The Pastor Who Would Not Pay

Visuals aids that could be used for this story are a toy car, and a stamp or sticker to represent the defense tax stamp.

Ernest Bromley was a pastor living in North Carolina, and he had a tough decision to make. Ernest owned a car, and when World War II started, and the government declared that every car owner must buy a “defense tax stamp,” and put it on the windshield of their car. Ernest knew that the money to pay the tax stamp would go to making guns, tanks, and other weapons used for killing, and he believed that this was wrong. He decided not to buy the stamp, and to give the money for the stamp to church relief group instead, even though it would be illegal drive his car without it.

When the police saw Ernest’s car without the stamp, they stopped him and asked where it was. Ernest told them that he sent the money for the stamp to a group that would help people instead of hurting people.

The government took Ernest to court to try to get him to pay the tax. Ernest told the court that he could not pay the tax because he believed that paying for war is wrong. The judge tried to fine Ernest, but he would not pay the fine. Then the judge sentenced Ernest to 60 days in jail.

Although being in jail was tough, Ernest knew he made the right decision. He knew that to truly follow God, he must continue to be a peacemaker and love his enemies. Ernest Bromley could never pay taxes for war again. Every year he refused to pay taxes for war. Sometimes the government would send people to Ernest’s house to ask him to pay his taxes, but he would not give in. It wasn’t always easy, but for the rest of his life Ernest talked to many people about his beliefs. He continued to follow God, and strived to make peace in the world.

In the same way, Ernest Bromley worked for peace and refused to participate in war, we believe that God calls us to make peace and to stop violence from happening.

This last sentence should be added to or edited to bring up your own congregation’s commitment to peace and how that commitment affects the congregation and/or individual church member. You can discuss what is challenging about opposing violence, and what obligations and responsibilities conscientious objectors have as part of their beliefs, especially regarding military taxation. You can also use information from the "Interactive Activities" sheet to show the level of military spending in this country.