As gays serve openly, few problems for chaplains

In this Saturday, June 23, 2012 photo provided by Jeff Sheng, Navy Chaplain Kay Reeb of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America officiates the civil union ceremony of Air Force Tech. Sgt. Erwynn Umali, right, and his partner Will Behrens at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, the military base in Wrightstown, N.J. where Umali is stationed.

DAVID CRARY, AP National Writer

Thursday, July 5, 2012

WRIGHTSTOWN, N.J. (AP) — Col. Timothy Wagoner has been an Air Force chaplain for 20 years, serving a denomination — the Southern Baptists — that rejects same-sex relationships.

Yet here he was at the chapel he oversees, watching supportively as an airman and his male partner celebrated a civil union ceremony.

"I wouldn't miss it," Wagoner said at the McGuire Air Force Base chapel, days later. "I don't feel I'm compromising my beliefs ... I'm supporting the community."

Wagoner didn't officiate at the ceremony — he couldn't go quite that far. But his very presence at the gathering was a marker of how things have changed for active-duty clergy in the nine months since the "don't ask, don't tell" policy was repealed and gays could serve openly.

Prior to repeal, various conservative groups and individuals — including many conservative retired chaplains — warned that repeal would trigger an exodus of chaplains whose faiths consider homosexual activity to be sinful. In fact, there's been no significant exodus — perhaps two or three departures of active-duty chaplains linked to the repeal. Moreover, chaplains or their civilian coordinators from a range of conservative faiths told The Associated Press they knew of virtually no serious problems thus far involving infringement of chaplains' religious freedom or rights of conscience.

"To say the dust has settled would be premature," said Air Force Col. Gary Linsky, a Roman Catholic priest who oversees 50 fellow chaplains in the Air Mobility Command. "But I've received no complaints from chaplains raising concerns that their ministries were in any way conflicted or constrained."

Wagoner, who commands five other chaplains at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in central New Jersey, said the chaplaincy corps was responding professionally and collegially to what he called a "balancing act" precipitated by the repeal.

"We're good at this stuff — we want to take care of our folks," he said. "We have to respect the faith requirements of the chaplain and we have to take care of the needs of the airman."

That attitude meshes with the official Pentagon guidelines on the repeal: "The Chaplain Corps' First Amendment freedoms and their duty to care for all have not changed. All service members will continue to serve with others who may hold different views and beliefs, and they will be expected to treat everyone with respect."

Wagoner would not have been willing to officiate at the June 23 civil union ceremony at the McGuire chapel, nor would his Catholic or Mormon colleagues. But he had no problem with another member of his team, Navy Chaplain Kay Reeb of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, doing so.

Reeb, who will be will leaving the Navy in a few weeks after 20 years as a chaplain, held a couple of pre-ceremony consultations with the couple — Tech. Sgt. Erwynn Umali and civilian Will Behrens — and was impressed by their commitment to one another.

On hand at the chapel were the couple's family and friends, several gay-rights activists, and Sgt. Elizabeth Garcia, the chaplain's assistant who handled logistical arrangements. And then there was Wagoner, whose denomination preaches that homosexuality is sinful and is "not a valid alternative lifestyle."

"As a Southern Baptist, why was I here? I was here to lend support," Wagoner said. "I was here supporting Airman Umali. I've worked with him. He's a comrade in arms."

"I'm also supporting Chaplain Reeb," he said. "She gave a beautiful ceremony."

According to the latest Pentagon figures, there are about 2,930 chaplains on active duty, most from theologically conservative faiths and organizations. The Southern Baptist Convention has the largest contingent, with about 450 active-duty chaplains; the Roman Catholic Church is next with about 220.

The Catholic official who oversees those chaplains, Archbishop Timothy Broglio of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, had vehemently opposed repeal of "don't ask, don't tell" and issued a statement after repeal conveying ongoing concerns "in this difficult time."

"This archdiocese remains resolved in the belief that no Catholic chaplain will ever be compelled to condone — even silently — homosexual behavior," he said then.

However, Broglio said he was unaware of any major repeal-related problems that had arisen for his chaplains during the first nine months of the new era.

"There have been no overt difficulties," he said. "It's more a question of what might occur in the future."

