Be informed:
Learning Respect

Some people, in view of the evil in the world, are prepared to use armed force and to be trained to do so. This includes female and male soldiers. In doing so, they are convinced that there can be borderline situations in human interaction in which the use of violence is part of the responsibility to protect human life from grave injustice.

Peace needs security

In this regard, they must always remain aware that the possibilities of military means are limited and that the use of lethal force can only be considered as a last option; that a certain degree of security can be guaranteed by military means, but that lasting peace must be achieved in a different way. Even this certain degree of security is usually very fragile because it faces the tension of violence. Threats of violence, “show of force” as it is called in the jargon, is the basis of this tense situation. This tension also contributes to the fact that the security situation can change again very quickly. This can be frustrating and stressful and makes the service of female and male soldiers difficult.

Pastoral care in the war zone

As a Protestant pastor, I support female and male soldiers in their service. This is based on the statutory right to the free practice of religion, even under the special conditions of the armed forces. One of the central tasks of military pastoral care is to sharpen the conscience by reflecting together on the threat and use of violence, on security and peace, on killing and guilt. What does it mean, for example, if I renounce any use of violence due to my conviction? In a dangerous situation, I then also renounce protection from violence. I can decide this for myself, but I cannot deprive others of any protection – and thus a certain degree of security – by using this justification.

Enforce human rights

Helpful in thinking together about military service are the terms “responsibility to protect”, in international use, and “rights-preserving violence” as used in the EKD’s (Evangelical Church in Germany) peace memorandum. Human rights only have existential significance once they are enforced. Not only in precarious security settings, but also in a peace situation based on law, borderline situations can arise where the use of force becomes an issue in order to restore security and uphold justice.

If violence has then been used and people have been wounded or even killed, the question of responsibility and guilt arises. However, this question also arises where there has been a failure to comply with the responsibility to protect. The genocide in Rwanda remains a warning example. At that time, many Tutsis could have been saved if the UN had had the mandate and the capabilities to both threaten and use force.

A secure environment created and maintained by military means is not a peaceful environment; but it can contribute to building relationships between actors that serve peace.

Stephan Schmid