The Acts of Convention

House of Deputies

The House of Deputies Committee on National and International Concerns presented its Report #19 on Resolution A017 (Monitor the Use and Ethics of Drone Warfare) and moved adoption with amendment.

Original Text of Resolution

(A017)

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 77th General Convention bears witness to the increased use of unmanned aerial vehicles, or “drones,” by the United States in war zones as well as disputed areas of conflict for surveillance and weaponized attacks; and be it further

Resolved, That the General Convention acknowledges that the stated purpose of drone attacks against suspected terrorists raises both legal and moral questions. Legally, the use of armed drones to conduct targeted killings of alleged militants may contravene international legal standards and United States policy against extrajudicial killings. Morally, drone attacks have also led to the tragic loss of innocent civilian lives, raising concerns about the distant and dehumanizing administration of these weapons systems; and be it further

Resolved, That the General Convention expresses concern about the rapid growth of this technology without sufficient public dialogue and without clear international conventions to regulate this emergent technology of war, including its relation to prohibitions against the preventive first use of aggressive military force; and urges the President of the United States and his Administration to provide transparent accounting for the use of surveillance and combat drones; and be it further

Resolved, That the General Convention encourages the Suffragan Bishop for Federal Ministries to provide chaplaincy services to members of the military involved in the operation of drones; and be it further

Resolved, That the General Convention urges the Standing Commission on Anglican and International Peace with Justice Concerns, in collaboration with the Committee on Science, Technology, and Faith of Executive Council, to collaborate to monitor the continued use of drones, weigh their ethical implications, and prepare a report for the 78th General Convention with recommendations for governmental leaders and military commanders concerning their use.

Committee Amendment

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 77th General Convention bears witness to the increased use of unmanned aerial vehicles remotely piloted aircraft, or “drones,” by the United States in war zones as well as disputed areas of conflict military and intelligence agencies for surveillance and weaponized attacks; and be it further

Resolved, That the General Convention acknowledges that the stated purpose of drone attacks against suspected terrorists raises both legal and moral questions. Legally, the use of armed drones to conduct targeted killings of alleged militants may contravene international legal standards and United States policy against extrajudicial killings. Morally, drone attacks have also led to the tragic loss of innocent civilian lives, raising concerns about the distant and dehumanizing administration of these weapons systems; and are it further

Resolved, That the General Convention expresses concern about the rapid growth of this technology without sufficient public dialogue and without clear international conventions to regulate this emergent technology of war, including its relation to prohibitions against the preventive first use of aggressive military force; and urges the President of the United States and his Administration to provide transparent accounting for the use of surveillance and combat drones; and be it further

Resolved, That the General Convention encourages commend the Bishop Suffragan Bishop for Armed Services and Federal Ministries to provide for the provision of chaplaincy services to members of the military involved in the operation of drones remotely piloted aircraft; and be it further

Resolved, That the General Convention urges the Standing Commission on Anglican and International Peace with Justice Concerns, in collaboration with the Bishop Suffragan for Armed Services and Federal Ministries and the Committee on Science, Technology, and Faith of Executive Council, to collaborate to monitor the continued use of drones remotely piloted aircraft, weigh evaluate their ethical implications, and prepare a report for the 78th General Convention with recommendations for governmental leaders and military commanders concerning their use.

Motion carried

Resolution adopted with amendment

(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #141)