Mennonites were among more than 30 faith groups signing a joint letter Dec. 9 urging U.S. presidential candidates to reduce military spending.

The letter says the “federal budget’s increasingly distorted emphasis on spending to fight and equip for war” comes “at the expense of investments in our communities at home and our pursuit of peace abroad.”

Signers included Mennonite Central Committee U.S., the Church of the Brethren, Christian Peacemaker Teams, the American Friends Service Committee, Friends Committee on National Legislation and National Campaign for a Peace Tax Fund.

“It is immoral to spend excessively on the weapons and conduct of war, especially at the cost of food for the hungry, healthcare for the sick, education for our children and prevention of and recovery from violent conflict,” write the signers.

The organizations and denominations urge candidates to call for significant cuts to the U.S. military budget, make major reinvestments in communities at home and seek a more peaceful approach to the wider world.

“This misallocation of our tax dollars is a gross misrepresentation of our values. Our faith insists that spending ever more resources on the tools and threats of violence will not bring us true security,” states the letter. “In order to be truly secure, our communities need a just peace built on the dignity and strength of education, health care, housing, nutrition, sustainable employment and lasting conflict resolution.”