The plans have grown out of a concern among bishops that they have lost the initiative to the Government and that the churches' opposition to the war in Iraq weakened a traditional role of providing advice at times of crisis. Changes to just-war theory, drawn up in the 13th century by Thomas Aquinas, were debated by theologians who met international lawyers and ethicists this month at a private symposium called The Price of Peace.

The aim was to examine how the just-war theory might be revised to take account of 21st-century models of conflict. The proposals for change, to be set out in a document to be published next Easter, will anger church antiwar activists but will make both churches more effective in advising governments when facing situations such as Iraq.

The issue of how Christians can go to war and still teach that murder is wrong was first addressed in the 5th century by St Augustine, who said that defence of a nation’s peace had to be the prime justification for going to war. The theory was developed by Aquinas who said that the harm caused by the war should not be greater than the evil to be averted by it. But it does not envisage situations such as Iraq, where foreign powers instigate military intervention, even when there has been no direct aggression against them, for the sake of world peace.

Before the Iraq conflict, Church of England bishops gave warning that it would be “ill-judged and premature” to launch an attack without the authority of the UN. At the symposium which took place at the headquarters of the Church Commissioners, in Westminster, organisers were told that the war in Iraq had crystallised the “recurring moral tensions” involved in going to — and the conduct of — war. One opening paper said that a “re-examination ” of the just-war tradition was “urgently called for”.

The paper noted that, while traditional just-war theory has at times sanctioned anticipatory self-defence, humanitarian intervention and even preventive action, it does not address the “moral and political hazards” associated with pre-emptive military action. One insider said: “We were looking at the just-war criteria. We were trying to seek a way we can use them against weapons of mass destruction, rogue regimes and terrorism. It was one of the most important ecumenical initiatives that has taken place in a long time. All the peaceniks will have heart attacks.”

A Church of England working party on just-war theory has reported back to bishops and their report will be finalised at a meeting next week before debate at General Synod.

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