Saint Martin's Cloak

The Secretary of Defense has promised to make the military chaplain corps great again. I have been associated with the military chaplaincy for 35 years. I can tell you that it is already great. Foundations Here are some basic truths about the chaplaincy that I did not hear the secretary mention. Military chaplaincy is rooted in the first amendment. Congress shall make no respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting thereof . The chaplaincy exists first and foremost to facilitate the free exercise of religion for those whom the government has ordered away from home. In Army language, chaplains perform religious ministry for those who wish to receive what they have to offer and provide opportunities for religious life for members of other faith groups. Chaplains are advocates within the command for the free exercise of religion. That includes protecting those who do not wish to participate in religious activities from religious coercion. The United States governmen...

The social media account of an Army infantry battalion recently praised its chaplain for strengthening its lethality by fostering spiritual resilience through religious worship. This characterization of the chaplain’s ministry is inconsistent with the chaplain’s unique calling and non-combatant status. Through nearly 27 years of chaplain ministry, my church frequently reminded me that it did not send me to the Army to bless or facilitate violence. The Army (FM 3-0) defines lethality as “the capability and capacity to destroy” and firepower as its primary source. It is an attribute of Army formations. Insofar as the Army associates lethality with individual fitness (FM 7-22), it does so only in terms of physical training for strength, endurance, and speed. The Army becomes more lethal by training to become more lethal. The means include individual and collective training, training center rotations, command post exercises, professional military education, and other means, none of whic...

This is the Army Chaplain Corps values card that I received in the mid 2000's. The Chief of Chaplains wanted the issuance of these cards to be a solemn occasion, so all the chaplains and chaplain assistants on my base gathered together at one time to receive them, and to sign the back of the card in unison. I still have mine. Diversity was one of the Chaplain Corps' stated values. This same SACRED acronym showed up in the training circular TC 1-05, The Religious Support Handbook for the Unit Ministry Team , published in 2005. My own journey as an Army chaplain began over a decade earlier because the Army valued diversity. When I first called a chaplain recruiter and identified myself as a United Methodist, the recruiter said, "You baptize babies. We're looking for you." After I retired from the Army, I served as the chaplain endorser for my denomination for nearly six years. As the endorser I occasionally met with the chiefs of chaplains for the Arm...

It is impossible to translate God's laws for the nation of Israel directly into laws for a pluralistic nation like the United States. Nevertheless, there are just ends of government that we can observe in the pages of the Old Testament. The Articles of Religion say, Although the law given from God by Moses as touching ceremonies and rites doth not bind Christians, nor ought the civil precepts thereof of necessity be received in any commonwealth; yet notwithstanding, no Christian whatsoever is free from the obedience of the commandments which are called moral. What moral principles underlie the "civil precepts" of the Old Testament law? What should Christians expect their government to do? What ends should we seek? Among the just ends of government that I see in the Old Testament are: Seek peace with neighboring countries, and among the nations of the world. Defend the nation against foreign invasion and domination.  Prevent the unjust taking of life ...

In 2007 I was a brand new lieutenant colonel reporting to my first general staff assignment. When I arrived, I discovered that a “change of stole” ceremony had been scheduled for me. I am not a fan of these events and I briefly resisted. Ultimately, I gave in and participated without further objection. "Go along and get along," as they say. I regret that. I wish I had explained my position more clearly.  What are change of stole ceremonies, and why do I object to them?  Whose Need does it Serve? The change of stole ceremony marks the passing of responsibility from one command chaplain to another, usually in the grade of lieutenant colonel (O-5) or colonel (O-6). The commander lifts a stole decorated with organizational markings from the neck of the outgoing command chaplain and places it on the neck of the incoming command chaplain. There are speeches and ceremonial trappings to the event. All together, the ceremony mimics the passing of the colors at military c...

The Interview Army Command Policy (AR 600-20) reserves approval of some religious accommodations to offices in the Pentagon, others to the first general officer in the chain of command, and the remainder to commanders at any level.  In some cases, a chaplain must be assigned to interview the requestor. After the interview, the chaplain prepares a memorandum summarizing the interview. The memorandum must address the religious nature of the request and the requestor’s sincerity. The chaplain is not required to recommend approval or disapproval, but may do so. The requestor can also provide letters from other chaplains or religious leaders, but those letters do not meet the requirement for the interview. (AR 600-20, Appendix P-3.b.(3)) Adapting the Chaplain's Role in Conscientious Objection This chaplain requirement is similar to the one for conscientious objector applicants in paragraph 2-4 of DA Pam 600-46 (Processing Applicants for Conscientious Objection). There, a cha...

God Told Me Last January, I listened to a presentation by a lawyer representing Navy SEALs seeking religious exemption from the COVID vaccine requirement. I asked him to speak about the reasons people gave for seeking the accommodation. If I heard him correctly, one of the reasons that individuals gave for seeking the exemption was “God told me to.”  I don’t see how you could possibly build a workable system of religious accommodation on such a foundation. <!-- wp:more --> <!--more--> <!-- /wp:more --> In October (10/17/23), a federal court in Maryland issued a ruling that I think agrees with me.  In  Foshee vs. AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP , the court dismissed a claim by individuals seeking religious exemption from the vaccine requirement.  In dismissing the case, the court wrote: Foshee’s position, that God gave him a conscience that tells him what to do, similarly amounts to a “blanket privilege. The same conscience-based ...