ROTC Sidebar
Timothy Mackie
Issue date: 3/11/10 Section: News
So why exactly doesn't Messiah College have an ROTC unit? All students get a cursory exposure to Anabaptist doctrines of pacifism and non-resistance in CCC, but at an ecumenical place like Messiah College, not everyone agrees with them.
Dr. John Yeatts, Professor of the Psychology of Religion and Associate Dean of General Education and Common Learning, says that "pacifism" is very much a second-order concern within Anabaptist theology, which focuses first and foremost on radical conversion, non-conformity, and following the teachings of Jesus. Yeatts, a lifelong Anabaptist, prefers the term "non-resistance" because it is less politically charged than "pacifism."
Yeatts says that Anabaptists are good citizens who pay their taxes and support their government, but will declare that their first loyalty is to the Kingdom of God, not the United States of America. "I will do whatever my country calls us to do, but if my government asks me to kill someone else, I can't do that," he says.
Yeatts says that it is inappropriate for Anabaptists to serve in the military since they would inevitably be placed in a situation where they would have to kill. However, he does not say that a Christian cannot serve in the military. "Anabaptism is a movement within the larger church calling it to live peacefully," says Yeatts. "I have Christian friends who do not agree with me on this issue."
Yeatts makes the distinction between "being a Christian" and "following Jesus." As Yeatts sees it, one cannot follow Jesus in the Anabaptist sense and serve in the military, but one can be a committed Christian service member.
He says he appreciates the school's ecumenical stance since it allows for a diversity of opinion on this issue.
While he isn't offended by ROTC students on campus, he believes that a college with Anabaptist roots should refrain from sponsoring a ROTC unit. "This institution has a particular identity and it's important for us to respect, maintain, and support that," says Yeatts.
Provost Randy Basinger says that the school policy explicitly prohibits on-campus military recruitment and the establishment of an ROTC unit, but there are no specific regulations regarding non-resistance doctrine or military involvement.
Basinger refers to pacifism as a "privilege belief" that is consonant with the identity of the college, but certainly not essential. "That tradition shapes us, but does not generate a set of beliefs and practices that we expect everyone to follow," says Basinger.
Basinger is not aware of any specific policies in place that directly affect the Dickenson ROTC students at Messiah College. He admits that before the Swinging Bridge contacted him, the issue hadn't come up in five years. "I'm interested in allowing diversity without Messiah actually sponsoring the program," says Basinger.
Dr. John Yeatts, Professor of the Psychology of Religion and Associate Dean of General Education and Common Learning, says that "pacifism" is very much a second-order concern within Anabaptist theology, which focuses first and foremost on radical conversion, non-conformity, and following the teachings of Jesus. Yeatts, a lifelong Anabaptist, prefers the term "non-resistance" because it is less politically charged than "pacifism."
Yeatts says that Anabaptists are good citizens who pay their taxes and support their government, but will declare that their first loyalty is to the Kingdom of God, not the United States of America. "I will do whatever my country calls us to do, but if my government asks me to kill someone else, I can't do that," he says.
Yeatts says that it is inappropriate for Anabaptists to serve in the military since they would inevitably be placed in a situation where they would have to kill. However, he does not say that a Christian cannot serve in the military. "Anabaptism is a movement within the larger church calling it to live peacefully," says Yeatts. "I have Christian friends who do not agree with me on this issue."
Yeatts makes the distinction between "being a Christian" and "following Jesus." As Yeatts sees it, one cannot follow Jesus in the Anabaptist sense and serve in the military, but one can be a committed Christian service member.
He says he appreciates the school's ecumenical stance since it allows for a diversity of opinion on this issue.
While he isn't offended by ROTC students on campus, he believes that a college with Anabaptist roots should refrain from sponsoring a ROTC unit. "This institution has a particular identity and it's important for us to respect, maintain, and support that," says Yeatts.
Provost Randy Basinger says that the school policy explicitly prohibits on-campus military recruitment and the establishment of an ROTC unit, but there are no specific regulations regarding non-resistance doctrine or military involvement.
Basinger refers to pacifism as a "privilege belief" that is consonant with the identity of the college, but certainly not essential. "That tradition shapes us, but does not generate a set of beliefs and practices that we expect everyone to follow," says Basinger.
Basinger is not aware of any specific policies in place that directly affect the Dickenson ROTC students at Messiah College. He admits that before the Swinging Bridge contacted him, the issue hadn't come up in five years. "I'm interested in allowing diversity without Messiah actually sponsoring the program," says Basinger.
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