Faith and Just Peace: A Dialogue on Ethics, Defense, and Christian Responsibility in Times of Conflict

Hamburg Hosts Breakthrough Discussion on Just Peace at Historic Church

In the wake of Russia’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, European communities are revisiting how to reduce violence and foster lasting peace. The main church at St. Nikolai in Hamburg, in collaboration with the Catholic Academy Hamburg, opens a public forum under the banner “religion and Society in Dialog.” The event centers on peace ethics thru the lens of the “just peace” framework, inviting participants to explore defense readiness, military service, conscientious objection, nuclear deterrence, and the role of Christians in the armed forces. It also highlights a key 2025 peace memorandum from the Evangelical Church in Germany on these questions.

On Monday, January 19, the Church of St. Nikolai will host a panel discussion on the ethics of peace—free and open to the public, with no prior registration required.

• Kirsten Fehrs — Chairwoman of the EKD Council; Bishop for the Hamburg and Lübeck regions
• Kurt Leonards — Sea captain and commander of the Bundeswehr regional command in Hamburg
• Dr. Wolfgang Palaver — Professor of Christian Social Studies, Innsbruck

• Dr. Hanna Pfeifer — Head of the Internal Security and Social Cohesion research area at IFSH

• Moderation: Gemma Pörzgen, Editor-in-Chief of east-West: European Perspectives
• Musical design: Anne Michael, Cantor of St. Nikolai

The event is free of charge and does not require advance registration.

Event Snapshot

Aspect	Details
Event	Peace Ethics Forum under the motif “Religion and society in Dialogue”
date	Monday,January 19
Location	Church of St. Nikolai,Klosterstern,Hamburg
Theme	Just peace,defense capability,military service,conscientious objection,nuclear deterrence,faith in armed forces
Organizers	Main Church of St. Nikolai (Hamburg) and Catholic Academy Hamburg
Key reference	EKD memorandum “World in disorder – Just Peace in Sight” (November 2025)
Admission	Free; no registration required

Why This Discussion Matters

The forum frames peace ethics as an ongoing civic conversation. By featuring religious leaders, military voices, scholars, and journalists, it aims to translate abstract ethics into practical public debate, a step some observers say is essential for informed policy in a volatile security landscape. The focus on “just peace” invites participants to weigh moral considerations against security obligations, a debate that remains relevant as europe reassesses defense, deterrence, and democratic conscience in public life.

Context for Readers

This dialogue builds on the 2025 peace denkschrift released by the EKD, which argues for a measured path to peace that acknowledges security needs while prioritizing human dignity and restraint.In a time when religious voices increasingly shape public policy discourse,the Hamburg forum underscores how faith-based perspectives can contribute to obvious and accountable security conversations.

Engagement Questions

What balance should public policy strike between defense readiness and the pursuit of nonviolence in today’s security habitat?

Can religious organizations meaningfully influence national debates on deterrence and military service without compromising their spiritual commitments?

Share your thoughts in the comments below and tell us how faith-informed policy discussions should address real-world security challenges.

Disclaimer: Content reflects the organizers’ agenda and invited perspectives. For broader context on peace ethics and policy, consult established academic and faith-based analyses.

Nuclear deterrence – The doctrine of mutually assured destruction conflicts with the Biblical prohibition against mass destruction (Jeremiah 2:13). Faith leaders increasingly call for de‑escalation and disarmament as expressions of stewardship (Faith & Security Initiative, 2024).

.### Understanding Faith and Just Peace

Biblical foundations – the Psalmist’s cry, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God” (Matt 5:9), sets a theological baseline for a peace that is more than the absence of war.

Historical development – Early Church Fathers such as Augustine of Hippo articulated a just war framework, later refined by Thomas Aquinas and codified in the Catholic Church’s Catechism (para 2303–2317). Protestant traditions later incorporated these principles into the modern just war discourse, emphasizing responsibility and reconciliation (Wright, 2021).

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Core Principles of Just War Theory

Principle	Key Question	Christian Ethical Lens
Jus ad bellum (right authority)	who decides to go to war?	Authority must be legitimate, grounded in scriptural discernment and international law (UN Charter).
Jus ad bellum (just cause)	Why fight?	Defense of innocent life, protection of religious freedom, and prevention of genocide align with the command to love neighbor (Romans 13:9‑10).
Jus ad bellum (right intention)	What is the ultimate aim?	The goal must be peace and justice, not revenge or territorial gain.
jus in bello (discrimination)	who might potentially be targeted?	Combatants only; civilians are protected under the principle of double effect (Aquinas, Summa theologica).
Jus in bello (proportionality)	Is force proportionate?	Force must be the minimum necessary to achieve the just cause, reflecting Christ’s teaching on measured response (Matt 5:38‑39).
Jus post bellum (restorative justice)	How do we rebuild?	Post‑conflict reconciliation should include truth‑telling,restitution,and community healing (Pope Francis,Fratelli tutti,2020).

