News

Churches issue briefing on the future of Trident

June 16 , 2006

Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI) today released a briefing on decisions that will need to be taken on the future of Britain’s nuclear weapons systems. It can be downloaded from the CTBI website.

“Trident: UK nuclear weapons at a crossroads” has been prepared in the context of the Government’s statement that a decision on the future of Trident may need to be taken in the lifetime of this current Parliament.  This decision could well set the direction for the UK’s nuclear defence for several decades.

The government has encouraged a national debate on the future of the Trident nuclear weapons system and the Churches have universally welcomed this. The briefing acknowledges that the issues around Trident or its possible replacement need careful examination.

The briefing does not promote a particular position and does not seek to represent the views of all the member Churches of CTBI. It was written by a working party of some member Churches of CTBI following a discussion at the Church Representatives' Meeting held by CTBI in November 2005. It will be downloadable from www.ctbi.org.uk

The Revd Bob Fyffe, general secretary of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland said ‘Over the past thirty years the Churches in the UK have grappled with questions regarding nuclear weapons.  There are differing views and we live in a changing world so the debate never stands still.  We must look at this question afresh and make known our views.’

He added: ‘Many would view the future of Trident as not purely a political or military decision but one with strong moral and ethical dimensions. The Churches therefore invite everyone to consider these issues with care.  This briefing aims to assist people in Churches in the UK to do some tough moral thinking.’

The briefing sets out the background to the debate: facts and figures on existing nuclear weapons; why the debate is needed now; the Churches’ call for transparency in the debate; the UK’s role as a state party to the 1968 nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and a section outlining issues, arguments and analysis, including international law, changes in the world political context since Trident was initially commissioned and the financial costs of developing, replacing, staffing and maintaining a replacement for Trident. Not every Church has taken a position on nuclear weapons but the briefing outlines some Church statements and a range of views.

The briefing includes questions to stimulate debate, action points for Churches to follow up plus resources for information.

The briefing suggests that the Churches can:

• Help congregations to make sense of the issue and respond accordingly.
• Provide opportunity for prayer and reflection on these issues within liturgy, worship and study groups.
• Write to members of Parliament asking them to use every opportunity to influence the Government in the House of Lords or Commons.
• Make submissions to the House of Commons Defence Committee and engage with Parliament as this topic is debated.