Attention church leaders

              ATTENTION CHURCH LEADERS; LATEST INFOIMATION REGARDING TiE DRAFT, C.O,  PR IV IS IONS, ETC,
WHO MOST REGISTER? Every youth who has reached his 18th but not his 26th birthday. Registration will likely begin August l6th, and continue until September 15th.
WHO WILL BE EXEMPT FROMi SERVICE? Commissioned officers, most veterans and reserve mem¬ bers, etc.; the sole surviving son in a family that lost at least one in the armed services; a minister whose "regular and customary vocation" is the ministry; student ministers, either enrolled or preenrolled in a seminary, taking full-time courses.
WHO WILL BE DEFERRED - that is, not drafted unless congress enacts special legislation? (l) Conscientious Objectors whose objections are based on "belief in relation to a Supreme Being"-not on "essentially political, sociological or philosophical views or a merely personal code." IT MUST BE EMPHASTZED THAT THE LAW  SETS UP NO ALTERNATIVE SER¬ VICE WHATEVER FOR COS. Annual Conference recommends that Brethren youth give one year of volunteer service to the church, as a positive witness for our way of life-but no one will be drafted into such service. (Ex-CPS men are apparently not eligible for any deferment other than this one. However, their past classification as COs would almost certainly insure similar classificcition under the present law.)
OTHER DEFERMENTS; High School students under 20 years of age; College students who have not yet finished the academic year in which they are enrolled at time of regis- * tration; in special cases, limited deferment will be granted to persons with unique dependency situations; persons with physical, moral or mental defects, persons whose jobs in industry, agriculture, medicine or research, etc. are "deemed necessary for the national interest." N.B.: EVERY CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTOR, REGARDLESS OF OTHER GROUNDS FOR DEFERMENT, SHOULD FILL OUT FORM 150.
WHAT SHOULD A CO DO IF HE PLANS TO REGISTER? After you have registered, a questionnaire ¦will  be mailed you. In this questionnaire, sign Series XI, which is simply a request for Form 150. When Form 150 is sent you, fill it out thoroughly. Use extra sheets of paper for explaining your convictions. Attach statements from parents, minister,etc. which will help the draft board to know that you are sincere. Send proof of your mem¬ bership in a pacifist organization (Church of the Brethren, Fellowship of Reconcilia¬ tion, etc.). You must be able to show your draft board that you are opposed to "war in any form" (including civil war and invasion); that your opposition is based on "religious training and belief"; that your job is consistent with your convictions. Keep carbon copies of everything you submit to the draft board.
WHERE DO I GO FOR MORE INFORMATION OR HELP? 1) For help which your draft board can't supply, or for aid in securing recognition of your conscientious objection, get in touch with the NATIONAL SERVICE BOARD FOR RELIGIOUS OBJECTORS, 941  Massachusetts Ave. N.W., Washington 1, D.C.  BSC helps to finance and guide NSBRO. Feel free to use its services. Phone Executive 0230. 2) For news on Volunteer Service, draft developments, etc.,keep in touch with BSC. News will be placed in the Gospel Messenger, and in re¬ leases like this one.
BNCLOSED IS A COPY OF THE SELECTIVE SERVICE ACT OF 1948. IN THE NEAR FUTURE YOU WILL RECEIVE THE FOLLOWING ITEMS: A printed leaflet on "Statement on Position and Practices of the Church of the Brethren in Relation to War, adopted at Annual Conferenco,1948... A pamphlet, "The Conscientious Objector under the selective Service Act of 1948," issued by NSBRO... Information about developments in Volunteer Service, draft policy, etc., from time to time.
THIS STATEMENT goes to Pastors; S.S. Superintendents; Gen'l Brotherhood Board; Regional District, Local BSC workers; Local, District Youth Presidents; Adult Advisers. A copy might well be placed on the Church Bulletin Board, and read from the pulpit... •
Rrom W. Harold Row, Brethren Service Commission, General Brotherhood Board, Church of the Brethren, Elgin, Illinois.
*The word "registration" should be, "induction".