Alternative Service for Conscientious Objectors Requested
Diocesan Press Service. September 29, 1971 [95-7]
GREENWICH, Conn. -- The Executive Council of the Episcopal Church, meeting here September 28-30, voted today to ask the National Headquarters of the Selective Service System to accept service in the denomination's social ministry as an alternative service for conscientious objectors.
The question for Council members centered on how they should make their request, rather than whether they should make the request. At issue was whether or not alternative service should be limited to social ministry.
By way of explanation, the Rev. Robert C. Martin, Jr., the Church's Program Officer, said that the major focus of the government concerning conscientious objectors is that they experience the same kind of personal inconvenience as their military counterparts: low pay and service away from home.
The problem, Mr. Martin said, is to find employment which will comply with the above. "Application for conscientious objector status is one thing," he said, "working out the details is another."
Mr. Martin added that employment in the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society of the Episcopal Church has already been recognized as an acceptable alternative service by some local draft boards.
Council then passed the following resolution:
"Resolved, that the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church request National Headquarters, Selective Service System, for acceptance of employment according to his skills in the social ministries services of the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America as acceptable alternative service for conscientious objectors."