Broglio remains concerned that Catholic chaplains might somehow be pressured to participate in or facilitate ceremonies or programs that bestow recognition and approval on same-sex couples — "As time goes by, it will be a challenge, to make certain you're not silently condoning."

As for preaching the Catholic doctrine that homosexual behavior is a sin, Broglio said he expects chaplains to retain the freedom to do so as part of their religious services. But he said there is confusion as to whether that freedom extends to other settings where chaplains might face pressure to deliver inclusive messages.

Broglio said he has not given his chaplains specific instructions to either emphasize church teaching on homosexuality in their preaching or to avoid the subject.

He concurred with the estimates that only a handful of chaplains have left the military because of the repeal. He said "two or three" Catholic chaplains had resigned their commissions in recent months, and guessed that repeal may have been a factor though they didn't cite that specifically.

Another conservative denomination with a large contingent of chaplains — 114 on active duty — is the Assemblies of God.

Scott McChrystal, a retired Army chaplain who oversees them, said the concerns that preceded repeal had not been borne out.

"Since the actual repeal, I cannot recall a single instance where I've gotten a call from one of our chaplains who's had a problem," he said. "Our goal as an organization is simply to provide as much help as we can to anybody we can."

Likewise, Frank Clawson, director of military relations for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said none of the 42 active-duty Mormon chaplains with whom he works has reported problems linked to the repeal or expressed a desire to leave the service.

Yet Clawson remains wary that the military could become increasingly inhospitable to religious conservatives.

"I don't know if the vote is in yet," he said. "The pendulum has swung the other way, to where if you do have a faith, you're almost looked down on."

The loudest assertions that conservative chaplains face problems come from outside the active-duty ranks, notably from a coalition of retired chaplains and other religious leaders called the Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty. In a letter to a Republican congressman in March, the alliance contended that repeal has been implemented "with an open and palpable hostility" to chaplains and service members who disapprove of homosexuality.

The alliance supports a measure backed by House Republicans that would ban the use of military chapels for same-sex weddings and other similar ceremonies. The Pentagon says it will allow such ceremonies when in accordance with state law.

The alliance's executive director, retired Army chaplain Ron Crews, says some active-duty chaplains are dismayed by repeal-related changes but don't speak out publicly because they fear retaliation or do not get permission from superiors.

However, Crews agreed that few chaplains have left the military because of the repeal.

"We've been encouraging our chaplains to stay the course — we don't want to see an exodus," Crews said. "Some of my chaplains have stated they are going to stay, but they realize there may come a day where they may have to choose obedience to God or their career, and they're going to choose their obedience to God."

With an eye toward the future, when the military community is likely to include more same-sex couples, Crews' alliance has drawn some lines in the sand for chaplains from its affiliated denominations: no role in any ceremony for same-sex couples, no jointly presiding over religious services with gay or lesbian chaplains, no pre-marriage or marriage-strengthening counseling to same-sex couples.

Wagoner suggested there were "no hard answers" to some potential dilemmas, such as if a conservative chaplain objected to participating at a marriage retreat that included a same-sex couple. Perhaps a substitute chaplain could be found, or perhaps the gay couple could pick another date for a retreat, Wagoner said.

"Think of it as an experiment," Wagoner said of the post-repeal era. "It's evolving."

The chaplain coordinators for some relatively liberal denominations suggested that the Chaplain Alliance and its allies are exaggerating the impact of repeal for political purposes.

"They are grasping at straws, in terms of getting something substantial to counteract the repeal," said the Rev. Stephen Boyd of the United Church of Christ, which has about 18 active-duty chaplains and was an early supporter of same-sex marriage.

Bishop James Magness, the coordinator for about 75 active-duty and reserve Episcopal chaplains, said he'd heard a common, positive verdict about repeal from his more conservative Catholic, Mormon and Southern Baptist colleagues.

"The whole argument about religious liberty is so incredibly uninformed, and inflamed by some of the very conservative legal groups," Magness said. "In reality, there's been very little if any of the services forcing any ministerial activity on a chaplain against his or her will."

Chaplain Linsky said he'd respect any chaplain who did leave the military out of principled objections related to the repeal, but knew of no such instances thus far.

