I meant to post an update on the ongoing story of Lt. Gordon James Klingenschmitt, but I have been a bit under the weather. Earlier this week, both Washington newspapers covered another protest event at the White House, during which the Navy chaplain ended his 18-day fast — insisting that he had been victorious in his fight to be able to give public prayers in the name of Jesus.
Both stories noted that Klingenschmitt broke his fast by consuming a Communion host.
This was an interesting symbolic gesture, in light of the fact that reporter Alan Cooperman of the Washington Post elected to label the chaplain as:
… an aggrieved clergyman who believed his military career was about to end because of his insistence on preaching a fire-and-brimstone kind of evangelical Christianity — and who managed to enlist more than 70 members of Congress and a who’s who of conservative Christian leaders to pressure the White House on his behalf.
Over at the Washington Times, reporter Tarron Lively noted that the issue of public prayer is linked to wider tensions that have:
… become widespread among Navy chaplains since the late 1990s. Two lawsuits were filed in 1999 and 2000 against the Navy by 50 Christian chaplains, stating the Navy discriminates against evangelical and Pentecostal clerics.
“Most of those chaplains are no longer in the Navy, saying they could not get promoted and they’re out on the street now without jobs, because they prayed and preached the wrong way when the government was trying to censor their prayers and sermons,” Lt. Klingenschmitt said.
During the summer of 2004, he preached an evangelistic sermon while aboard the USS Anzio at the funeral of a Catholic sailor in a base chapel. After being censured by two senior chaplains, he was sent ashore in March to Norfolk.
This is the heart of the story. But what I found interesting is that these reporters did not give us an important piece of information about the chaplain — his church affiliation. This is crucial, since regulations state that military chaplains “may conduct public worship according to the manner and forms of the church” to which they belong. The assumption, in the Post, is that he is a “fire-and-brimstone kind of evangelical.”
Thus, I was interested to note that Jenn Rafael at the Marine Times reported that:
Lt. Gordon Klingenschmitt, an evangelical Episcopal priest, began his water-only fast Dec. 20. He claimed Dec. 22 during a vigil outside the White House that his convictions were going to cost him his job. He said the Navy objects to him praying in the name of Jesus.
In other words, this chaplain is a priest. That creates a somewhat different image in your mind, doesn’t it?
However, there is a problem. It appears that Klingenschmitt is a priest in the “Evangelical Episcopal Church,” rather than being an evangelical who is a priest in the Episcopal Church. It really matters, you see, whether that “e” in “evangelical” is upper or lower case. If it is lower case, the chaplain is a conservative in a liberal church that has incredible clout in the operations that control military chaplains. If that “e” is upper case, then Klingenschmitt is a priest in a tiny, perhaps edgy, church that some would say is pretending to be mainstream when it is not.
It appears that he is part of what its critics would call a “splinter church” and its actual name is The Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches (or the CEEC). This is not to be confused with the Charismatic Episcopal Church or dozens of other small flocks that claim Anglican and/or Catholic roots.
If this all sounds complicated — it is. However, words and symbols really matter on the religion beat. Is this controversial chaplain a run-of-the-mill evangelical? Or is he an evangelical Episcopal priest, with a large “E” on the word “evangelical” or a small “e”? This is not an insignificant detail, as I am sure the progressive military chaplains from the Episcopal Church would agree.
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Comments (13) |
January 12, 2006, at 11:42 am
As a CEC subdeacon, I appreciate you catching this. One of those small yet important details that it would be great if reporters knew more about.
January 12, 2006, at 1:42 pm
The Episcopal Church’s on line clergy directory http://www.ecdplus.org/ does not list Lt Klingenschmitt.
On another note … does consuming the host count as ending a fast? It may end a hunger strike but does it count as nourishment in a religious setting?
January 12, 2006, at 3:07 pm
I have had a hard time understanding this issue. When the Air Force begins a chaplain’s training, back in the candidate stages, a lot of attention is given to the fact that we cannot pray in Christ’s name in a public setting. We went so far as to break the class I was in into two groups: Those that would pray without mentioning even the term “God” and those who would. Those who wouldn’t had to give a reason why, and those who would had to come up with the prayer.
We were told two things. First, we would not be made to pray (in public) in a manner that was inconsistent with our faith, and would not be punished for so refusing. Secondly, that if we felt we had to offer the prayer and offer it in the name of a specific deity, it might be time to do some discernment about whether we should be military chaplains.
When I read about chaplains claiming to be either blindsided or forced I remember that day. I went into this eyes wide open, knowing the rules under which I would be acting out my ministry. If the rules are too restricting for some, why are they still in the military? I think of it much like missionary work abroad. Missionary work requires special gifts and has constraints. It isn’t for everyone. Neither is what military chaplains do.
January 12, 2006, at 4:59 pm
tmatt:
I had a similar discussion with a blogger on the east coast, as he referenced a newspaper article and didn’t include the word “Charismatic” in his description of Charismatic Episcopal priest during the 2005 or 2004 March for Life in DC.
Neither the CEEC, nor the CEC are “splinter” churches, but rather independent charismatic evangelical groups that were called back to the traditions of the ancient church. The CEC (my home) receives its apostolic line from the Catholic Apostolic Church of Brazil.
Darren:
Good to see you! As a newly confirmed member of the CEC, I’m always on the lookout for CEC bloggers.
