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BY MELISSA LAUBER
UMCONNECTION STAFF

The United States will not dissuade other nations from eliminating nuclear weapons if it is not willing to practice what it preaches, Bishop John R. Schol told government leaders at a U.S. Department of Energy hearing Dec. 14.

'We believe that the United States must lead the world to eliminate nuclear weapons, not in building new ones, as is proposed in the Complex 2030 proposal. We cannot urge other nations not to build nuclear weapons and then proceed to spend $150 billion on our own nuclear weapons,' said Schol, the Episcopal leader of the Washington region.

Schol?s comments were part of a hearing on the National Nuclear Security Administration?s Complex 2030 proposal, a costly program for rebuilding the nation?s 50-year-old nuclear facilities where the weapons are assembled and dissembled.

'The question is whether heightening and concentrating our nation?s nuclear arsenal will cause a reduction in nuclear weapons throughout the world or result in creating fear within other nations, their fear compelling them to develop or expand their nuclear capacity. We believe that if we implement the Complex 2030 proposal we will increase the likelihood of increasing nuclear proliferation and the possibility of nuclear war,' said Schol.

The bishops of The United Methodist Church have been longtime opponents of nuclear armaments and the denomination takes a stance 'advocating the elimination of all nuclear weapons throughout the globe.'

Public Comments to the Energy Department on the
Supplement to the Stockpile Stewardship and
Management Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement
Complex 2030

John R. Schol, Bishop of Washington Episcopal Area
The United Methodist Church

'No one wants nuclear weapons to be used ever again. No one wants nuclear war.

In 1986 the Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church issued a pastoral letter entitled 'In Defense of Creation,' in which we said 'a clear unconditioned NO to nuclear war and to any use of nuclear weapons.' I do not believe anyone here would disagree.

One of the questions before you, I believe, is whether the Complex 2030 proposal to renew, concentrate and enhance our nation?s nuclear weapons system will make the use of nuclear weapons more or less likely.

The question is whether heightening and concentrating our nation?s nuclear arsenal will cause a reduction in nuclear weapons throughout the world or result in creating fear within other nations, their fear compelling them to develop or expand their nuclear capacity. We believe that if we implement the Complex 2030 proposal we will increase the likelihood of increasing nuclear proliferation and the possibility of nuclear war.

It is a basic truth that no one can, with integrity, preach one thing and practice something else. If the United States is to advocate the reduction of nuclear weaponry by other nations, we must lead by example.

We believe that the United States must lead the world to eliminate nuclear weapons, not in building new ones as is proposed in the Complex 2030 proposal. We cannot urge other nations not to build nuclear weapons and then proceed to spend $150 billion on our own nuclear weapons complex.

We believe that President Bush?s 2004 directive that the size of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile be reduced by nearly 50 percent by 2012 represents a better vision for our nation?s future. This is the kind of future for our nation and world we should be envisioning ? one in which nuclear weaponry is reduced and eventually banned. Recent studies have indicated that Complex 2030 is NOT needed to achieve President Bush?s directive.

Our government should join other nations to reinvigorate the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty signed by 180 non-nuclear countries who promised to forego nuclear weapons provided the nuclear powers abolish theirs. And we believe the billions proposed to be spent on Complex 2030 should be reallocated for effective programs to overcome poverty here in the U.S. and abroad.

The prophet Isaiah said on behalf of God: 'Seek the shalom (unity, welfare, peace) of the community where I have sent you, for in its shalom, you will find your shalom (Jeremiah 29:7). May we not make the mistake of supposing that peace in our world will ultimately be achieved by fear and nuclear capacity for overkill. It will come as the fruit of working for justice, reducing the threat of nuclear war and not building Complex 2030.

Those who wish to indicate their opposition to Complex 2030 can send an e-mail by Jan. 17 to .gov.