United Church Social Policy Positions

WHEREAS we, as Christians, recognize all peoples of the earth as our brothers and sisters; and

WHEREAS the escalating world arms race is now costing hundreds of billions of dollars a year perverting and squandering precious national resources, robbing the human family of food, water, health, education, housing, roads, transportation and peaceful industry; and

WHEREAS we believe nuclear weapons pose a great and immediate threat to all life on this planet; and

WHEREAS we believe the new developments in chemical and biological weapons pose as great a threat to all life on this planet; and

WHEREAS Canada has a long and proud history of being involved in peacekeeping initiatives; and

WHEREAS Canada, with its strong history of peace initiatives would be a strong witness to the world as a zone free of nuclear, biological and chemical weapons:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

THAT the 29th General Council of The United Church of Canada:

1. REQUEST the government of Canada to make Canada a zone free of nuclear, biological and chemical weapons and to call upon other nations to adopt a similar policy. This would include the elimination of:
   1. The stationing and storage of nuclear, biological and chemical weapons within Canadian territory;
   2. The transit of nuclear, biological and chemical weapons across Canadian soil, or through Canadian airspace or territorial waters;
   3. The production and testing of components of these warfare systems, such as the Cruise Missile;
   4. The use of electronic guidance systems for the selection of targets for these weapons of mass destruction by Canadians or in Canadian territories.
2. DIRECT the General Council Committee on the Church and International Affairs to prepare a Study Packet for presbyteries and local congregations on the issue of, "Canada: A Zone Free of Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Weapons," the packet to be available May 1, 1983; and
3. REQUEST each presbytery (through conference executives) and the pastoral charges (through the presbyteries) to study the issues and the implications of such a policy in Canada, in particular, for their immediate area, and report their responses to the General Council Committee on the Church and International Affairs for presentation and discussion at the 30th General Council.

General Council: 29th General Council, 1982

Record of Proceedings Page Ref. 1982 ROP, pp. 99–100.