George Conger:
I would not expect for ecdplus to list Lt Klingenschmitt as they only list ECUSA clergy, and Lt Klingenschmitt is a CEEC priest.
January 12, 2006, at 5:09 pm
HAL:
I am very familiar with the CEC history. Note that I said its CRITICS would call it a splinter church.
See: http://tmatt.gospelcom.net/column/1996/03/06/?printable=2
January 12, 2006, at 5:15 pm
The CEEC is a curious group — especially because thrice-divorced and discredit Christian comedian Mike Warnke is listed as one of its presiding bishops.
January 12, 2006, at 5:26 pm
Chip:
Excellent catch! I was waiting to see who would spot that?
Remember me to the O newsroom. Did you know I once worked there?
January 13, 2006, at 12:19 am
Am I missing something?
This Episcopal priest gave a sermon at the funeral of a Catholic sailor…
Which implies that there was NO Catholic priest available…
Now, the USS Anzio has “Crew: 33 Officers, 27 Chief Petty Officers and approx. 340 Enlisted..”
But then the article said it was at “the base chapel”…
This is an old article noting that there are a larger percentage of Catholic priests per Catholic sailor (33 v 24%)…http://www.sdreader.com/php/cityshow.php?id=C110598
….
So what puzzles me: Why did an Episcopal priest preach at a Catholic funeral? No Catholic priest available? And what was the religion of the chaplains who complained about it?
Sorry I missed earlier posts on the subject..
January 13, 2006, at 2:56 pm
Hal and Darren: Guess there are a lot of CEC readers of this site. I’m a journalist who is also a CEC deacon. Thanks, Hal, for posting that clarifying note.
January 13, 2006, at 4:46 pm
Hal, the point I was making was that it is very easy to verify if someone is a minister of the Episcopal Church —- something that was not done by those preparing these articles.
January 18, 2006, at 10:54 am
The press coverage of Chaplain Klingenschmidt’s fast has been abysmal. Talk about not doing basic investigation as a reporter:
1) The reporters didn’t identify the Chaplain K’s denomination.
2) The reporters didn’t investigate his claimed linkage between the lawsuit of the 50 (I thought it was over 60 plantiffs) and his difficulties on ANZIO.
3) There seems to be no interviews with the ANZIO’s captain or the senior chaplains out to get Chaplain K.
4) Why was there no Catholic priest at the memorial service in question? There is one stationed at that chapel permanently.
5) Is Chaplain K’s claim that the Chaplain Corps has a policy in contravention of federal law true?
Really pathetic job by the reporter. No wonder he had to create his own website to get his story out.
February 3, 2006, at 8:00 am
I was the Independent Duty Hospital Corpsman onboard the USS ANZIO at the time of the sermon in question and while Chaplain Klingenschmidt was onboard. As a smaller ship we do not have a Medical Officer just the Independent Duty Corpsman so I had many dealings with Chaplain Klingenschmidtalmost daily regarding the sailors onboard. Many sailors with mental health concerns or stress related concerns would often come to me to get assistance and advice. The general response I would get was that most did not want to speak to Chaplain Klingenschmid. I would try to assure them that the Chaplain was there to assist there spiritual needs regardless of their personal beliefs. It is my belief and that is all that it is that a Navy Chaplain has to be neutral when dealing with sailors of many different beliefs. I do not claim to be an expert on religion. The Chaplain is someone that the crew needs to be able to turn to under arduous and difficult circumstances. When sailors feel pressure or uncomfortable with what is being said to them then they are not going to seek the Chaplains assistance. The question as to why there was no Catholic Priest at the memorial is simple, LT Klingenschmidt is the ships Chaplain and in most cases that is the individual that the majority of the crew feels comfortable with. He should be the one leading the crew in this time of tragedy. I have worked with many Chaplains in my 21 years in the US Navy and my experiences have always been positive. Chaplain Klingenschmidt was the one to inform me that my Grandmother had passed and he prayed with me in his way and I was not offended BUT that is me others may be offended and that is why in public the Chaplain has to remain neutral. I personally did not hold any ill feelings towards Chaplain Klingenschmidt but was dissapointed to find some inconsistencies in his statement of events onboard the ANZIO involving myself. Things that never occurred or are exaggerated for effect specifically regarding a young Jewish sailor. He states on his website that I as the ships “Doc” denied the sailor a request to grow his beard in accordance with his religion, well I only approve disapprove no shave status for medical reasons and never even spoke to the sailor about the issue. Secondly being responsible for the health and well being of the crew I can assure you that every effort was made to accomodate the sailors special needs as far as food and at no point ( I saw him daily ) were any concerns raised about his health. He rarely came to sickcall and did not complain to me about any issues. Questions about the nonavailability of Kosher meals confuse me as whenever I did Food Sevice Inspections there was an abundance of the Kosher meals. I personally saw the sailor coming onboard several times with Mcdonalds Food, not an expert but I do not think that is considered Kosher. Sorry this is so long just had to get it out. Thank you
March 28, 2006, at 7:45 pm
To all, Chaplain Gordon James Klingenschmitt is not with the “Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches” (CEEC). He is with another group on the East Coast called “Evangelical Episcopal Church” (EEC) And to really confuse you we have a diocese in Spain called the Evangelical Episcopal Church with a website in English. However, I have not been able to find the other groups website.