Standing Against Torture
December 13, 2011
Earlier today, General Secretary Stan Noffsinger
was part of an interfaith coalition, brought together by the National Religious Campaign Against Torture,
who met with the Obama Administration to urge them to sign the Optional Protocol
to the Convention Against Torture (OPCAT). Earlier today, Stan took an action
that gave feet to our 2010
Annual Conference Resolution against Torture. Now, you can join
him by adding your voice.
The Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture (OPCAT), requires
participating nations to create mechanisms to prevent torture from occurring in
detention centers, police stations, mental health hospitals, and prisons. It
also permits international experts to inspect those facilities. 60 nations have
ratified OPCAT and 21 additional nations have signed it. Unfortunately, the
U.S. is not among them.
Ratifying OPCAT would enhance our government’s effectiveness and
credibility in urging other countries to stop their use of torture and to
ratify both the Convention Against Torture (the treaty prohibiting torture) and
OPCAT.
Put your feet, or in this case, your voice, behind our 2010 Annual
Conference Resolution, and urge
the Obama Administration to sign the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against
Torture.
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Church of the Brethren Policy: The
2010 Annual Conference Resolution Against Torture reads,
1. Introduction
The
Church of the Brethren, as a Historic Peace Church, has experienced persecution
for its faith and its members have suffered violence at times in the church’s
300-year history. Torture has been one form of that violence, illustrated by
the story told about elder Johannes Naas and how he was tortured for refusing
military conscription.
Only
recently have efforts begun to work toward reconciliation of the persecution
the first
Brethren
experienced in Europe, before they migrated to America—an indication of the longlasting
effects of such painful experiences, even across many generations.
Personal
experience of the violence of war has been one guiding factor in the Church of
the Brethren’s consistent statement that “all war is sin” and its emphasis on
peacemaking.
2. Biblical Basis
The
sanctity of life was and is a fundamental value of our faith. According to the
biblical witness we recognize the following as foundational for our conviction
regarding the sanctity of life: God created human beings in the image of God
(Gen. 1:26), and God proclaimed this creation “very good.” In Exodus God
commands the Israelites to “not wrong or oppress a resident alien” (Ex.
22:21).
In
the gospels, Jesus commands his followers not only to love their neighbors, but
to “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matt. 5:43-48;
Luke 6:27-36). This same command is given through the apostolic witness as Paul
exhorts the Roman believers to live at peace with others, genuinely love
others, and “not be overcome by evil but to overcome evil with good” (Rom.
12:9-21; 13:8-10).
It
is our belief and conviction that the redemptive work and purpose of God is to
bring wholeness and life to all creation (John 3:16; 4:1-15; 2 Cor. 5:16-20;
Col. 3:12-15). The final promise of
God
accentuates the hope of all believers and illustrates the end to which God and
God’s community are working (Isaiah 2:2-4; 11:1-9; Rev. 21:3-4).
3. Torture is a Violation of Word and Life
We,
the Annual Conference of the Church of the Brethren, are aware of the growing
occurrences of torture throughout our world. We also recognize there have been
attempts to legitimize torture. Torture is a blatant violation of the tenets of
our faith. It injects into our character the sense that we are better than
others and dehumanizes people. It seeks to break the human spirit. In reality
it devastates both the one who is tortured and the one who tortures.
4. Call to Confession, Call to Action
We,
the Annual Conference of the Church of the Brethren, find both the occurrences
of torture and the attempt to legitimize the acts of torture unconscionable.
We confess allowing the rhetoric and images of torture to pass us
by.
We confess ignoring the cry for justice.
We confess becoming desensitized and complacent.
We confess feeling insignificant to make a difference.
We confess not speaking in a timely manner.
We confess our inaction.
We confess our silence.
We deeply mourn the harm that has been done to all who have been
tortured and have tortured.
Lord have mercy.
We will be silent no more.
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For more information about the witness ministries of
the Church of the Brethren, contact Jordan Blevins, Advocacy Officer for the
Church of the Brethren:
Jordan Blevins
C/O National Council of Churches
110 Maryland Ave. NE
Suite 108
Washington, DC 20002
jblevins@brethren.org
202-481-6943
