Guide to the United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. Emergency Ministry on Conscience and War Records

Descriptive Summary

Title

United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. Emergency Ministry on Conscience and War Records

Inclusive Dates

1969-1971

Call Number

RG 410

Creator(s)

United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. Emergency Ministry on Conscience and War.

Quantity

0.50 cubic feet (1 box)

Restrictions on Access

Open for research. Medical, educational, and psychological records of living people are closed.

Repository

Presbyterian Historical Society, 425 Lombard Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147-1516 USA

Biographical Note / Administrative History

Administrative History

The Emergency Ministry on Conscience and War (EMCW) was established in 1969 by the United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. EMCW was created in response to perceived concerns following a 1968 General Assembly pronouncement about initiating a study on church involvement in conscientious objection to the Vietnam War. EMCW was administered through the Office of Church and Society of the Board of Christian Education (BCE), and its funds were derived from the World Refugee and Emergency Service Committee. The aforementioned study was based upon church recognition that draft board members were considered to be unsympathetic toward dissenting views, the draft law itself was considered unjust and discriminatory, and the church had failed to respond consistently and forcefully in support of conscientious objectors. When the study was completed in 1969, it was recommended that ministry on conscience and war should be continued and expanded, and the church should deploy its resources to increase education about war by providing study materials, media, and staff services.

The fundamental strategy of EMCW was to emphasize the pastoral and counseling orientation in giving impartial aid to draft registrants and their families. The three levels of aid were providing information and education about the draft, helping the registrant develop competent ethical analysis skills, and giving direct aid to conscientious objectors to war through prison visitations and aid to emigrants to Canada.

The 1969 General Assembly suggested that unallocated funds from the Council of Theological Education be used to enable internships and field work for EMCW. Bruce D.D. Stuart was a middler at Princeton Theological Seminary and interned with EMCW during 1969. He continued his work with EMCW until 1971.

Collection Overview

The collection spans from 1969 through 1971, and includes some general EMCW administrative records, but consists primarily of Bruce D.D. Stuart's records relative to his internship and work with EMCW. This includes his lecture and meeting notes, manuscript drafts, informational packet notes, and correspondence. The range of choices open from 1969 through 1971 to a draftee, particularly those in high school, is the primary topic of this collection. The material also places particular emphasis upon methods for young men to be recognized as conscientious objectors by the church and government.

Organization and Arrangement

SERIES I: EMCW ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION, 1969-1971

SERIES II: EMCW INFORMATION, 1969-1971

SERIES III: INTERN'S LECTURE, MEETING, AND MANUSCRIPT NOTES, 1969-1971

Related Material

Administrative Information

Acquisition Information

This collection was donated by Bruce D.D. Stuart in 1971.

Processing Information

Collection processed and finding aid prepared: January 1998
Stephanie Phillips, Archives Technician

Preferred Citation

United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. Emergency Ministry on Conscience and War Records, RG 410, Presbyterian Historical Society, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Catalog Headings

The following headings have been used to index the description of this collection in the society’s electronic catalog.

Personal Name Subject

Stuart, Bruce D. D.

Corporate Subject

United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. Emergency Ministry on Conscience and War.

Topical Subject

Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Conscientious objectors.

Conscientious objection--Religious aspects--Presbyterian Church.

Vietnam War, 1961-1975--War work--Presbyterian Church.

Genre-form

Correspondence. aat

Lecture notes. aat

Writings (documents) aat

Personal Added Name

Stuart, Bruce D. D.

Collection Inventory

Box	Folder	Description

1	1	Finding Aid to Record Group 410

		SERIES I: EMCW ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION, 1969-1971

1	2	Presbyterian opinions about the draft
1	3	EMCW organization and financial information
1	4	Bruce D.D. Stuart's correspondence, 1969-1971

		SERIES II: EMCW INFORMATION, 1969-1971

1	5	List and samples of information packet contents, 1971
1	6	Stuart's information packet revision notes, 1971

		SERIES III: INTERN'S LECTURE, MEETING AND MANUSCRIPT NOTES, 1969-1971

1	7	Church-In, First Presbyterian Church, Lakewood, NJ, Lecture notes, March 26-27, 1971
1	8	Committee on Church and Society Meeting, Syracuse, NY, Lecture notes, April 28-29, 1971
1	9	Draft Counseling Seminar, Camp Hill, PA, Lecture notes, April 15-17, 1971
1	10	Pottstown Presbyterian Church, Pottstown, PA, Lecture notes, May 12, 1971
1	11	Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill, Chestnut Hill, PA, Lecture notes, Nov. 22, 1971
1	12	Reverend Sloane. Lecture notes, July 19, 1971
1	13	Wyoming Presbyterian Church, Milburn, NJ. Lecture notes- n.d.
1	14	List of government officials and stands on draft repeal, 1971
1	15	Meeting notes with Senator [no name given], 1971
1	16	Pacific Counseling Service meeting notes, 1971
1	17	Draft law revision notes, 1971
1	18	"Feeling the Draft" revision notes, 1971
1	19	"The Draft and 'Time and Death in Adolescence'" manuscript, n.d.
1	20	Untitled draft for untitled newsletter (Bob Henderson's), Summer 1971
1	21	EMCW Fact Sheet: "The Draft Debate in Congress," n.d.
1	22	"High School Draft Education" notes, 1971
1	23	Response to G.A. Statement "The Moral Crisis of the United States in Indochina" notes, 1971
1	24	Incomplete Presbyterian Life article notes, n.d.
1	25	Article notes for United Presbyterian Peace Fellowship, 1971
1	26	Article notes for United Presbyterian Guidance, 1971
1	27	Miscellaneous notes, n.d.
1	28	Miscellaneous information about draft resistance activities, 1969-1971

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Guide to the United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. Emergency Ministry on Conscience and War Records

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