The strange case of Gordon James Klingenschmitt
“Jesus is taboo for U.S. military chaplains,” reads the sensational headline on the Drudge Report. The headline links to an article from the conservative Washington Times, itself owned by the Rev. Sun Myung Moon and the Unification Church. Rev. Moon, the politically conservative head of this denomination, is proclaimed by the “Moonies” to be God’s Messiah.
While I would not doubt the ability of the U.S. military, or any large bureaucracy, to issue nonsensical directives, I’m not sure that this is the case here. It seems to me that Chaplain Klingenschmitt, an ordained priest in the Evangelical Episcopal Church, is not quite up to the theological and pastoral flexibility necessary to minister in the ecumenical setting of the United States Navy.
Military regulations, as I understand them, allow chaplains free rein in leading chapel services for their own stream of religious tradition. The Rev. Klingenschmitt is a Protestant chaplain. However, when their work takes them beyond their own religious constituency, chaplains are encouraged to exercise ecumenical sensitivity. When praying before a religiously pluralistic group, chaplains are to use theocentric language, praying to “God” and avoiding references to Jesus, the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Trinity, Allah, or other expressions of God specific to particular faith traditions. According to Navy spokeswoman Lt. Erin Bailey, “Navy chaplains are encouraged to be sensitive to the needs of all those present” at public events.
Klingenschmitt believes he is being persecuted “because I pray in Jesus’ name” and is beginning a hunger strike in front of the White House to protest his treatment. His side of the story is presented at this website.
It seems to me that Klingenschmitt and his supporters are a bit over the line.
Seventy-three members of Congress signed a letter stating that military policy disenfranchises “hundreds of thousands of Christian soldiers in the military who look to their chaplains for comfort, inspiration and support.”
The Rev. Billy Baugham, executive director of the International Conference of Evangelical Chaplain Endorsers, complains that while Protestant chaplains have been told not to pray in the name of Jesus, no “rabbi [has] been rebuked for making references to Hanukkah.”
Both statements are non sequiturs.
To the 73 members of Congress, I would ask this: How are Christians denied comfort when chaplains, in a mixed religious context, proclaim the grace of our one God and avoid the christological affirmations peculiar to Christian faith?
To the Rev. Baugham, I would offer this reminder: Referring to a holiday such as Hanukkah (or Christmas or Ramadan) is one thing; it makes no religious claims. On the other hand, proclaiming that Jesus is the only begotten Son of God strikes in the face of the religious sensibilities of Jews and Muslims. And depending on how that proclamation is made, it also may not resonate with progressive Christians.
While I would not doubt the ability of the U.S. military, or any large bureaucracy, to issue nonsensical directives, I’m not sure that this is the case here. It seems to me that Chaplain Klingenschmitt, an ordained priest in the Evangelical Episcopal Church, is not quite up to the theological and pastoral flexibility necessary to minister in the ecumenical setting of the United States Navy.
Military regulations, as I understand them, allow chaplains free rein in leading chapel services for their own stream of religious tradition. The Rev. Klingenschmitt is a Protestant chaplain. However, when their work takes them beyond their own religious constituency, chaplains are encouraged to exercise ecumenical sensitivity. When praying before a religiously pluralistic group, chaplains are to use theocentric language, praying to “God” and avoiding references to Jesus, the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Trinity, Allah, or other expressions of God specific to particular faith traditions. According to Navy spokeswoman Lt. Erin Bailey, “Navy chaplains are encouraged to be sensitive to the needs of all those present” at public events.
Klingenschmitt believes he is being persecuted “because I pray in Jesus’ name” and is beginning a hunger strike in front of the White House to protest his treatment. His side of the story is presented at this website.
It seems to me that Klingenschmitt and his supporters are a bit over the line.
Seventy-three members of Congress signed a letter stating that military policy disenfranchises “hundreds of thousands of Christian soldiers in the military who look to their chaplains for comfort, inspiration and support.”
The Rev. Billy Baugham, executive director of the International Conference of Evangelical Chaplain Endorsers, complains that while Protestant chaplains have been told not to pray in the name of Jesus, no “rabbi [has] been rebuked for making references to Hanukkah.”
Both statements are non sequiturs.
To the 73 members of Congress, I would ask this: How are Christians denied comfort when chaplains, in a mixed religious context, proclaim the grace of our one God and avoid the christological affirmations peculiar to Christian faith?
To the Rev. Baugham, I would offer this reminder: Referring to a holiday such as Hanukkah (or Christmas or Ramadan) is one thing; it makes no religious claims. On the other hand, proclaiming that Jesus is the only begotten Son of God strikes in the face of the religious sensibilities of Jews and Muslims. And depending on how that proclamation is made, it also may not resonate with progressive Christians.
posted by David Ourisman at 5:30 PM
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