New Canadian Military Guidelines Stifle Prayer
Some are calling it “a secular gag order.”
Over the summer, Canadian Armed Forces released a new policy banning military chaplains from praying or mentioning God at public events. World magazine reported on Sept. 3, that the instructions direct chaplains to offer “inclusive” spiritual reflections that don’t have any religion-specific language.
Furthermore, members of the Canadian Armed Forces who make public remarks should “uphold the principle of state religious and spiritual neutrality” by not using words, action or symbols specific to their faith tradition.
CIU Professor of Chaplaincy, Dr. Mike Langston says this puts the Canadian Christian chaplains in a troubling situation.
“I can only imagine what they’re going through, understanding who they are as men and women of faith, and having their hands tied to not be able to proclaim the gospel,” said Langston, a former U.S. Navy chaplain who has also served as the commanding officer of the Naval Chaplaincy School and Center at Fort Jackson in Columbia, South Carolina. He retired after 36 years of military service.
Langston served alongside Canadian chaplains during his career.
“We’ve worked together in many different operations around the world, especially when we’ve had joint forces with NATO and other involvements where Canadian forces have been called upon,” Langston said.
Could this happen in the United States?
“In the United States, there is a very hard rule that chaplains are free to practice their faith,” Langston said in an interview in his office surrounded by U.S. Navy memorabilia. “Matter of fact, they are invited into the military with an understanding that they’re going to practice their faith from their denominational perspective.
So, in the U.S. we have complete freedom of religion and the chaplain literally becomes the protector of religious freedom in government settings.”
Langston adds that chaplains hired by any government agency such as the FBI or the State Department have that complete freedom, as well as a unique responsibility.
“If there’s something that I can’t provide (an individual) by my faith, then I have a responsibility to refer them to another chaplain or religious leader that can help meet that religious need.”
“A Very Christocentric Prayer”
Langston says while the religious freedom of American chaplains is protected by settled law backed by the U.S. Supreme Court, he describes how he prays in a public venue as a Christian chaplain.
“When I’m doing public prayer, I’ll invite people to pray in the form and manner of their tradition as I lead this prayer in the form and manner of my tradition,” Langston says. “And many times I’ll pray in the name of Christ my Lord or in the name of Jesus … which is a very Christocentric prayer. No one has ever challenged me.”
And when it comes to evangelism, Langston listens carefully to others when they discuss faith or their personal religious views.
“When they do that with me, that’s an invitation for me to come into the holy places of their life and to talk about faith.”
Meanwhile, in Canada, Bruce Clemenger, a member of the Interfaith Committee for Canadian Military Chaplaincy noted the irony in the new Canadian policy regarding chaplains.
“They can’t even mention God in their remarks,” Clemenger told World. “But our national anthem includes references to God.”
Pray for Chaplains
Chaplains are probably most noted for praying for others. But Langston encourages prayers for chaplains wherever they serve, especially those in Canada trying to minister under the new policy.
“Pray for strength of purpose, and that God’s guidance would be upon the chaplain and that the Holy Spirit would go before them and prepare the way for that chaplain to do the ministry that they were called to do.”
Is the Lord leading you to a ministry in chaplaincy? The Master of Divinity in Chaplaincy at Columbia International University equips you with the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to provide spiritual support in a wide range of settings.
(Photo above: Dr. Mike Langston chats with a chaplaincy student.)
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