C E N T U R
A quarterly community newsletter published by Centurion’s Guild
For God and Country (in that order) Issue #3 - Spring 2010
Reflection by Kyle Caldwell
After a day of flights and a night
in the heart of Camden, NJ, my
wife and I settled into a quaint
and comfortable bed and
breakfast on the edge of Harlem.
We were there so that I could
attend the Truth Commission on
Conscience in War (TCCW) as a
commissioner. As we headed into
the heart of the city to take in the
sights we stopped for a short
breather in Central Park. I had
stepped away for a minute to
come back to my wife engaged in
conversation with a young
middle-eastern woman. Dawning
the full head scarf in keeping with
Islamic modesty this young girl
was ogling over our two-month
old daughter we had brought
along for the ride. I sat and
watched for a minute, the joy that
filled this woman’s face; in her
eyes, I saw something of a pure
soul so I decided to give her the
best “As-Salāmu `Alaykum” this
Tennessee boy could conjure up.
For some reason this incident is
one of the few moments that
defines the TCCW for me. It was
God’s grace that I got to meet this
woman on the eve of a
conference to discuss conscience
in war. Come to find out it was
Change of Command
I O N S
most appropriate of God to
arrange this short meeting, the
woman and her family were
refugees from the war in Iraq.
They had lived in Baghdad. The
absence of a father on their little
walk in the park was even more
haunting given this revelation,
who knows if he was merely at
work or if he was gone?
Nonetheless, this meeting gave
me a newfound conviction about
my attendance of the TCCW; no
matter how small or large the
crowd, the event, or the outcome,
we must speak against the
senseless wars that are carried out
Executive
Officer Logan
Mehl-Laituri
spoke as a
testifier at the
Truth
Commission
on Conscience
and War. His
testimony can
be found on
YouTube
in our name and on our behalf.
Rewind a few months back to an
article published by an extremely
“right” oriented think tank called
G U I L
“The Institute on Religion and
Democracy.” The author
perceived this commission as
being composed of, “a who’s who
of far-left religious activism.  The
testifiers are mostly a small circle
of embittered veterans and
conspiracy theorists . . .” This
couldn’t have been further from
the truth. Take for example Jake
Diliberto an unashamed
evangelical and politically
conservative Christian who would
combat that notion in a heart-
beat. Or consider the many
commissioners who where Just
War theorists, something I did not
expect outright and was
rather surprised about.
Many times when
someone would dive too
far into pacifism the Just
War Theorists were there
to bridle us back into the
true intent of our
commission, which was a
conversation about the
need for just and equitable
regulations for military
conscientious objectors.
Primarily we were there to
discuss the notion of selective
conscientious objection.
D
Selective conscientious objection
is the idea that a military member
should be able to object to a
certain campaign, war or
operation without having to file
for an administrative discharge. It
is the notion that service men and
women have the right to a vote
and it should be cast not every
four years, but by their
conscience everyday. This is not
some hyper-liberal rhetoric. In
times past we have been warned
by the likes of Presidents Truman
and Kennedy, as well as
Libertarian economists such as
Henry Hazlitt that the number one
stifle of our liberty is the military
industrial complex. War for
money is a vote for oppression,
war tempered by conscience leads
to a more just peace.
This is such a radical notion that I
wonder if our critic   might have
been somewhat frightened by it,
that is if they even read up on our
agenda. I wonder how fearful
they might be of ideas such as the
disbanding of the military after
each war or of a non-
interventionist foreign policy.
(cont’d next page)
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 C E N T U R
(cont’d from page 1) the best events of its kind he
had attended. I asked why
If it is these ideas that they and he replied that it had all
loathe, then they loathe the the right people in attendance
very core ideas behind the at the right time. The Truth
American Revolution in the Commission on Conscience
first place, ideas which in War was just that. It was
should be seen as fair in that it brought diverse
conservative if we are going voices to the table. It was just
to be generous to the term.
in that the testifiers were
former chaplains, Marine
I think the best synopsis of officers, Army Sergeants and
the event came when Shane a mother who lost her son in
Claiborne stated that he Iraq. If these are people that
thought that this was one of
The Imperative of Moral Agency
Conceptual Exploration by Logan Mehl-Laituri
Selective Conscientious
affect others as well as our selves.
