Defiant Navy Chaplain to Be Discharged

c. 2007 Religion News Service WASHINGTON _ A Navy chaplain who was involved in a controversial protest of prayer policies in front of the White House has received orders to be honorably discharged at the end of the month (January). Lt. Gordon James Klingenschmitt said his removal from the Navy is imminent after a federal […]

c. 2007 Religion News Service

WASHINGTON _ A Navy chaplain who was involved in a controversial protest of prayer policies in front of the White House has received orders to be honorably discharged at the end of the month (January).

Lt. Gordon James Klingenschmitt said his removal from the Navy is imminent after a federal judge denied his efforts to halt Navy action against him. The chaplain was reprimanded Jan. 3 after a military jury determined in September that he disobeyed an order by holding his protest.


“Because the misdemeanor court did not have the power to kick me out of the Navy, … I immediately predicted the Navy would find some other way and, sure enough, they have,” he said Thursday (Jan. 11).

Lt. Tommy Crosby, a spokesman for the Navy, confirmed that Klingenschmitt is scheduled to be discharged Jan. 31.

Klingenschmitt had been affiliated with the Evangelical Episcopal Church. He ended that relationship after his court-martial, and is now affiliated with the Chaplaincy of Full Gospel Churches. He said he made the change because he felt the guilty finding of the court-martial no longer permitted him to “maintain a spotless reputation” that was part of his covenant with the Evangelical Episcopal Church.

Klingenschmitt had sought to be reappointed as a chaplain with the Full Gospel Churches, but a Navy board _ after reviewing his credentials, military record and performance _ denied that request.

Klingenschmitt said he intends to spend his time traveling to speaking engagements about his experience.

Vision America, which featured the chaplain as a speaker at its “War on Christians” conference last March, has started a petition drive to Defense Secretary Robert Gates seeking Klingenschmitt’s reinstatement.

Klingenschmitt had argued against a Navy policy that urged chaplains to lead “nonsectarian” prayers outside traditional worship services. Late last year, Congress passed a bill that dropped that policy.


The Vision America petition said Klingenschmitt was found guilty under a policy that is now off the books. Navy officials referred questions about the petition to the Department of Defense. Defense officials were not immediately available for comment.

KRE/PH END BANKS

Editors: To obtain file photos of Klingenschmitt, go to the RNS Web site at https://religionnews.com. On the lower right, click on “photos,” then search by “Klingenschmitt.”

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