‘Members of CCADD believe that Christianity has a part to play in the debate about peace and security in today’s world.’

AIMS, OBJECTIVES and HISTORY

1)  Aims and Objectives

Members of the Christian church have long held widely differing views on the use of military force.  This is still true today.  Many believe that the use, or threat, of military force has played a necessary part in the search for peace.  Others hold that military force is contrary to the Christian message of non-violence.

CCADD brings these various views into dialogue with each other and with those of other faiths or none.  It provides a forum for expert debate and channels for dissemination of ideas and knowledge, and offers the chance to talk to established specialists on many key sources of conflict.

The focus is on contemporary issues, the key areas of which are:
Just war. Terrorism and its tributaries: ethnic and religious sectarianism, jihadism. Nuclear weapons and the ethics of deterrence; nuclear global treaty obligations the replacement of the UK Trident; steps on the way to nuclear disarmament.

Others are:

  • Biological and chemical weapons developments, the arms race in space.
  • Conventional arms control and the elimination of inhumane weapons.
  • The arms trade.
  • The role of the United Nations and its various agencies.
  • The role of the International Criminal Court and International Court of Justice.
  • The Geneva Conventions, ‘unlawful combatants’, use of torture etc.
  • The role of individual conscience, legal and illegal orders and whistle blowing.
  • Climate change, environmental and other long-term causes of conflict.

 

2)  History of CCADD

In the Beginning - Robert A. Gessert

 

3)  Recent Events

A debate on Trident

Lord Robertson, former Secretary General of NATO, debated with Dr Rebecca Johnson, Director of the Acronym Institute for Disarmament Diplomacy, whether Trident should be replaced in the Great Hall of Kings's College on Tuesday 27 March. Lord Harries, President of CCADD, chaired the debate. After a lively discussion, with many participants from the floor, the motion was narrowly carried by a show of hands.

The debate was jointly hosted by the Council on Christian Approaches to Defence and Disarmament and the Department of War Studies.

You can see photos and hear an audio recording of the debate under "Reports of Meetings".