World Evangelical Alliance announces formation of new
Global Task Force on Nuclear Weapons;
Calls for task force members

      Though nuclear weapons may seem to many like a danger from the last century, the legacy of the Cold War haunts our young millennium. More than 20,000 nuclear weapons still exist in the stockpiles of nine nations (Russia, US, China, UK, France, India, Pakistan, Israel, and North Korea), 95% of which belong to the US and Russia. The threat of increased nuclear proliferation exacerbates regional conflicts in Asia and the Middle East. And nuclear technology remains the holy grail of non-state groups who use terrorism as a tactic of war in an era of global powers.

      The foreign policy establishment is increasingly raising the alarm that a world where nuclear weapons indefinitely exist is a world in which nuclear weapons will inevitably be used. Perilously few people, however, comprehend the magnitude of the danger presented by nuclear weapons. An annihilating exchange between nuclear superpowers has become less likely. But even a single nuclear terrorist attack in a major city would have devastating financial consequences worldwide. And new studies reveal that a limited nuclear war between regional rivals like India and Pakistan could have famine-inducing climatic effects touching a billion people around the world.

      Though concern about the nuclear danger need not be theological, the comprehensive effects of a potential nuclear attack—spiritual, evangelistic, moral, physical, financial—must be a particular concern for disciples of Jesus Christ, and especially those dedicated to the global spread of the gospel.

GLOBAL TASK FORCE ON NUCLEAR WEAPONS

      Toward this end, the World Evangelical Alliance, representing 600 million Evangelical Christians worldwide, is glad to announce the formation of a Global Task Force on Nuclear Weapons, and to call for the application of interested individuals to serve on the Task Force. The Rev. Tyler Wigg-Stevenson, an American Baptist minister with expertise in the theology and ethics of post-Cold War nuclear weapons policy, will serve as Chairman of the Task Force.

      The Task Force, comprised of 10-15 members, and representing each of the WEA’s seven regional bodies, will exist indefinitely and have the following three-fold mandate:

  1. Formulate and proclaim on behalf of the WEA a biblically grounded, theologically sound position regarding nuclear weapons in the second nuclear age (post-Cold War).
  2. Inform the global body of Christ about this position, and equip the church to act on it, with special emphasis on the 600 million Evangelicals worldwide.
  3. Open and engage church-based channels for Track II diplomacy to address and reduce the nuclear threat.

Task Force members will commit to:

  • Collaborate with other Task Force members from their geographic region to research and produce a short paper summarizing the particular perspective(s) on nuclear weapons of Evangelicals in that region. (Summer 2011)
  • Contribute to and review the Task Force position paper, summarizing the Evangelical analysis of nuclear weapons and presenting the synthesis of regional perspectives. (By December 2011)
  • Serve at least one year on the Task Force.
  • Communicate regularly with other Task Force members via email, and via telephone/Skype as needed.
  • Uphold and advance the values and theological commitments of the World Evangelical Alliance through the work of the Task Force.

TO APPLY

      Individual applications as well as recommendations are welcome. Interested parties should send a letter of introduction and a curriculum vitae to Task Force Chairman, Tyler Wigg-Stevenson (tyler@twofuturesproject.org), expressing their particular interest in the Task Force and any relevant background knowledge/experience. Task Force members will be selected by Rev. Wigg-Stevenson and Dr. Geoff Tunnicliffe, CEO of the World Evangelical Alliance.

      For additional information, please see “The world threat of nuclear weapons, and the church’s role” in the Evangelical Review of Theology (vol. 34, no. 3, July 2010), pp 273-278 or contact Tyler Wigg-Stevenson (tyler@twofuturesproject.org).

ABOUT THE WORLD EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE

      The World Evangelical Alliance is a global ministry working with local churches around the world to join in common concern to live and proclaim the Good News of Jesus in their communities. WEA is a network of churches in 128 nations that have each formed an Evangelical alliance and over 100 international organizations joining together to give a worldwide identity, voice and platform to more than 600 million Evangelical Christians. Seeking holiness, justice and renewal at every level of society—individual, family, community and culture, God is glorified and the nations of the earth are forever transformed. (http://worldevangelicals.org)