LtGen Benjamin Mixon, now retired, was sanctioned by the Department of Defense when he publicly encouraged US military members to contact their congressmen if they opposed the repeal of the policy known as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
In a late summer interview by the Billy Graham Evangelical Association for a longer article, Gen Mixon stood by his original comments and indicated DADT repeal would “open the floodgates” [emphasis added]: Read more
Several news reports over the past few months note that faced with growing concerns from its chaplains, the Southern Baptist Convention’s North American Mission Board — which sends chaplains to the US military — has updated its guidance in light of the repeal of DADT and the open service of homosexuals in the US military:
“Our chaplains want to uphold the authority and relevancy of Scripture while continuing to serve in a very diverse setting,” said Doug Carver, the retired Army major general who leads NAMB’s chaplaincy efforts. “We believe these updated guidelines will help them do that while still sharing the love and the hope of Christ with everyone.”
In short, SBC chaplains must conduct every part of their ministry in accordance with the Christian faith — which reflects the “historic, natural and biblical view of marriage…” The specificity and clarity was praised by retired Chaplain (Col) Ron Crews of the Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty.
The guidelines also seem to specifically call out marriage retreats, like the US Army’s Strong Bonds: Read more
The repeal of DADT in the US military was such a non-event that these non-events keep making the news:
Two graduates of West Point are set to become the first men to marry each other at the storied military academy. Larry Choate III, class of 2009, will marry Daniel Lennox, class of 2007, on Saturday at the U.S. Military Academy’s Cadet Chapel.
Homosexual women previously did so, though the “first” event wasn’t as newsworthy as the second.
United Church of Christ Chaplain Cynthia Lindenmeyer, a 1990 West Read more
According to an ongoing story covered at FoxNews, Utah Air National Guard TSgt Layne Wilson was reprimanded after writing a letter to a West Point chaplain regarding a post-DADT chapel ceremony, which presumably occurred last December. The text of his letter does not appear to be completely available, but it said in part
Our base chapels are a place of worship and this is a mockery to God and our military core values. I have proudly served 27 years and this is a slap in the face to us who have put our lives on the line for this country. I hope sir that you will take appropriate action so this does not happen again.
Apparently, West Point complained to the Utah Air National Guard, and Wilson’s supervisor gave him a Letter of Reprimand because he
“failed to render the proper respect to a commissioned officer.”
Given that only part of the story is public, it is difficult to fully discuss. On the other hand, another part of the conversation is public and may stand on its own. As noted in a memo from LtCol Kevin Tobias, 130th Engineering Installation Squadron commander, following this incident [emphasis added]:
“We talked about his feelings about DADT and Read more
US Rep Chuck Rangel (D-NY) has proposed legislation to “upgrade” the discharge status of those servicemembers who were kicked out of the military for being homosexual while it was illegal.
All servicemembers discharged because of sexual orientation would receive a “timely, consistent and transparent” review, and those who served honorably would see their records upgraded. Any indication of a servicemember’s sexual orientation would be struck Read more
Several critics have lambasted Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, for allegedly linking the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” to the military’s suicide rate:
The stress in our military, when you look how they have used the military for their social experimentation: driving Christianity out, putting homosexuality in, suicide rate going through the ceiling…And what are they doing? Adding additional stress by this social engineering. Unbelievable.
There is no demonstrable link that repealing DADT directly contributed to suicide — and Perkins didn’t say there was. What he described was Read more
As noted at the Baptist Press, a Congressional conference committee is currently attempting to reconcile the House and Senate versions of the 2013 National Defense Authorization Act. One issue is a change that might allow the military to use funds or facilities for abortions. Another is whether or not military personnel will be explicitly protected in their moral and religious expressions regarding homosexuality. The Chaplain Read more
Continuing the theme of the US military putting a proactively positive face on the end of the policy known as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” US military academy professors are contributing to studies and journals virtually singing the praises of repeal.
US Air Force LtCol (Ret) James Parco should be one familiar name, as the former USAFA instructor was one of the “scholars” interviewed for the Palm Center report, and he has also vocally defended religious freedom critic Michael Weinstein.
David Levy is a current US Air Force Academy professor in the Management Department. He, too, has been mentioned as a contributor to the biased Palm Center report.
In the Armed Forces Journal, the two co-authored Read more