If you stand at the gates of the U.S. Air Force Academy and turn 180 degrees, about a half mile away across I25 you’ll see two large buildings - one is the New Life Church, a 10,000 member evangelical church formerly run by Ted Haggard. The other is Focus on the Family, a religious organization that runs a radio and publishing empire. The two of them combined tried to make the Air Force Academy their personal petri dish.
And where does this contradict my post above? The Chaplains are not there to try to convert people from one faith (or lack thereof) to another (or some) faith. They are there to provide the services (sorry about the pun) you mentioned.
Not a contradiction at all, just a clarification. Certainly there are times where chaplains will be involved in converting people, and that is entirely proper if it is not initiated by the chaplain.
I felt that there was no clarification needed. After all, try seems to me to indicate active pursuit. My point was that such pursuit is not permitted. Assisting those who approach the Chaplain asking to convert is, of course, not pursuing the potential convert.
I’m sorry if this felt like nitpicking - I was just trying to relate my own history in this.
I don’t think we’re at all in disagreement about what chaplains ought to do, so I hope you’ll accept my apology on this.
No problem, Mr. Moto.
I’m currently on an active duty post and I’ll be here for a few weeks. So far I have not been forcibly baptised. I’ll keep you updated.
Hm. Which reminds me of the one completely secular baptism I have had.
Any Naval gents here able to think of what I mean?
Shellback?
ETA: I wouldn’t know that I’d classify that as completely secular. After all, Neptune/Poseidon does preside, and he’s actually a deity…
Worst tasting olive I ever ate.