To qualify as a conscientious objector under U.S. law, an individual must be opposed to participation in war because of ethical, moral, or religious beliefs. In the event of a military draft, those who wish to declare conscientious objection will need to show the validity and strength of their beliefs. That means that even though there is not currently a draft in the United States, anyone who wants to be a conscientious objector should begin to document their beliefs now so that they can substantiate their beliefs when needed. If and when a draft is reinstated, this documentation will help verify that your conscientious objection is a deeply-held belief.
Keep a record
Start by keeping a file of all the ways you have expressed your commitment to nonviolence, antimilitarism and pacifism. This might include journal entries, letters to the editor, screenshots of social media posts, photos of your participation in antiwar rallies, etc. Even if children were too young to choose the peace activity themselves, it can be useful to document their participation (such as at church or school) as examples of the values to which they’ve been exposed. The list of possible documentation is endless; its best to err on the side of including materials, even those that may seem trivial. You will want access to these materials if you are ever asked by the military to prove your opposition to serving in the armed forces.
You can also gather letters of support from those who know you and have borne witness to your opposition to war. Such letters of support could come from a teacher, a coach, a godparent, a family friend, or anyone else who has known you and knows about your objection to war.
Write a statement
When an individual is old enough to be able to clearly articulate their inner feelings, they should write or dictate a statement of what they believe and how that relates to participation in war (or violence). They could do this at several points in their life, which might show the evolution or maturing of their beliefs. Activities that reflect or reinforce the beliefs — such as writing letters to Congress about war, joining anti-violence groups, or even volunteering at a soup kitchen — are also useful to include as examples.
Before turning 18, the individual should take time to write an essay that addresses these 3 questions:
- What do you believe about participating in war?
- How did these beliefs develop? What experiences, people, or other factors helped to shape those beliefs?
- How does your life reflect these beliefs? How do these beliefs influence choices you make?
Resources to help you write this statement can be found here https://centeronconscience.org/religious-statements-on-conscientious-objection/. Sample statements from Presbyterians can be found here https://www.presbypeacefellowship.org/peace-church/.
Writing a statement like this is not only for teens — it can be meaningful to write a statement of belief at any age. If objection to war is something shared by members of a family, they might write statements together, even if they are not likely to be drafted.
Register your statement with a community
Whether or not you are part of a faith community, you can register your statement to further reinforce the importance of your beliefs. The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has a process by which members and participants in Presbyterian faith communities can register their conscientious objection with the denomination.