"The chaplain corps," he said, "has navigated this issue with great calm and prudence."

Online:

Pentagon guidelines: http://1.usa.gov/MFrOTi

Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty: http://chaplainalliance.org/

More like this story

Sequoia 11 months, 2 weeks ago

Here we have a perfect example of reality disproving the hysteria of movement conservatives.

Real conservatives support stable relationships, and an individual's freedom to love whomever they choose.

The conservative movement, on the other hand, talked like the repeal of "Don't ask, don't tell" would doom the U.S. military. Well, we allowed gays to serve openly and nothing happened.

How many times do we have to watch as reality proves the ideological talking points of the conservative movement to be wrong, time and again? How many times did the boy cry "wolf" before people stopped taking him seriously? When will real conservatives stand up to these people and take back real conservatism?

GrumpyGus 11 months, 2 weeks ago

My problem isn't from a conservative point of view but rather a Catholic Christian point of view. The Bible and Sacred Tradition are very clear on this. If you don't like what I believe, then it's too bad for you. I will believe it and pray for those that don't. On the worldly part of you argument, I think the jury is still out. You have no idea what the long term outcome of this decision will be.

Sequoia 11 months, 2 weeks ago

Well, I'm approaching it from the Catholic Christian point of view as well. The Bible and Sacred Tradition are not as clear as you say.

You have to remember that when the New Testament (Paul's letter to the Romans, I believe) condemns sodomy, it is a totally different context than two consenting adults in a loving relationship.

In Roman society, elite males used sodomy as a form of humilation, domination and punishment vistited on slaves and other "lower" members of society. THIS is what the Bible is talking about. And I think we can all agree it is wrong.

The idea of two men living together in a loving relationship was completely unknown in Roman society. The Bible's condemning of sodomy doesn't have ANYTHING to do with what we in modern America think of as a gay relationship. If you can find anything in the Bible that very clearly condemns homosexual LOVE, please show me.

Jesus told us, in the Bible, that God is Love. If you are opposed to homosexual relations, that's your point of view. But I think that anyone who uses the Bible to condemn love, when we know that God is Love, is committing a grave theological error. Anyone who uses the Bible as a club to enforce a majority's political view is also committing a grave theological error. Jesus was never afraid to stand up to the majority on behalf of love, and we shouldn't be, either.

You've got your view of scripture, I have mine. There is only one way to find out which one of us is correct. I'm not afraid.... I don't think you can ever go wrong, in the eyes of our Creator, standing up for love.

GrumpyGus 11 months, 2 weeks ago

You apparently are attending a different Mass than I. The Church says sex outside of marriage is a sin. The Church says only a man and woman may marry. Any sex outside of marriage is a sin, thus homosexual sex is a sin. I follow the Church's view of scripture, not my own. I believe you can love without sin, its called friendship and abstainence. As a devout Catholic I hope you have heard of these ideas.

dokeus6 11 months, 2 weeks ago

Then the Catholic Priest's that are homosexuals are full of sin then? How about the Catholic Priest's that molest young boys? Is there sin there?

The Churches are full of hypocrites spouting about what their flock's should do but why should their flock's listen when you have a double standard being produced when the Catholic church won't even punish the priest's who molest little boys.

John 11 months, 2 weeks ago

Actually, yes. "All fall short of the glory of God."

All of us sin, ALL of us. Priest, Pastors, Presidents, laity, ALL. Why is that a surprise? Anyone who reads the Bible and doesn't just come in here and write what they "think" and "feel" would know that. The Christian faith is built upon and depends upon the Holy Bible, not individual feelings, wants, and desires.

Sequoia 11 months, 2 weeks ago

Love is not an "individual feeling, want and desire." That's lust, and, yes, that's a sin that we can all (gay and straight) fall prey to. Love is the opposite of that.

Love is God's most important commandment to his people. God does place any limits on that love. He doesn't say "Straight love is ok, homosexual love is a sin." It is people in this world who draw boundaries around love based on the identiy of the person in question. God doesn't recognize any difference between gay and straight, nor does love. God is Love. In his kingdom, there is no boundary on either God or love.

If Jesus were in human form preaching today, I believe he would take the same view of the Catholic heirarchy as he took toward the Jewish Sanhedrin. He never made entry into the kingdom dependent on any other law or rule except "Love one another as I have loved you."

