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Campaigners protest against arms conference in Church House


Peace campaigners are planning to demonstrate outside Church House, Westminster tomorrow morning,Tuesday 19 June, as the building is once again hosting a military-related conference organised by the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) and sponsored by some of the world's largest arms producing companies.

Church House is the main administrative building of the Church of England.

The demonstration organisers say: "Accepting money from arms companies is not the Christian way and the Church of England should not be hosting this event while it is funded by weapons manufacturers."

Oliver Robertson from the Fellowship of Reconciliation said before the conference opened last year: "We think that taking money from weapons manufacturers is the opposite of Jesus' message of peace and nonviolenceā€¦.While we recognise the humanity of each and every arms dealer, their profession has no place in a house of prayer."

The conference, run by the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) and sponsored by several arms companies, has been the subject of protests since 2012. Staff at Church House Westminster have disputed that they are taking money from arms dealers, and insisting that RUSI is an independent think-tank. They have also denied that they support arms sales by permitting the conference.

However, campaigners have rejected the assertions of independence. "These conferences are reliant on sponsorship. Sponsorship is not neutral," said Christian author Symon Hill. "Furthermore, the idea that Church House Westminster is separate from the Church of England is a legal technicality. It is a wholly owned subsidiary business of the Church House Corporation, whose President is the Archbishop of Canterbury."

"Church House Westminster, and by extension the Church of England, must not profit from weapons sales," said Emma Anthony from the Fellowship of Reconciliation. "In addition, by hosting an event sponsored by arms dealers, the Church gives its blessing to an industry which exists to destroy life. St Paul's Cathedral have publicly said they will not host arms-sponsored events; Church House Westminster should do the same."

Church House Westminster is owned by the Corporation of Church House and donates all taxable profits to the Corporation. The Corporation's charitable aims are "to own and maintain Church House for the use of the national institutions of the Church of England."

The Fellowship of Reconciliation is an ecumenical Christian peace charity, founded in 1914.

The demonstration will take place from 8-10am. All are welcome, whatever your beliefs. Banners and placards welcome.

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