SOME THOUGHTS ON CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE
The Revd Canon Daniel S. Weir

My mother used to tell the story of the day that two men visited the college library where she worked. It was during the Viet Nam war and the colleague who told Mother about her visitors was pretty sure they weren't members of the college community. The dark suits, white shirts and dark ties were not the normal dress for professors or students. Mother assumed that she knew why they were there, and when she approached them she said, "You're from the IRS and want to talk about my unpaid taxes." One of them replied, "No, Mrs. Weir, we're from the FBI and we're looking for your son, Daniel."

Both Mother and I were engaged in civil disobedience during the Viet Nam war. She was a tax resister, refusing to pay that portion of her federal income taxes that supported the war effort. I was a draft resister, refusing to report for alternative service as a conscientious objector. Both of us knew that our actions were illegal and that we could end up in prison. (My actions actually weren't illegal, since the draft board's order to report had been issued in violation of its own rules, but we didn't know that then.)

I remember this story each time I hear of an Episcopal diocese or congregation that has decided or is considering withholding support from the wider church. I remember the story because I hear echoes of the arguments of the Viet Nam war era in the arguments for withholding support. Aren't these conscientious Episcopalians protesting in the same way my mother did more than thirty years ago?

Yes and no.

Yes, my sisters and brothers who are angered and hurt by the decisions of last year's general Convention are taking a stand of conscience by withholding financial support, just as Mother did.

But, no, unlike my mother, they risk little by their actions. In fact, they gain freedom to use the money they withhold for whatever projects or ministries that suit their fancies. Unlike the IRS, the wider church doesn't have the power to seize money from the bank accounts of those congregations and dioceses.

One of the marks of civil disobedience, and I would classify the withholding of support as a form of civil disobedience, is a willingness to take whatever punishment there may be. I risked a five to ten year prison term for draft resistance. What are those who object to the actions of General Convention willing to risk for conscience's sake?