Unfortunately, Jesus isn't here (as far as we know) to respond to the Catholic Church's interpretation of his teaching. But, in a choice between the Church bishops and the commandment of Jesus to "love one another as I have loved you," well, I don't really think there is a choice.

GrumpyGus 11 months, 2 weeks ago

You can't change my mind by brining up a separate topic. We are taught that both are equal abominations in the eyes of God. You have basically made my point by equating the two. Thank you. Many bad things have happened in the Church's history (e.g. the Inquisition, priest scandals), but the Church survives because all that is good about the Church has always triumphed over the evil of the world. Using your logic, we should shut down all the Catholic hospital that provide free care taking the burden off the health system. We should shutter all the Catholic schools and flood the public schools with these kids and eat up all the free tax dollars that the public schools have gotten up to this point in time. Your argument isn't really an argument because it is not grounded in common sense. My religion is over two millenium old and most of the teachings and traditions are much the same as they were in the beginning. Because they are rooted in common sense.

dokeus6 11 months, 2 weeks ago

I'm not trying to change your mind Gus. I am merely pointing out the fact that the Catholic Church falls short. They are so quick to condemn but yet they do not hold the same light up to themselves when they look in the mirror and pass their judgement when they have clergy issues.

You are blind if you can't see that. No one is perfect. The only perfect thing that was ever created was chastised and hung up on a wooden cross.

Personally, I feel Jesus would have been humiliated about what the so called religions of the world have done in history according to his name.

We have no place in this world to condemn people for wanting to be happy in the short time that we exist here.

There are millions of people in the world who want a shot of being happy no matter what gender they prefer.

And there are millions of other people who point there fingers like you and a few other trolls on this site about how righteous your opinions are.

Who are you to judge what other people do? According to scripture, if you judge another you better be prepared to be judged even harsher at your day of reckoning.

So lighten up a little with your righteousness because even you Gus, fall short in the eyes of the lord.

GrumpyGus 11 months, 2 weeks ago

Catholicism is not a "so called" religion and I am not judging. I am praying for people to see the truth. Not my truth, His truth. What the military has decided to do is a worldly thing, they are free to do so. But I am a conservative, and was accused of looking at this in a worldly way by the tree. I was simply defending myself when you brought up the priest scandals. So, I then pointed out the defeciencies in your argument. Nothing against you as a soul, but as a debater, you were arguing about something that hadn't even come up in the debate. The topic is homosexuals in the military. I am opposed based on a two millenium old religion's teachings. That is my only argument. And (l)ord starts with a capital L. You condemn me on an article of faith that you don't even believe in. How time wasting on your part.

dokeus6 11 months, 2 weeks ago

Do you know me Gus? Don't even pretend to know what I believe in or how I think.

Your so called religion should be referred to as faith. You are judging Gus. You and your conservative friends are always passing judgement. You feel as if it is your right to pass judgement on others. I pointed out that the catholic church needs to hold up the same light to themselves that they judge others on.

Two thousand years of common sense. That's laughable Gus. All the catholic faith has ever done is create crimes against humanity in the the name of the Lord in their quest to save lost souls. The Inquisition, empowering Hitler in Germany. I am not condemning you at all and trust me I believe in the one commandment that Jesus left us with. Go away troll.

JCLifer 11 months, 2 weeks ago

Pharasees?

dokeus6 11 months, 2 weeks ago

Actually two words, its flip flopping.

John 11 months, 2 weeks ago

Of course we (Christians) judge. We judge a sin as a sin. The Bible actually tells all Christians to judge. What we should NOT judge is someone's relationship with God. One is either a Christian sinner or a non-Christian sinner. Exegesis requires an un derstanding of a verse, a chapter, a book, AND its CONTEXT.

GrumpyGus 11 months, 2 weeks ago

doke - Thanks for making my day with the name calling. You say I don't know you. You've told me all I need to know about you with your posts today. The Church has taught me that we will all be judged for our sins. Good luck with yours (sincerely).

The Catholic Church will stand forever against even the most backward and evil thinking brought about by the imperfections of man (even the imperfections from within). We are the Church Militant.

