Military Service

The COGC does not have an official denominational requirement of pacifism, though the peace church tradition has historically had some influence within the Abrahamic Faith movement. Members who choose military service are not excluded from fellowship on that basis, and the denomination does not formally require conscientious objector status as a condition of membership.

The COGC's eschatological orientation — emphasizing the coming kingdom of God over present political allegiances — may incline some members toward a more detached relationship with national military enterprises. The conviction that Christ's kingdom will ultimately replace all earthly governments provides a certain eschatological relativization of present civic and military duties, though this has not translated into an official pacifist stance.

Individual COGC members and congregations approach questions of military service through Scripture and personal conscience. The denomination's small size and decentralized character mean that this question is handled locally rather than through binding denominational policy. Romans 13's affirmation of government authority and the legitimate use of force is acknowledged, while the Sermon on the Mount's emphasis on peacemaking and non-retaliation is also taken seriously.