News

No Ban on Military Evangelism, Despite Conservative Fears

(UPDATED) Chaplains and politicians protest Obama’s promise to veto religious liberty amendment to military spending bill.

Christianity Today May 4, 2013

Update (July 11): Religion News Service reports that supporters of a religious liberty amendment are protesting the Obama Administration’s promise to veto the 2014 National Defense Authorization Act if it is approved while including the amendment.

According to the White House’s statement, the Administration “strongly objects” to the amendment’s protection of religious speech and actions. It claims that “by limiting the discretion of commanders to address potentially problematic speech and actions within their units, this provision would have a significant adverse effect on good order, discipline, morale, and mission accomplishment.” The bill is currently worded to “accommodate the beliefs” of service members. The amendment would expand the language to mandate that, “(except) in cases of military necessity, the Armed Forces shall accommodate the beliefs, actions, and speech” of service members.

Rep. John Fleming, R-La., sponsored the amendment in the House. The amendment also is being supported by military chaplains, many of whom have founded an alliance to inform service members of their religious liberty rights.

—–

Update (May 7): Leaders of the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) and North American Missions Board (NAMB) have released a statement on the recent rumor over court martials for military evangelism.

According to the three-page statement,

We reject any and all attempts to sensationalize or misrepresent situations, in this or any other context. Having said that, we are concerned. While rejecting any conspiracy theory linking the reports above, we believe there are in some of these cases elements that are indicative of a troubling lack of respect for true religious diversity in our military.

Similarly, LifeWay Research president Ed Stetzer writes on his blog that the false alarms and "anti-Christian conspiracy theories distract from real religious liberty concerns."

––-

The military is putting to rest any rumors that Christian service members could face court martial for sharing their faith.

According to the Tennessean, the Defense Department has clarified its position, saying that members of the military are free to evangelize, as long as they don't harass others.

"Service members can share their faith (evangelize), but must not force unwanted, intrusive attempts to convert others of any faith or no faith to one's beliefs (proselytization)," Navy Lt. Cmdr. Nate Christensen, a Pentagon spokesman, told the newspaper by email.

The perceived, important difference between "evangelism" and "proselytization" has become a hot-button issue for the military this week, after a barrage of criticism erupted among conservatives.

Fox News reported that Pentagon officials had met with Mikey Weinstein, president of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, who is well known for his hyperbolic allegations against Christians and against religious influence in the military, prompting a back-and-forth exchange of views.

In response to Fox, the Pentagon released a statement on proselytization to Fox News. According to the statement, "Religious proselytization is not permitted within the Department of Defense…Court martials and non-judicial punishments are decided on a case-by-case basis."

This led Breitbart News's Ken Kuklowsi to report that the Pentagon was "confirming that soldiers could be prosecuted for promoting their faith." Family Research Council, a conservative D.C.-based lobbying organization, also launched a petition to protect troops' religious freedom.

But according to the Defense Department, there is essentially no need. It won't be charging military chaplains or Christians with federal crimes under military law any time soon–as long as the evangelism doesn't interfere with military missions. The Tennessean reports that Christensen, the Pentagon spokesman, assured that:

… all service members are free to exercise their constitutional right to practice their religion in a manner that is respectful of other individuals' rights to follow their own belief systems; and in ways that are conducive to good order and discipline; and that do not detract from accomplishing the military mission.

Our Latest

The Bulletin

Take a Look at Me Now

Presidential campaign updates, the Taliban’s new Code of Laws, and caring for our souls.

News

German Pastor to Pay for Anti-LGBTQ Statements

Years of court cases come to an end with settlement agreement. 

News

Should Christians Across Denominations Be Singing the Same Songs?

Some traditions work to refocus on theological distinctives in their music as worship megahits take over.

News

Rwanda Explains Why It Closed Thousands of Churches. Again.

The East African nation has shuttered 9,800 “prayer houses” because it wants safe buildings and well-trained pastors. Is that too much to ask?

News

Activist Lila Rose Under Fire for Suggesting Trump Hasn’t Earned the Pro-Life Vote

As conservatives see bigger shifts and divides over abortion, Live Action founder says she’ll keep speaking up for stronger policies.

More Christian Colleges Will Close. Can They Finish Well?

The “demographic cliff” will force schools to cut jobs or shut down—but how they do it matters.

Choose This (Labor) Day Whom You Will Serve

Exodus reminds us that our work can be exploitative, idolatrous, or kingdom oriented.

What to Watch for in ‘Rings of Power’ Season 2

The sumptuous Tolkien prequel has returned. Here’s what a few CT writers noticed.

Apple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squareGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastRSSRSSSaveSaveSaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube