How Long Can Evangelical Chaplains Effectively Function Within the Military?

Written by Roy L. Bebee
Wednesday, 19 October 2011

The failure to stand behind the DOMA (Defense 0f Marriage Act) legislation by the Commander in Chief is a clear sign that there will be a compromise of the chaplain‘s (and likely all uniformed personnel) freedom of religious expression. No doubt in my mind.

While serving as a military chaplain in the past, one notable challenge was providing a viable religious ministry for soldiers, sailors and marines not from traditional Christian backgrounds (Jewish, Wiccan, LDS etc.), without compromising my own faith system.

Another recent and ongoing challenge for the chaplain is the rendering of public prayer without compromising one‘s conscience or personal Christian faith within an ever-growing pluralistic and anti-sectarian audience.

Today, the landscape has radically changed. Up to this point, Christian Chaplains have been able to navigate the minefields (while holding to their values and faith) reasonably well within the changing cultural landscape. But the future is certainly in question. Can Christian evangelicals continue to operate with the freedoms of expression and remain faithful to the Gospel in the future? the rest