Caleb Stoltzfus (he/they) graduated from Jap Mennonite College in winter 2024 with a bachelor’s diploma in History, with a minor in Political Science. He interned at Mennonite Central Committee’s Washington, D.C workplace and labored at Friendship Neighborhood as a direct help skilled for the previous six years. Stoltzfus attends Blossom Hill Mennonite Church, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. 

This Menno Snapshots weblog is a part of a sequence highlighting MC USA’s Waging Peace: A Militarism Summit, Nov. 6-7, Leola, Pennsylvania. Stoltzfus shall be main a seminar, “Conscientious Objection & LGBTQ+ Witness,” with Jim S. Amstutz (he/him), peacebuilder and retired MC USA pastor and educator. 

My grandfather, Glenn Martin, was a conscientious objector throughout the Vietnam Struggle from 1964-1966. He did his 1-W different service in Indianapolis, Indiana, at a Goodwill retailer. He initially was a truck driver for Goodwill, however they moved him to administrative work once they discovered he had bookkeeping expertise. His tales have been the primary I heard about being a conscientious objector. I additionally grew up round folks with pacifist values. I’ve been within the Mennonite church my entire life. I had a Mennonite schooling for highschool and faculty. I deeply imagine in pacifism. I imagine that there’s a lot loss of life that occurs on the planet daily, and I don’t wish to do something so as to add to that. I imagine that Jesus teaches us to like to not hate. Jesus informed us to show the opposite cheek. When he mentioned that, he was telling us to take part in civil disobedience.¹ I imagine that’s what being a conscientious objector is all about. 

Caleb Stoltzfus (far proper) together with his grandparents and brother. His grandfather, Glenn Martin (far left), was a conscientious objector throughout the Vietnam Struggle.

I nonetheless bear in mind sitting in Bible class in highschool, listening to our instructor, Jim Amstutz, speak concerning the choice of turning into a conscientious objector. Whereas listening to him, I simply saved fascinated with my grandfather – concerning the stress that he will need to have been below to go to Vietnam and the way courageous he was to not go. I imagine it’s a courageous factor to turn out to be a conscientious objector, particularly when society is pressuring you to go to warfare and since folks will say that you’re “unpatriotic” if you’re not keen to die in your nation. Being a conscientious objector means deciding to observe the teachings of Jesus and, to cite Robert Frost, “take the street much less traveled.”  

In some methods, conscientious objectors and the LGBTQ+ neighborhood face related challenges. It may be exhausting to push in opposition to society and forge your personal path. The best way I see it, that’s what members of the LGBTQ+ neighborhood do and that’s what conscientious objectors do.

I got here out to my mother the summer time after my first 12 months of school. It was terrifying. I used to be 99% positive that she would help me, however that 1% was so scary. She in fact cherished and supported me, but it surely took a lot braveness to inform her. Being a member of the LGBTQ+ neighborhood is just not simple in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, or within the Mennonite church. Fortunately, I’ve been blessed to be embraced by the church and, for essentially the most half, by my neighborhood. You will need to bear in mind all of the hurt that Mennonites and Christians have executed to the LGBTQ+ neighborhood. For therefore lengthy, we now have been on the skin of faith wanting in. To a sure extent, so have conscientious objectors. That’s the reason I believe it is very important take a look at these two communities collectively and see how they intertwine. 

Did you get pleasure from this weblog? Subscribe to PeaceMail for the newest information, blogs, occasions and assets from MC USA in a single biweekly e mail.

SUBSCRIBE