Five Chaplains Lose Jobs For Praying In Jesus' Name

[TheBibleSender]

Five Chaplains Lose Jobs For Praying In Jesus' Name

Virginia Governor Tim Kaine Urged to Stop Persecution

Contact: Chaplain Gordon James Klingenschmitt, 719-360-5132 cell, chaplaingate@yahoo.com or Virginia Governor Timothy M. Kaine (D-VA), 804-786-2211 (press secretary Gordon Hickey).

RICHMOND, Virginia, Sept. 25 / Christian Newswire / -- Virginia Governor Tim Kaine is defending why his administration forced the sudden resignation of five Virginia State Police Chaplains because they prayed publicly in Jesus name. Police Superintendent Col. W. Steven Flaherty single-handedly created then enforced a strict non-sectarian prayer policy at all public gatherings, censoring and excluding Christian prayers, then accepted the resignation of five chaplains who refused to deny Jesus or violate their conscience by watering down their prayers.

House Republican Leader Morgan Griffith and Delegate Charles W. Carrico, (R-Grayson) both issued public statements defending the chaplains, questioning Governor Kaines role in terminating the chaplains, and vowing to introduce legislation protecting police chaplains right to pray according to their own conscience.

Defending Flahertys persecution of Christian Chaplains, Governor Kaine pretended he himself was being persecuted, saying through his spokesman: ?It is disappointing that Del. Griffith would make such a political attack on Gov. Kaine about his faith.?

Former Navy Chaplain Gordon James Klingenschmitt, who was also fired in 2007 for praying in Jesus name in uniform (but won the victory in the U.S. Congress for other military chaplains), weighed in:

Governor Kaine campaigned like a Christian to get our votes. But now, instead of governing like a Christian, or respecting his own chaplains First Amendment rights, his administration forced the resignation of five police chaplains, simply because they prayed publicly in Jesus name. These five chaplains lost their jobs for honoring Christ. They're heroes of the faith, because they refused to deny Jesus when ordered to by the Kaine administration. If they contact me, they will be honored through my web-site: www.PrayInJesusName.org . And now Governor Kaine pretends he's the martyr, because we question why his administration forced them to resign for praying to Jesus? He?s still got a job, they don?t. Governor Kaine isn't the martyr, he?s the persecutor.

Citizens are urged to call Governor Kaine's office at 804-786-2211, to insist the chaplains be reinstated and the policy reversed, and also email him through his web-site:
http://www.governor.virginia.gov/AboutT ... vernor.cfm

Chaplain Klingenschmitt is available for interviews at 719-360-5132 cell or chaplaingate@yahoo.com Distributed by www.ChristianWorldviewNetwork.com

[John81]

And those in Muslim countries still think America is a Christian nation. :badday:

[Guest Guest]

That's very sad...America, every day, seems to be less and less "One Nation Under God".
I hope and pray we will turn back before it's too late.
God bless,
Crushmaster.

[John81]

America's only hope is that Christians rise up, get serious about obeying the Word of God, pray for revival and another Great Awakening in the land and our Heavenly Father grants such.

[Truthseeking]

And those in Muslim countries still think America is a Christian nation.

At first I was going to say no thats not right. In rethinking that I'd say yes they do think we are still a Chirstian nation to a point, but think that we are weakening our stand in America as Chriatians. Its very possible the issue goes alot deeper in our government than than one can actually see. I am by no means anti-government. I just don't think that our focus is right excatly where it should be.

[John81]

Though America is not a Christian nation, something like 85% of the American population calls themselves Christians and most of the world views America as a Christian nation; and also as an immoral nation; which says so much.

To Muslims, especially the militant Muslims and those intent upon obeying the Koran and forcing everyone to convert to Islam or be exterminated, calling America a Christian nation serves their purposes in helping to rally the troops.

Missionaries spread forth around the globe from America (some true and some false Christians) which further propels the idea of America as a Christian nation.

In the end, all things come down to spiritual matters. America is no longer even remotely on the right side of the spiritual fight. We have unsaved, wicked and corrupt government leaders. We have a population that largely claims to be Christian but mostly bears the fruits of wickedness rather than the fruits of righteousness.

The devil is having a field day in America going about devouring all he can and using America to spread his evil into other lands.

[Kubel]

These are chaplains. They aren't preachers or pastors as we understand them. They aren't missionaries. They are chaplains. Chaplains must understand their role, their duty, and their position (they are usually paid clergy working for a secular institution). When speaking to the masses, they aren't there to simply provide for the religious needs of a single denomination or a single religion. And they know this.

The policy is very clear, and I agree with it entirely. When they are praying in public, they should offer nondenominational prayers (I don't believe we as Christians should be praying in public at all according to a very clear commandment by Christ, but that's my personal belief, so that's why I accept this without a problem). But when speaking in private ceremonies or to individual counseling, a chaplain can and should pray how he likes. This is a standard policy when it comes to chaplains, and it makes sense especially if you understand what exactly a chaplain is.

Here are the code of ethics that all US Armed Services chaplains must agree to, for reference:

* I will hold in trust the traditions and practices of my religious body.
* I will carefully adhere to whatever direction may be conveyed to me by my endorsing body for maintenance of my endorsement.
* I understand as a chaplain in the United States Armed Forces that I will function in a pluralistic environment with chaplains of other religious bodies to provide for ministry to all military personnel and their families entrusted to my care.
* I will seek to provide for pastoral care and ministry to persons of religious bodies other than my own within my area of responsibility with the same investment of myself as I give to members of my own religious body.
* I will work collegially with chaplains of religious bodies other than my own as together we seek to provide as full a ministry as possible to our people.
* I will respect the beliefs and traditions of my colleagues and those to whom I minister.
* When conducting services of worship that include persons of other than my religious body, I will draw upon those beliefs, principles, and practices that we have in common.
* I will, if in a supervisory position, respect the practices and beliefs of each chaplain I supervise and exercise care not to require of them any service or practice that would be in violation of the faith practices of their particular religious body.
* I will seek to support all colleagues in ministry by building constructive relationships wherever I serve, both with the staff where I work and with colleagues throughout the military environment.
* I will maintain a disciplined ministry in such ways as keeping hours of prayer and devotion, endeavoring to maintain wholesome family relationships and regularly engaging in educational and recreational activities for professional and personal development.
* I will seek to maintain good health habits.
* I will recognize that my obligation is to provide for the free exercise of religion for ministry to all members of the military services, their families and other authorized personnel.
* When on active duty, I will only accept added responsibility in civilian ministry if it does not interfere with the overall effectiveness of my primary military ministry.
* I will defend my colleagues against unfair discrimination on the basis of gender, race, religion or national origin.
* I will hold in confidence any privileged communication received by me during the conduct of my ministry.
* I will not disclose confidential communications in private or in public.
* I will not proselytize from other religious bodies, but I retain the right to evangelize those who are not affiliated.
* I will show personal love for God in my life and ministry, as I strive together with my colleagues to preserve the dignity, maintain the discipline and promote the integrity of the profession to which we have been called.
* I recognize the special power afforded me by my ministerial office.
* I will never use that power in ways that violate the personhood of another human being, religiously, emotionally or sexually.
* I will use my pastoral office only for that which is best for the persons under my ministry.

So what this police Superintendent did was not unreasonable.

By the way, these chaplains resigned. They weren't fired or kicked out. They resigned.