RESOLUTION ON CAPITAL PUNISHMENT

Reformed Church in America, adopted by the General Synod of 1965.

That in light of the following reasons this General Synod go on record as opposing the retention of capital punishment as an instrument of justice within our several states, encouraging forward looking study in all areas related to criminology; supporting all efforts to improve our penal institutions, crime prevention agencies and policy procedures, and efforts being made to secure provision of adequate staff and budget for prisons, parole boards and similar institutions:

1. Capital punishment is incompatible with the spirit of Christ and the ethic of love.

2. Capital punishment is of doubtful value as a deterrent.

3. Capital punishment results in inequities in application.

4. Capital punishment is a method to irremediable mistakes.

5. Capital punishment ignores corporate and community guilt.

6. Capital punishment perpetuates the concepts of vengeance and retaliation.

7. Capital punishment ignores the entire concept of rehabilitation. The Christian faith should be concerned not with retribution, but with redemption.

Reformed Church in America

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