Military Counseling Network The Military Counseling Network is a non profit, non military organization that provides free information and help regarding military discharges and military regulations.

HÖCHST i.O., Germany – The Evangelical Association for the Pastoral Care of Conscientious Objectors (Evangelische Arbeitsgemeinschaft zur Betreuung der Kriegsdienstverweigerer - EAK) recently recognized the Military Counseling Network as a 2008 recipient of the Friedrich Siegmund-Schulze Award for Nonviolent Action.

The €3,000 prize was awarded Sept. 24 at EAK’s assembly meeting at the Höchst Monastery in Höchst in Odenwald near Darmstadt.

National EAK chairman Walter Herrenbrück noted that, while the road to conscientious objector status in Germany is easily travelled, in other nations such recognition is more difficult.

“The promotion of the fundamental right of conscientious objection is still indispensable,” he said. “This freedom must be preserved.”

MCN was recognized based on its efforts to support and assist U.S. Military conscientious objectors obtain honorable discharges. The organization assists roughly 100 U.S. Military servicemembers annually in a wide area of fields, also including family and medical hardships.

Former MCN director Michael Sharp acknowledged some could find it unusual that a historic peace church such as the Mennonites would work so intimately with professional soldiers.

“Jesus taught and lived a revolutionary idea,” said MCN counselor Michael J. Sharp. “No one is so far away, that they are not here with us. No matter what, they remain our neighbor.

“... For Jesus it was irrelevant whether people were prostitutes, thieves, or Roman soldiers,” he continued. “They all could experience transformation.”

MCN is a project of the German Mennonite Peace Committee. Committee director James Jakob Fehr noted the significance of such recognition from outside the Mennonite community.

“The German Mennonite Peace Committee is very excited about this prize for MCN,” said Fehr. “MCN has a well-earned reputation for caring about and helping soldiers. We are proud to be associated with their work and extend our congratulations, as well.”

At the ceremony, EAK also recognized the Village of Friendship in Vietnam. Founded in 1998 by former United States soldier George Mizo, the village works to rehabilitate victims of the Vietnam War and pursues reconciliation, understanding, and social work projects with a focus on those handicapped by war.

The award – named for the 20^th Century Protestant German pastor, teacher and theologian who proved influential in ecumenical and social causes – has been given six times in the last 14 years, most recently to London-based War Resisters’ International in 2004 for its work assisting conscientious objectors around the world.