denominational stance requires USA; or via email at gary.councell@nad.adventist.org. Bible review and deeper study to determine texts are quoted from the New Living Translation of the Holy its applicability in the 21st century. He Bible by Tyndale Publishers, Inc. 6 7 societal issues CURRENT WORLD SITUATION The ultra-poor spend 80 percent of their s predicted, great changes are income to obtain only 80 percent of taking place in our world. The required minimum caloric intake. Much Afinal movements in earth’s con- effort and resources have attempted to flict between good and evil are rapid. remedy causes of poverty and improve Modern science has improved quality of conditions for the poor, but as Jesus life, advanced medical care, spawned observed, “The poor will always be computer technology, speeded com- present” (Mark 14:7). Poverty causes munications and explored space; yet a descending spiral into other miser- scientific knowledge also has been used ies and negative conditions: precarious for evil in criminal activities, immoral livelihoods, hunger, physical limitations, decadence, and weaponry. and problems in relationships. Poverty is Devastating famine and disease a contributing factor to crime and even continue assaulting humanity, aided by terrorism. natural disasters, changing climate pat- In his 1961 farewell address to terns and pollution. Though the media the nation, U.S. President Dwight and jet travel have shrunk the world into Eisenhower warned about the cost of an accessible community, those means an arms race and dangers of a military- also have revealed greater disparity industrial complex. During the Cold between the “haves” and “have-nots.” War years the United States spent over Deep philosophical and political differ- 13 trillion dollars on national defense, ences rage between the “givers” and not counting the costs of the Korean “takers” within nations. and Vietnam conflicts. The Soviet Regardless of mankind’s best Communist bloc simply could not sus- efforts to avert and resolve them, three tain the expense of its military-enforced crises threaten humanity in these last ideology and provide any quality of life days: economic uncertainty, political for its citizens. Eventually the Cold War unrest, and insecurity. These crises are bankrupted the Union of Soviet Socialist inter-related and build on each other. Republics and the Warsaw Pact, lead- They also impact on the mission of the ing to its disintegration. While the super Seventh-day Adventist Church. Hope, powers wore each other down, the Third goodwill and peace remain elusive. World began asserting its economic muscle of human and natural resources. ECONOMIC CHALLENGES Since the terrorist attacks on the Poverty plagues earth’s popula- United States, September 11, 2001, tion. According to the World Bank, 40 the cost for homeland security to the percent of the world’s population exists nation erased any “peace dividend” on less than two U.S. dollars per day. from ending the Cold War. The military 8 war on terror cost the United States one rity. Add inflation, indebtedness and trillion dollars. “Repercussions trickle greed on national and personal levels, down through every layer of the global and the issues become even more com- economy. In the era of globalization, plicated. Regional instability, narcotics the September 11 terrorist attacks on trafficking, and population shifts disrupt New York and Washington have had recovery attempts. Economic problems worldwide economic consequences, ” contribute to political and social unrest. wrote Harry Hayes in an International Review article in January 2002. While POLITICAL AND SOCIAL UNREST difficult to measure, the economic Since World War II major political costs of terrorism throughout the world changes have occurred: colonialism during the first year following the 9/11 ended, new nation states emerged, and attacks came to an estimated two tril- nuclear holocaust threatened all peo- lion dollars. Al-Qaeda has adopted a ples. Nations responded to the Nuclear new strategy in its declared war on the Age and Cold War by brokering alliances West. Rather than blowing up buildings, and treaties for mutual protection and Al-Qaeda seeks to achieve its goals by to preserve forms of government, past destroying the economy of its enemies.

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