Objection (SCO) was at the Moral agency is at the core of
center of many discussions I free will, it is the nucleus of the
either overheard or participated in
liberty molecule, so to speak.
during the TCCW. SCO as a When a person makes a choice
national military policy wouldthat has an injurious effect on
guarantee individual service someone else, it is often
members the right to conscience
considered either a sin or a
in each conflict they are asked to
criminal act. Therefore, a person
serve. That sounds incendiary,exercising moral agency is
given our “volunteer” force, but I
accountable to their actions, since
assure you, it is not. The problem
they had the freedom to choose to
of moral agency sits at the center
commit the act. Someone who is
of the debate that often unfolds
not a moral agent (infants, the
around conversations about faith
mentally impaired, etc.) cannot as
and service. clearly be held accountable, since
their capacity to make informed
We are all moral agents; God decisions has been inhibited.
gave us free will and we make When people make the argument
moral choices everyday that against SCO, the basis is that the
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Social Media: Calling all Saints! If you or someone you
know of needs some
Search ”Centurions
We’d like to hear from peer support, please be
Guild” on these sites:
saintly soldiers in touch with us. We
wrestling between believe in being the
their dueling duties to community in which
God and country. We those sometimes
know how it feels to conflicting allegiances
wonder if anyone else are sorted out. Let us
‘out there’ really be that rallying point if
believes in the crazy you or someone you
enemy-love that Jesus know feels lost or
calls us to. alone.
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I O N S G U I L D
we easily dismiss then in To learn more about the
essence we have already Truth Commission on
dismissed ourselves. The Conscience in War and the
most memorable quote came Guild’s continuing work with
the first night from author that project, go to
Chris Hedges, who said that www.conscienceinwar.org.
“for centuries America has
You can also “Like” the
spoken a language of
commission at
violence to the world, and
www.facebook.com/
now the world is speaking
back to us in our conscience.in.war. Look out
language.” for the final report due on
Martinmas (Nov.11th) this
year. - Ed
enlistee signed a contract, that instinctively obey their superiors
they consciously agreed to be (who assume moral agency &
bound by its terms and have accountability). But when we
forfeited their moral agency. send them to war, we tell them
Does the enlistment contract that they are required to disobey
legitimately inhibit one’s moral unlawful orders (though such a
accountability? thing is nowhere defined in the
Uniform Code of Military
If service members are NOT Justice), which begs the question;
moral agents, they cannot be held how may they discern unlawful
accountable for their actions, orders if they are required to
since they are acting on our disable their cognitive process?
behalf, not having chosen the
action themselves. If, however, We throw our troops under the
they ARE moral agents, they proverbial bus when we ask them
similarly are accountable to their to perform mutually exclusive
actions and bear the full moral tasks. SCO would secure
responsibility of their behavior. freedom of conscience and bring
In boot camp, recruits are told moral clarity to the ambiguity of
they are “not paid to think,” to armed service.
New Novitiate!
Daniel Blain comes to
Centurion’s Guild is an us from Springfield, Connect with others
official co-conspiring MA. He is an Army joining in our
community of reservist currently philanthropic work:
CONSP!RE Magazine! applying for discharge causes.com/
Contact us to get a free as a conscientious centurionspurse
copy and check out objector. You can find
Kyle’s and Logan’s him on Facebook. If
contribution to the you’re interested in
third issue: “Our being a novice yourself,
Common Life” get in touch with us!
Change of Command
 C H
The Pearly Gates
Creative Writing by Daniel Blain
A lone soldier in full battle rattle approaches
the pearly gates of Heaven. He's dirty and
tired and walks with a slight limp. Its clear
from his gaze that he has seen war, the
darkest side of humanity. After years of
struggle and strife, his fight is almost done.
As he draws near the gates, Saint Peter runs
to meet him - "Hello my son! Come, rest
your feet and be at peace at last. We have
your seat at the banquet all prepared!”
As they pass through the gates of Heaven,
the soldier is awed by the beauty and riches
that surround him! There is no more war -
no more struggle. At last this soldier is at
peace.
Change of Command
A N G E O F C O
The soldier follows Saint Peter into the
banquet hall. The air inside is filled with the
long forgotten smells of home cooked food
and sounds of happy laughter. There is no
shortage of provisions here - piles of fresh
fruit, a thousand breads, chicken, beef, pork,
its all there. The soldier has never seen such
a feast of plenty!
As Saint Peter leads him to his seat, the
soldier recognizes fellow soldiers, his
pastor, his family, members of his church
and many people from his neighborhood.
He scans this well known crowd for an
empty seat, but does not find one. Saint
Peter leads him a little further up the table
and indicates an open chair between a
bearded old man and a young Arab.
M M A N D
"This can't be right!" says that soldier, "This
can't be my seat. You must have made a
mistake - see that bearded hippie on the left?