You're welcome for the intercessory prayers.

dokeus6 11 months, 2 weeks ago

Whatever Gus, Whatever.

I'm glad you feel that church will protect you but it won't save you.

GrumpyGus 11 months, 2 weeks ago

Thanks doke, but He already saved me. BTW, your "whatever" statement was your most cogent argument of the day. Well played.

dokeus6 11 months, 2 weeks ago

LOL! Gus your hilarious! I love you man!!

But not in a gay way!!

dokeus6 11 months, 2 weeks ago

What is the big picture Grace?

Just because two people are wanting to be happy(no matter what sex they are) being together who cares what they call it.

How is this going to affect liberty of coming generations of Americans?

Sequoia 11 months, 2 weeks ago

The best way to judge public policy is a cost-benefit analysis. In this case, the armed forces determined that the costs of Don't Ask Don't Tell were greater than its benefits. I think this article indicates that analysis was correct. I didn't mean to suggest that the government should make policy based on some government official's interpretation of sacred text. That would definitely not be conservative.

Policy aside, certainly you can interpret Mark 10 as your heart and faith guide you. I have. Again, loving gay relationships were unheard of in Jesus' time, so the fact that he only spoke of man and woman doesn't suggest to me that Jesus meant to say gay marriage in sinful. I think he meant to say that a loving commitment means you're "all in," which can apply to both gay and straight loving commitments.

There are a lot of things about modern life that just weren't addressed by Jesus, because they didn't exist 2,000 years ago. We just have to apply his message as best we can.

Given the whole context of Jesus' life story and teachings, I'd be very circumspect about trying to use his words to justify imposing political burdens on a small minority. It just doesn't seem right to me. I think my Church leaders are wrong on this one. Maybe that makes me a Protestant.

We trees aren't too good with these kinds of sectarian distinctions. We're rooted in the earth, but we keep reaching for the light. There is only one Light. I try not to get confused between all the different texts and various priests pointing at the light, and the light itself. You can read all the texts and listen to all the sermons, but that won't make a tree grow. Only the Light will.

him 11 months, 2 weeks ago

When it comes down to it. It doesn't matter what you or I believe or what the Bible says. It's not my business or yours what other people do. Especially if it doesn't effect me. Just live the way you believe and stop worrying and preaching about the way others want to live.

Littleinvestor 11 months, 2 weeks ago

Ame, Him.

Littleinvestor 11 months, 2 weeks ago

Edit feature won't work. I meant to type Amen, Him

JCLifer 11 months, 2 weeks ago

I want to know why some sins are so much worse than others. Why do some church es attack homosexuals so severely, but they don't worry much about the multitude of sins that their members have. Why pick on homosexuals when the priests are buggering little boys? They say sin is sin and that all fall short of God's Glory, but then the get their panties twisted tight over a homosexual. What gives?

God was all about love. Jesus taught time and time again that we should love each other, love our brother, love our neighbor, love our enemies, love the people at the margins of society,etc. Homosexuals want to love and the church people go nuts! Why?

dokeus6 11 months, 2 weeks ago

I wish I could have written this.

Whoops! I just judged something didn't I.

I got a little agitated at a post when someone was questioning my faith.

Good post JC!!

JCLifer 11 months, 2 weeks ago

Jesus loved a lot of sinners. Go back and read it for yourself.

whatif 11 months, 2 weeks ago

JCLifer - don't you know its all about the doctrines and dogma that most religions have. Don't you know that you can go to some religions, confess your sins and they are immediately forgiven - therefore, allowing the forgiven to continue on as business as usual doing the same thing over and over, but they have been forgiven because they have confessed their sins. Don't you know that most religions have bishops, popes, or whatever to change the belief system as they see fit whenever they see fit. It's all about control. Afterall it keeps the money coming in to spend as they see fit. Before anybody jumps on me I know that most churches do a lot of good and help alot of people, but don't you think the same thing could be accomplished if everybody were to realize that we are here to serve each other (and I don't mean salvery), but genuine servistude and love one another equally. Its those religions that feel they don't have control over any single minded person (such as homosexuality) that they go whinning to the government to make a law against what they preceive as an inability to get those people under control - so their willing to do anything to have it their way.......

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