The ECC affirms that military service is morally permissible for believers and that a nation may engage in just warfare for the defense of its people and the pursuit of justice. However, the ECC also respects the conscience of individual believers who hold pacifist convictions. This nuanced position reflects the denomination's commitment to both biblical authority and individual conscience in areas of secondary application.

Many ECC members and leaders have served in military capacities and are supported in doing so. The denomination recognizes the state's legitimate authority to maintain armed forces and the Christian's right to participate in military service. Just war doctrine — the idea that war may be justifiable under certain conditions (just cause, legitimate authority, last resort, proportionality, etc.) — is affirmed as a legitimate Christian ethical framework.

However, some ECC congregations and members hold pacifist positions, declining military service on grounds of conscience. The ECC respects this conviction and does not compel uniformity on the issue. This allows for diversity within the denomination: some affirm military service as a Christian duty, while others affirm nonviolence as a Christian commitment. Both positions are found among faithful ECC members and are respected, reflecting the denomination's openness to conscientious difference on applications of biblical principle.