Five young peacemakers shared why they chose peace over military service April 22 at an Eastern Mennonite School event highlighting the relevance of conscientious objection today.

For Ami, who is Jewish and asked that his last name not be used, the journey to peace started with one question when he served in the military: Why do we kill people?

“If you kill someone or make any kind of escalation, then they’re just going to fight you back,” he said. “You can really only say, we probably should try this peace thing out.”

When he did not want to contribute to violence any longer, he contacted the Center on Conscience & War to pursue CO status.

Ami joined about 85 youth and adults in the EMS dining hall as one of the event’s panelists. He shared why he made the drive from his home in Washington, D.C., to Harrisonburg, Va., on the most holy day in Judaism.

“Tonight is the night of Passover,” he said. “I decided to be here tonight instead of with my family because I feel like people should [gain] understanding about peace from many different sides.”

Sara Kennel, a student at Eastern Mennonite University, shared about having a background that includes the Mennonite faith tradition and family involvement in the military.

“I see nonviolent strategy as the most sustainable option for reconciliation,” she said. “Some people more easily justify violent intervention as the best way to stop harm from happening to the greatest number of people. I often find myself in the messy middle of those two conversations.”

EMU students Aidan Yoder and Adam Stoltzfus shared about their Mennonite backgrounds and approaches to peace. They registered with Selective Service and created CO files with writings to verify their peace convictions.

Like others on the panel, faith informed Stoltzfus’ decisions.

“My Mennonite beliefs and values call me to resist war and promote peace,” he said. “I grew up in a Mennonite household and church. I learned what it means to follow Jesus and what it means to be a peacebuilder. I also attended Eastern Mennonite School, where peacebuilding is an integral part of the curriculum.”

Yoder encouraged young people to get involved through peaceful protest or other forms of resistance to violence.

“I get an active choice to decide if I’m going to be a bystander or stand up in the face of something that’s not OK,” he said.

In some states, like Virginia, getting a driver’s license is not possible until one registers for Selective Service or turns 26. Tim Showalter opted not to register, jokingly saying, “I rode my bike for a lot of years!” This decision made him ineligible for federal and state aid for college, but he stands by it.

“I like thinking through history about the nonviolent movements that have succeeded,” he said. “They give hope for what could be. . . . I want to be a part of those movements.”

One high school senior said it was interesting to consider the ethical side of war and the contributions of businesses to the military. A classmate said that his job after graduation will be with a military contractor and that he felt it was not contributing to the fighting but saving lives.

For students getting learner’s permits to drive, the discussion sparked interest in information about CO status. Some who were uncertain when faced with Selective Service checkboxes at the Department of Motor Vehicles found guidance on pursuing CO status helpful.

A few students expressed a new commitment to peacemaking. They noted a lack of alternative views when military recruiters visit public schools and appreciated the opportunity to learn about other options.

Georgia Metz, pastor at Shalom Mennonite Church of Harrisonburg, Va., introduced the idea for the event.

“I am constantly inspired by the legacy of nonviolence and conscientious objection in the Anabaptist tradition,” she said. “As a believer in the redeeming work of Jesus, I have taken on that pacifism as an important part of my own discipleship and faith practice. My hope is to inspire youth and young adults to continue in that long tradition.”

The event was funded by the Kennel-Charles Endowment, founded by Elmer and Marianne Kennel, for EMS events that stimulate interest in Anabaptism among young people.