We, military professionals and religious leaders, have been brought together by a common conviction.

We deeply believe that the long-term reliance on nuclear weapons in the arsenals of the nuclear powers, and the ever-present danger of their acquisition by others, is morally untenable and militarily unjustifiable. They constitute a threat to the security of our nation, a peril to world peace, a danger to the whole human family.

Historically, military and religious leaders have not always been in agreement on these issues, but now a consensus is emerging. National security imperatives and ethical demands have converged to bring us to the necessity of outlawing and prohibiting nuclear weapons worldwide.

In the 1970s and 1980s, religious leaders of many faiths addressed the morality of nuclear weapon policies, expressed their concerns about the destruction of human life and the environment, and called for steps toward nuclear disarmament. It was difficult to envision a world free of the nuclear menace, however, in that dark time of belligerent confrontation and mistrust between two superpowers and their respective allies.

A decade later, generals and admirals from many nations addressed this still-urgent matter of nuclear weapons from a military perspective. They urged a fundamental shift away from reliance upon these weapons in light of the world's changed circumstances in the wake of the Cold War's end. They advocated that nuclear weapons be taken off hair-trigger alert poised to launch at a moment's notice, that swift and deep reductions in nuclear arsenals be made, and that these steps be taken within the framework of an unequivocal commitment to the achievement of their universal, verifiable, enforceable outlawing and prohibition.

These warnings are yet to be heeded, these proposals are yet to be embraced.

This is the situation today despite two truths: first, that the most commonly postulated threats to our national security are not susceptible to nuclear deterrence; second, that our nation's efforts to provide effective leadership in opposing the growing threat of nuclear proliferation will be credible only if our policies and those of the other nuclear powers demonstrate a commitment to the universal outlawing of these weapons.

We also believe that reliance on a nuclear deterrent in the long run calls into question our stewardship of God's creation. In the short run, effective diplomacy may well require reciprocal and phased reduction of nuclear weapons over some period of years. While we have a variety of perspectives on the language and ethics of nuclear deterrence, none of us would support any role for nuclear weapons except possibly to deter the use of nuclear weapons by others.

And so it is that we now come together to bear witness anew: it is past time for a great national and international discussion and examination of the true and full implications of reliance on nuclear weapons, to be followed by action leading to the international prohibition of these weapons.

We say that a peace based on terror, a peace based upon threats of inflicting annihilation and genocide upon whole populations, is a peace that is corrupting, a peace that is unworthy of civilization.

We say that it defies all logic to believe that nuclear weapons can exist forever and never be used.

The opportunity is at hand to do away with this danger, to do away with our capacity for self-destruction.

When the atom was split, Albert Einstein warned that if the bomb was developed further, and ever used all out, the human race could be exterminated. Every individual is endangered. This nuclear predicament is untenable in the face of a faith in the divine and unacceptable in terms of sound military doctrine.

We know that the responsibility for banning nuclear weapons does not lie solely with the government of the United States and its citizens. It is a responsibility shared by all sovereign states and sovereign individuals everywhere.

But as the creator of these weapons and the preeminent military power in the world, the United States and its people bear a special obligation, and have a unique opportunity to lead the way.

We call upon our own country to do so.

We call upon our political and military leaders, our faith communities, and all concerned citizens to mobilize in support of this noble cause.

Signatories: Military Professionals and Religious Leaders

The following religious leaders have endorsed the statement as of June 2000:

The Reverend Dr. H. George Anderson, Presiding Bishop, The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

The Reverend Dr. John A. Buehrens, President, Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations

Archbishop Demetrios, Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church in America

The Reverend Bob Edgar, General Secretary, National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA

The Reverend Wesley Granberg-Michaelson, General Secretary, Reformed Church in America

The Most Reverend Frank T. Griswold, III, Presiding Bishop, The Episcopal Church

The Reverend R. Burke Johnson, President, Moravian Church in America, Northern Province

Shaykh Muhammad Hisham Kabbani, Chairman, Islamic Supreme Council of America

The Reverend Clifton Kirkpatrick, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

Rabbi Charles A. Kroloff, President, Central Conference of American Rabbis

Rabbi Vernon Kurtz, President, The Rabbinical Assembly

Bishop William B. Oden, President, Council of Bishops, The United Methodist Church

The Reverend Judy Mills Reimer, Executive Director, Church of the Brethren, General Board

Rabbi David Saperstein, Director and Counsel, Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism

The Reverend Dr. Robert E. Sawyer, President, Moravian Church in America, Southern Province

Monsignor Dennis M. Schnurr, General Secretary, U.S. Catholic Conference

Dr. Muzammil H. Siddiqi, President, The Islamic Society of North America

Metropolitan Theodosius, Primate, Orthodox Church in America

The Reverend John H. Thomas, President, United Church of Christ

The Reverend Jim Wallis, Editor-in-Chief, Sojourners

The Reverend Dr. Daniel E. Weiss, General Secretary, American Baptist Churches USA

The following military professionals have endorsed the statement as of June 2000:

Lt. General Julius Becton, USA (Ret.)

Brigadier General Homer Boushey, USAF (Ret.)

Brigadier General Dallas Brown, Jr., USA (Ret.)

Major General William F. Burns, USA (Ret.)

Rear Admiral Eugene J. Carroll, Jr., USN (Ret.)

Lt. Gen. John H. Cushman, USA (Ret.)

Lt. General Robert G. Gard, USA (Ret.)

Admiral Noel Gayler, USN (Ret.)

General Charles A. Horner, USAF (Ret.)

Rear Admiral Robert G. James, USN (Ret.)

Chaplain (Major General) Kermit D. Johnson, USA (Ret.)

Major General Jack Kidd, USAF (Ret.)

General Robert C. Kingston, USA (Ret.)

Rear Admiral Eugene LaRocque, USN (Ret.)

Admiral Stephen T. Quigley, USN (Ret.)

Vice Admiral John J. Shanahan, USN (Ret.)

Admiral Stansfield Turner, USN (Ret.)

Vice Admiral James B. Wilson, USN (Ret.)