Navy Discharging Dissident Chaplain
Navy Discharging Dissident Chaplain, from Crosswalk.com
According to AgapePress, the U.S. Navy is discharging the chaplain who staged public fasts and prayers for the right to pray in Jesus' name in uniform wherever and whenever he wished. Lieutenant Gordon Klingenschmitt lost his church's chaplain certification after his reprimand for disobeying an order by appearing in uniform at a news conference outside the White House. He obtained certification from another denomination, but a Navy spokesman says it was not accepted because of Klingenschmitt's record and performance as a naval officer. The discharge is effective at the end of this month. Klingenschmitt says he does not regret his actions and will continue to appeal the discharge.
Labels: David C. Price
posted by DAVID C. PRICE at 1/15/2007 05:20:00 PM
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5 Comments:
The key to this whole situation is in the phrase "disobeying an order by appearing in uniform at a news conference outside the White House". Ch Klingenschmitt was free to attend the press conference but was ordered not to wear his uniform. He chose to do so anyway. By wearing it he lent the weight of the US Navy to his personal convictions. As a Chaplain Candidate in the Air Force I struggled with the issues that were being raised about Chaplains not being able to pray in Jesus' name. However once I learned the regulations and how to work within them I realized that the situation is not as bad as the media and especially civilian Christian leaders are making it out to be. Yes there are situations in which there are members of multiple faiths present when Chaplains must offer neutral prayers that do not mention any specific deity. However, at least in the Air Force, a Chaplain is not required to participate in those ceremonies if it goes against his or her beliefs.
So, Ch Klingenschmitt lost his position, not because he prayed in Jesus' name, but because he chose to work outside the established rules that are necessary in the military to maintain good order and discipline, and because he disobeyed a direct order not to wear his uniform to a press conference in a politically charged situation.
As evangelical Chaplains we must learn to work within the rules of the military, while maintaining the integrity of the gospel message. If not, we will all be dismissed just as Ch Klingenschmitt was, and the military will lose the evangelical influence that it so desperately needs.
That's very helpful insight, Rob. We civilians often don't understand these issues very clearly which is why we need people like you to help us. Thanks for taking the time to add color to this story.
Hey David,
Glad to see you managed a new post.
How's it going?
Mike
Thanks, Mike. It's going very well. I finally got around to another post with a bit of an update. I hope you are doing well.
One of these days, I may get back to regular posting of some sort.
Take care.
You have managed to neatly sum up the whole story--something that Klingenschmitt fails to do. He committed a Federal crime by attending a political protest in his Navy uniform. Then he claims that because he prayed during the commission of his crime, he is absolved. I am a Navy chaplain who is one of hundreds who routinely pray in Jesus' Name in public in uniform without any problems. Klingenschmitt is trying to create a hostile situation, pray in Jesus Name, and then claim religious persecution. His version just doesn't meet the truth and honor test.
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