On Sunday, March 21, 2010, a diverse coalition of veterans, scholars, and faith leaders will hold a public hearing for the Truth Commission on Conscience in War, bringing the public an opportunity for lament and interfaith dialogue on moral conscience in the military. Testifiers will offer their stories and expert testimonies on the issues of conscience facing U.S. service members in war and a group of commissioners will reflect on their contributions in order to promote further dialogue and advocacy.

The public hearing of the Truth Commission will open up a national interfaith dialogue on the moral decisions that each military service member faces. Held at the historic Riverside Church in New York City, the public hearing begins at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday and is free and open to the public.

As a student of ethics (I’m currently working on a doctorate in ethics and social theory at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, CA), something has often scared me away from addressing issues related to war. What has kept me from examining the moral terrain of war in a time of war, especially when staying relevant to current community struggles has been such a priority for me? Perhaps, the complexity of the tensions between pacifism and just war traditions or between peace movements and those in military service made the topic feel too unapproachable. This reason for my reluctance is significant; however, I cannot deny my persistent fear of facing the atrocities inflicted by war, including the “hidden casualties” of military suicides. I expect I am not alone in feeling overwhelmed by the scale and intensity of war’s violence.

Invited to be a Commissioner for the Truth Commission on Conscience in War by my professors, Rev. Dr. Rita Nakashima Brock and Rev. Dr. Gabriella Lettini, I have the opportunity to be part of breaking the silence (including my own) on the role of conscience in war. As the rate of potential soldier suicides increases and mainstream media continues to obfuscate the personal and communal costs of war, the act of bearing witness as a person of faith becomes a more pressing task.