He protested the war, sympathizing with the
enemy! That guy on the right? He refused to
stop at my team’s checkpoint while I was
deployed to Iraq! There must be a mistake,
they shouldn’t be here!”
Saint Peter replies, "Hm, perhaps I did make
a mistake, let's check with God. Follow me"
As the soldier nears the throne, before he
can voice his complaint, a voice thunders
down from above: "My only Son was a
bearded peacenik who taught people to love,
not hate. He was a man from the middle east
who was killed by soldiers from a mighty
western empire! These men knew Me and,
as my children, are entitled to the same
privileges you have."
The soldier was speechless. He returned to
his seat, thinking of what he had just heard.
As he sat down, the bearded old man
reached out his hand - "Welcome home,
friend." The young man on the other side
spoke up - "Welcome my brother - please sit
next to me!"
With some hesitation, the humbled soldier
sat down and grasped the outstretched hand.
He saw no bitterness or hate in the eyes of
his table mates. They sat here as equals, as
fellow children of God. For the first time,
this weary old soldier realized the truth that
he had read so many times - “Blessed are
the peacemakers: for they shall be called the
children of God.” Without another thought,
the soldier smiled and began to fellowship
with his brothers: an old hippie and a young
Arab.
Let us take a lesson from this soldier: In
spite of how much we think we know about
who is going to Heaven, we will likely be
very surprised at who waits for us behind
those pearly gates!
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 C E N T U R I O N S G U I L D

Meet a Centurion
Former Air Force Reservist Zach Cornelius
first in my AFROTC one year topic of peace and violence.  psychological disaster and and follow.  With God’s help I
and second in my class After finishing the last saying fear of future separation will.   
another.   I received many I sincerely felt a weight take would produce in me a state
other awards and finished me from my chair and put me of emotional and mental After years of grueling work
near the top of my class on the floor of my apartment.   paralysis.   By the hand, I and only five months short of
during Officer Training After much prayer, and know, God is leading me out my commission as a Second
School in 2004.  Also in 2003 before I climbed back into of the military, with due Lieutenant, I asked my
From an early age I had two
I began Officer Christian the chair, I promised God that respect to authorities; I will commander to be separated
clear goals: to obtain a four
Fellowship, a bible study for I would study and train for follow God’s lead regardless from the military entirely. 
year college degree and serve
cadets, at my detachment.    war no more.   That night I the cost.  After three months of
in the military.   After
began my Conscientious sleepless nights and many
considering the Army
During Christmas break of Objector (CO) application.    This resolution I have meetings my desire was
Reserves right after high
school graduation I decided 2003 I met two individuals reached is not new nor only finally granted.     I still
instead to follow my older who challenged me to think That night I wrote in my CO mine.   Soldiers throughout remember the exact spot in
brother’s advice (and path) differently.  These two were application: the centuries have come to Cincinnati where I sat on the
by enlisting in the Air Force as devoted to Christian faith believe there is no curb to answer my
Reserve and simultaneously as I thought I was but held a If I continue to partake in justification for destroying Commander’s phone call.  He
enrolling in Air Force completely different position AFROTC which requires the the image of God.   In the told me that I could finally
Reserve Officer Training on violence and military study and training to take decades following Jesus’ separate from the military
Corp (AFROTC) at the involvement.  We had spirited human life my conscience death the decision to join the and do so honorably – I wept.  
University of Cincinnati.    but generous debates that will have no rest.   I must Church rather than return to
continued for two years.    follow my conscience.   To the ranks of Roman Legions I was honorably discharged
For three and a half years I disobey my conscience on cost many their lives.   My in December 2005 from the
was a student at the On the evening of my 21st this matter unequivocally Lord has given me an order:  Air Force Reserve.
University of Cincinnati as birthday in 2005 I read a points to death.   This to study and train for war no
well as a cadet in AFROTC.  collection of sayings from spiritual separation from God more and to take up the cross
During this time I finished early church leaders on this would leave me a

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Contact:
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mutually exclusive, but it has become clear to us that sometimes when you have
given your very life God your life, there is rarely much left for Caesar. Our little Logan Mehl-Laituri - Army Veteran
parenthetical reminder hopefully serves to remind our indivisible nation that to be Zach Cornelius - Former Air Force Reservist
under God is to subordinate our pledges and allegiances to our baptism, that Kyle Caldwell - Marine Veteran
sometimes to pick up our Cross is to lay down our swords. James Tarter - Ohio National Guardsman
Daniel Blain - Army Reservist

4 Change of Command