Varies
No unified position; some provinces pacifist; others allow military service.
The Moravian Church does not have a unified official position on military service. Some Moravian provinces and communities have maintained pacifist convictions rooted in the church's historic peace witness and connection to the Anabaptist tradition through the Bohemian Brethren. Other provinces and individual Moravians have participated in military service without prohibition. The Ground of the Unity does not specify a unified stance. This reflects broader Moravian commitment to conscience and ecumenical openness.
Key Distinctions
- Official stance:
- permitted and honourable — military service is a legitimate vocation
- Theological basis:
- government ordained by God (Romans 13); defence of the innocent is an expression of love
Scripture References
Sources
- Moravian Church, Ground of the Unity
- Diverse provincial practices