RESOLUTION 77:06 Erosion of Religious Freedom in the U.S. Military

The free exercise of religion in the U.S. military is protected by the First Amendment of America’s Constitution. Through the 20th century, all branches of service observed a policy of religious diversity where there was mutual respect among the represented religious bodies in the military chaplaincy, as well as a protected freedom for each faith group to exercise with discretion its belief system on a personal or public level. This approach was workable since it afforded under the Constitution equal opportunity for various faiths to be represented in the military.

Twice in the last century, challenges at the Supreme Court were made against having military chaplains on the basis of “separation of church and state.” Both times the complaint was overruled because the military’s policy of widespread religious diversity gave no appearance of Congress “establishing a religion,” while at the same time Congress could not be accused of impeding the “free exercise of religion.” America’s long-standing military chaplaincy from colonial days, and made official by General Washington, was sustained by the Supreme Court.

Knowing this legal history of the military chaplaincy, militant atheists have launched a new and effective tactic in the 21st century. The new, two-pronged attack comes through 1) efforts to lobby humanistic members of Congress to introduce measures to curtail and dilute the free exercise of religion in the military, and 2) legal challenges against specific individuals or religious policies at particular installations.

This latter approach already has had a chilling effect on the exercise of religion in the military. Commanders who are charged with accomplishing a mission have been taking proactive measures with their chaplains and personnel to ensure that occasions are not given for distracting legal challenges. With regard to anti-religious activism in Congress, a recent example saw a Congressman introduce legislation to allow atheist chaplains in the military. It did not pass, but it did receive 150 votes.

Religious observers who have a sense of accountability to God normally follow clear standards of morality. As soon as the Supreme Court struck down the “Defense of Marriage Act” and redefined marriage to include same sex couples, the U.S. Secretary of Defense sent a directive to all branches of the military ordering them to offer full recognition and benefits to spouses in “same sex marriages.” Now traditional adherents of the ten commandments, and especially biblical Christians, have been marginalized in the expression of their faith in terms of God’s design for marriage. Evangelical chaplains are wondering if they will be ordered to include same sex couples in their marriage enrichment training events.

In view of these developments, the 77th General Synod of the Bible Presbyterian Church, meeting at Grand Island, NY, August 1-6, 2013, goes on record against any imposition requiring our Bible Presbyterian chaplains to perform “same sex weddings” or otherwise offer public training for “same sex marriage” enrichment. We furthermore call upon Bible-believing Christians to raise these concerns with their church leaders and with their political leaders as we pray for a national return to the authority and the morality of biblical Christianity.