"A demonic method of killing and wounding ... and poisoning God's creation"

Since its birth in 1977 the Uniting Church has articulated its commitment to peace-making and peace-keeping. We believe that Jesus Christ is our peace and that we are called to be bearers of Christ's peace, articulating an alternative vision to dominating narratives of violence, destruction and enmity.

At various times over the past 47 years the Assembly has stated its rejection of nuclear weapons. These statements have been shaped by this broader vision of peace articulated from the earliest days of the Uniting Church. These include the Basis of Union’s expectation of reconciliation and renewal, and our stated intention to seek the well-being of all people and creation in our Statement to the Nation (1977 and 1988).

In 1982 the Assembly made its commitment to peace-making explicit in a landmark statement on Militarism and Disarmament. It affirmed:

“God came in the crucified and risen Christ to make peace; that He calls all Christians to be peacemakers, to save life, to heal and to love their neighbours. The call of Christ to make peace is the norm, the onus of proof rests on any who resort to military force as a means of solving international disputes.”

It noted that “at this point in history, most governments support military priorities which cause valuable and limited resources to be diverted unproductively towards the purchase of armaments and the maintenance of large military forces”.

“Nuclear weapons are a demonic method of killing and wounding people and poisoning God’s creation … nuclear war would be catastrophic in terms of both human violence and environmental disaster.”

It goes on to affirm that “the Uniting Church is committed to be a peace-making body, seeking to follow the Lord of the Church by encouraging political authorities to resolve political tensions by peaceful means.”

In 1988 the Assembly adopted a statement on Nuclear Deterrence, Disarmament and Peace, a theological response to the call of Jesus Christ to peace in an age dominated by the arms race.

“All Christian affirmation about peace is grounded in the declaration that Jesus Christ is our peace. Through him the power of evil, sin and death is decisively broken, and the hostile and alienated world is reconciled to God and is itself renewed. We speak in hope, trusting God’s promise of the final transformation of all things.”

The statement considering the threat and consequences of nuclear weapons to be incompatible with this vision. 

"In the light of the claim made on human life by nuclear weapons, and because of their destructive power which threatens all life on this planet, we believe that reliance on nuclear weapons to attain peace and security is sinful."

"Moreover, the Assembly judges that there is no distinction to be drawn between production, possession, threatened use or use of nuclear weapons. The Assembly rejects any distinction between the intention to use or the actual use of nuclear weapons."

The statement confesses that as a people of God we have been implicated in sin by our reliance upon nuclear weapons. Our desire for nuclear defence has been sustained by fear of our enemies and we have been silent and apathetic in the face of threatened nuclear annihilation.

It affirms that Jesus Christ calls for obedience in seeking the abolition of nuclear weapons.

“The call to peace which comes from Jesus Christ is a radical call to trust the gracious God for life and security and to oppose the reign of death.”

In 2003 the Assembly endorsed the statement Uniting for Peace. Outlining a vision of peace through justice and genuine security, it held that true justice can only be achieved through means that do not consist of violence.

It restated its strong condemnation of increasing global militarism and the renewed arms race, declaring that "ownership, use, or threatened use of nuclear, chemical and/or biological weapons is evil". Genuine global security will only be achieved by "preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons and requiring progressive disarmament of all nations."

In more recent years, the Uniting Church’s advocacy has been focussed on the campaign for a global ban on nuclear weapons. The Assembly is a member of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), which began in Australia and grew into a global organisation that was awarded the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize for ground-breaking efforts towards achieving a global treaty.

The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons currently has 94 signatories and 73 states parties. The Australian government still has not signed on to or ratified the Treaty despite broad public support.

As we mark the UN's International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, and in the spirit of the Uniting Church's long-held position on peace and nuclear, you might like to explore these ways to take action right now.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

• Speak to your MP about making a Parliamentary Pledge welcoming the adoption of the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. ICAN lists all the signatories. If your MP has already signed, you might write to thank them. https://icanw.org.au/pledge/
• Encourage your local council to join the ICAN Cities Appeal declaring their commitment to the treaty and calling on Australia to sign. https://icanw.org.au/cities/
• Learn more about why Australia should sign on the treaty and what that will mean. https://icanw.org.au/choosinghumanity/
• Watch and Share this video from Red Cross “What would you choose in a nuclear attack. To live or die?” portraying the grave threat nuclear weapons pose to all life. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yr5yh1O5mnA