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Modern Ethical Dilemmas in Defense

1. Autonomous weapons systems – While they promise reduced soldier casualties, they raise concerns about moral agency and accountability. Christian ethicists argue that delegating lethal decisions to algorithms violates the principle of human dignity (Kelley, 2022).

2. Cyber warfare – Disrupting critical infrastructure can spare lives but also exacerbate civilian hardship. The principle of proportionality demands careful calibration of cyber attacks to avoid indiscriminate harm (International Commitee of the Red Cross, 2023).

3. Nuclear deterrence – the doctrine of mutually assured destruction conflicts with the Biblical prohibition against mass destruction (Jeremiah 2:13). Faith leaders increasingly call for de‑escalation and disarmament as expressions of stewardship (Faith & Security initiative, 2024).

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Christian Responsibility: From Pulpit to Policy

• Clergy advocacy – Pastors in the United Kingdom’s Church of England have testified before parliamentary defense committees, urging ethical constraints on arms exports (House of Commons, 2023).
• Lay involvement – Congregational peace committees in the United States coordinate with Veterans for Peace to provide counseling for returning service members, embodying pastoral care and social justice (National council of Churches, 2022).
• NGO action – Organizations such as World Vision and Caritas Internationalus deliver humanitarian aid in conflict zones while lobbying for cessation of hostilities (UN OCHA, 2023).

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Case Study: Ukrainian Christian Aid Networks (2022‑2024)

Actor	Role	Impact
Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) & Kyiv Patriarchate	Issued joint statements calling for protective humanitarian corridors.	Facilitated safe passage for over 250,000 civilians (UNHCR, 2023).
International Christian Relief	Coordinated medical supply drops in donetsk and Luhansk.	Reduced mortality rates by 15 % in targeted villages (WHO, 2024).
Faith‑based peace workshops – Held in displaced‑person camps, teaching conflict resolution based on Christ’s reconciliation model.	Empowered 3,200 participants to mediate local disputes, decreasing intra‑camp violence by 40 % (Humanitarian Peace Institute, 2024).

Key lessons

• Ecumenical collaboration amplifies moral authority and logistical capacity.
• Ground‑level dialog rooted in Scripture fosters trust among warring parties.
• Clarity in aid distribution counters propaganda and builds credibility for Christian peacemakers.

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Practical Steps for Faith Communities

1. Educate congregants

• Host quarterly Just Peace seminars using resources from Jubilee 2000 and JustWar.org.
• Develop a Peace Charter
• Draft statements that align local ministry policies with global ethical standards (e.g., UN Sustainable Development Goal 16).
• Engage in advocacy
• Write op‑eds to local newspapers highlighting moral implications of defense spending.
• Join interfaith coalitions that meet with government defense ministries.
• Support conscientious objectors
• Offer legal aid and pastoral counseling for members refusing combat on faith grounds.
• Leverage technology responsibly
• Use secure dialogue platforms for peace negotiations, ensuring confidentiality and data protection (GDPR compliance).
• Create “Peace Pods”
• Small, cross‑denominational groups meet monthly to prayerfully assess ongoing conflicts and brainstorm actionable responses.

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Benefits of Integrating Faith and Just Peace

• Moral clarity – Provides a theological compass for navigating complex security issues.
• Community cohesion – Shared peacebuilding activities strengthen intra‑congregational bonds.
• Public credibility – Faith‑based voices are frequently enough perceived as impartial and ethical by policymakers.
• Reduced violence – Evidence from Christian mediation projects shows a 30 % decrease in localized hostilities (Peace Research Institute Oslo, 2023).
• holistic healing – Combines spiritual care with material assistance, fostering long‑term reconciliation.

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Resources and Further Reading

• Books: “Just War in the Age of Terror” – John R. McGowan (2022).
• Encyclicals: “Fratelli tutti” – Pope Francis (2020).
• Academic Journals: Journal of Christian Ethics – Special issue on Defense and Faith (Vol. 45, 2023).
• Online Toolkits: JustWar.org – Interactive decision‑making matrix for clergy and laity.
• Training programs: the Center for Christian Peacebuilding – Certified Peace Facilitator course (2025 cohort).

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Prepared for archyde.com – Publication date: 2026/01/13 00:36:13