H.A. Penner shares about why he chooses to pay for peace, not war, as a conscientious objector and war tax redirector — and encourages others to do the same.
Harold A. (“H.A.”) Penner is a conscientious objector to war and lifetime war tax resister/redirector. A graduate of Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary, he served as Church World Service’s representative in Central America, the U.S. Program Director for Mennonite Central Committee, the treasurer/business manager of the Lancaster (Pennsylvania) Theological Seminary and the executive director of the Nazareth Project, Inc., that continues to provide medical and educational resources in the Middle East. In 2001, Penner was incarcerated in Puerto Rico for 20 days for protesting the U.S. Navy’s practice bombings of Vieques with Christian Peacemaker Teams. He was the MC USA representative on the board of the National Campaign for a Peace Tax Fund from 2009-2016. Penner currently convenes the 1040 For Peace war tax resistance group that initiated the 2015 MC USA “Faithful Witness Amid Endless War” resolution. In 2019, He was instrumental in the renewal of the MC USA Church Peace Tax Fund and continues as its advocate. Penner and his wife, Barbara, are members of Akron (Pennsylvania) Mennonite Church.
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Recently, I heard the “story with a moral” about a teacher who took a fish out of its bowl and left the classroom, leaving the children to watch as the fish flopped around. Before he left, the teacher told them that, if anyone left their seat, they would be expelled.
The children sat and watched as the fish flopped, gasping for air. They did not want to get up and get in trouble.
Finally, a girl sprang from her seat, ran to the fish and placed it back in the bowl. Ultimately, she was the only one who refused to watch the fish die.
When the teacher returned, he told the class that this was a lesson. He said that the fear of getting in trouble should never stop one from doing what is right. Sometimes you may have to oppose authority and “group think,” simply because it is the right thing to do, he added.
As a war tax redirector, I often think of this story, and more so now as U.S. taxpayers are called to resist an emerging authoritarian and militaristic federal government. So, I conscientiously object on religious grounds to the payment of that portion of my federal income taxes that supports war making and militarism — 43% of the U.S. budget for the 2024 fiscal year according to the War Resisters League.
Instead, I redirect 43% of the levy elaborated on my federal income tax forms to our church — Akron Mennonite Church — to be used in its peacebuilding activities, including its annual budgeted contribution to the MC USA Church Peace Tax Fund. Read more about this in my 2023 Menno Snapshots blog.
Paying taxes that support war and militarism — often at a higher rate than we give to our church budgets — affects our faith. Why do we taxpayers continue to pay for something that violates our deepest beliefs? Are we being the faithful witnesses that Jesus calls us to be?
While withholding war taxes for moral reasons is currently illegal, the U.S. Constitution outlines this right as one of religious freedom. In response to Jesus’ exhortation to love our neighbors (Matthew 22:39) and our enemies (Matthew 5:44), it is appropriate for MC USA to equip those who, because of conscience, are unwilling to pay taxes that underwrite war and militarism.
About the Church Peace Tax Fund
The MC USA Church Peace Tax Fund is a way to redirect the payment of federal taxes that underwrite killing, war and militarism. The MC USA Church Peace Tax Fund provides the spiritual resources, human solidarity and material support that enables U.S. Mennonites and others to follow the prompting of their Spirit-led consciences and publicly object to paying taxes used for killing and militarism by:
- Providing a way to redirect resources from warmaking to problem-solving programs which, unlike war, are a realistic path to peace.
- Modeling what the U.S. government has not yet been able to enact — the Religious Freedom Peace Tax Fund legislation.
- Providing resources for the peace and justice education of future generations.
- Acknowledging and honoring courageous peacebuilders who have faithfully paved the path of peace through the Bring the Peace award, a recognition program that honors a Legacy Peacemaker and a Young Peacemaker each year.
- Contributing to the development of the Mennonite Action advocacy movement.
- Supporting Peaceful Opportunities for Training and Careers, an independent initiative formed by MC USA and Mennonite Central Committee to provide young people with alternatives to military enlistment.
- Making available scholarships for youth to participate in annual Mennonite Central Committee Peace Camps.
The MC USA Church Peace Tax Fund is rooted in the historic teachings and practices of Anabaptist churches, providing support to those whose consciences have not permitted cooperation with militarism. The MC USA Church Peace Tax Fund provides a faithful testimony of reconciliation to the world through Jesus’ way of nonviolence and peace.
Supporting peace, not war
The United States is the world’s leading purveyor of arms sales, global warfare and militarism. According to Geographical magazine, the U.S. has a larger military budget than the next nine countries combined, as well as a weapons industry that dominates the global arms trade. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute reports that the U.S. currently spends three times what China does and more than six times what the Russians sink into their militaries. If your product is a weapon, your market is war, as we can see in the rising use of U.S. military force both domestically and abroad.
Graphic by Jesse Graber.
Although I am a war tax resister/redirector, I am not opposed to paying taxes. I willingly pay that portion of my tax liability that goes toward peace-oriented systems and supports life. But I am a religious conscientious objector to the death and destruction that the U.S. military apparatus represents and am compelled as a disciple of Jesus to take this action.
I urge the U.S. Congress to pass the Religious Freedom Peace Tax Fund Bill (H.R. 4529 in the 117th Congress) that would recognize the constitutional right for individuals to practice religious beliefs according to their consciences.
Speaking at the May 29, 2025, “Courage to Love” worship service in Zurich, Switzerland, commemorating 500 years of Anabaptism, Caesar Garcia, general secretary of Mennonite World Conference, asked, “What does it mean to do something courageous for God’s sake?”
Might participation in war tax redirection be doing something courageous for God’s sake? As Frank (identified only by his first name), one of the worship speakers at the 2025 MC USA biennial convention in Greensboro, North Carolina, said, “We have nothing to fear; Jesus has defeated every authority and ruler. Jesus is Lord. That’s it! Jesus is Lord.”
The views and opinions expressed in this blog belong to the author and are not intended to represent the views of the MC USA Executive Board or staff.
Resources for further learning:
- MC USA’s “Learn, Pray, Join: Cost of War” initiative
- Church Peace Tax Fund Presentation for congregations or small groups
Support the MC USA Church Peace Tax Fund
The MC USA Church Peace Tax Fund is funded by designated contributions from individuals and participating congregations. Tax deductible contributions can be made online, here, by designating “Church Peace Tax Fund” in the Note field. Donations may also be sent to Mennonite Church USA, 718 N. Main Street, Newton, KS 67114 designated for “Church Peace Tax Fund.”