Today I will finish my posts on war. I will conclude with a simple action program for peace.

  VII   An action program for peace.
Work for peace and disarmament is hindered today by several factors that we can do something to change. Individual Christians, churches, humanitarian organisations and governments must work to reduce the sources of conflicts in as many areas as possible. We may do that through relief-work, development assistance and by promoting human rights. Efforts to create an atmosphere of trust across national borders and military blocs are welcome today. Institutions for peaceful solving of conflicts must be strengthened.
The Christians must understand that to be engaged to promote peace is an expression of God’s wish for peace in the world. At the same time we have to acknowledge that there are different views among Christians when it comes to ways to achieve peace. It is important to respect one another and talk together to strengthen good relationship among Christians of different opinions. The Christian fellowship, represent all races and nations and supersede national, ideological and political borders. This fellowship should be a sign of reconciliation in the world and serve as a bridge of understanding between people that live in differing political systems.
The Christians have as their task to make visible to the world the potential for peace between nations and races given us in Christ.
  To be peacemakers we as Christians have to:
  1. In the churches
a. integrate the work for peace as a natural dimension on all levels of our church life.
b. pray for peace in the world, when we come together in housegroups and when we gather for worship service, in special peace-services and in other prayer gathering.
c. inform about the use of resources in the world and increase the awareness of the wrong use of resources that is going on and  leads to so much spending on arms, while large parts of humanity struggle with hunger and poverty.
d. inform about the factors and mechanisms that cause a threat to human rights, tension, violence and unrest in the world-society.
e. examine possible power- and conflict- tendencies in and among churches.
f. equip churches and saints for active and differenciated service for the cause of peace.
g. give Christians information about work for peace and give a basic biblical understanding to help them take part in the debate to stand for peace and righteousness.
h. promote research work on war and peace, military service and being conscientious objectors, the individual responsibility and our responsibility towards the state, the terror-balance, nuclear rearmament etc.

  2. In society
a. support the government and parliament in their work for peace, disarmament and righteousness in the world.
b. support and help the small nations in their strife for freedom and independence.
c. uncover the tendencies in society that idealize war and violence.
d. support efforts to increase our country’s contribution in developing aid, that this will strengthen peace in the world and remove factors that threaten peace.
e. co-operate with organisations and groups that work for peace and take initiative for cross-professional talks on questions on war and peace, and equip and give work opportunity for persons that want to be engaged in that kind of work.
f. encourage the government to make just laws and possibilities to secure people with religious or ethical convictions the right to refuse to do military service and give such people an alternative service for peacemaking.

  3. In international forums.
a. participate in international organisations that work for peace, righteousness, freedom and human dignity.
b. support UN’s efforts for peace and human rights,
c. seek to get in touch with Christian groupings all over the world that work for peace, freedom, righteousness and human worth,
d. strengthen the direct contact between Christians living in different political systems.
e. work for international laws to guarantee men and women the right to refuse to take part in military service and participate in war for political, religious and pacifist beliefs.