Declaration of War?

This hit the news yesterday: The Southern Baptist Convention has issued a new set of guidelines for its military chaplains, and it's a doozy.

Restrictions — The guidelines state that “NAMB-endorsed chaplains will not conduct or attend a wedding ceremony for any same-sex couple, bless such a union or perform counseling in support of such a union, assist or support paid contractors or volunteers leading same-sex relational events, nor offer any kind of relationship training or retreat, on or off of a military installation, that would give the appearance of accepting the homosexual lifestyle or sexual wrongdoing. This biblical prohibition remains in effect irrespective of any civil law authorizing same-sex marriage or benefits to the contrary.” Chaplains also are prohibited from participating in jointly-led worship services “with a chaplain, contractor or volunteer who personally practices a homosexual lifestyle or affirms a homosexual lifestyle or such conduct.”

This would seem to be in some conflict with this portion:

The guidelines acknowledge that SBC chaplains serve in a pluralistic setting but expect, under U.S. Department of Defense guidelines, that the rights and freedoms of chaplains will be protected so they may "preach, teach and counsel in accordance with the tenets of their denominational faith group and their own religious conscience." In addition, chaplains are expected to: "Treat all service members, regardless of rank or behavior, with Christ-centered dignity, honor and respect while assisting the institutional leadership in its religious mission requirements and responsibilities as guaranteed by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution."

(Emphasis added)

This is going to bring SB chaplains into direct conflict with military policy, is my guess. It's also sort of Orwellian Newspeak: if the tenets of their denominational faith condemn gays and lesbians, how are they going to treat service members with dignity, honor and respect?

Timothy Kincaid, at Box Turtle Bulletin, has some very pertinent comments on this:

However, there are also professional restrictions that may prove to be disastrous to a chaplain’s career, relationships with fellow chaplains, or even ability to perform their duties.

The new restrictions disallow a chaplain to conduct marriage retreats that include same-sex couples. As any such retreats sponsored by the US Military will not allow discrimination, these rules remove an SBC chaplain from conducting or participating in all group relationship training or retreats other than strictly sectarian retreats sponsored by outside groups.

And, though I suspect they did not intend it, the most difficult rule to observe will likely be the restriction on jointly-led worship services. Far far more chaplains – and denominations – “affirm a homosexual lifestyle” than the SBC may consider. If not at this exact moment, then quite soon the vast majority of United Methodist chaplains, United Church of Christ chaplains, Episcopal chaplains, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America chaplains, Presbyterian Church (USA) chaplains, as well as many others will encourage the establishment and maintenance of committed same-sex relationships. They will celebrate, or at least counsel, same-sex marriages. And the restrictions state that SBC chaplains cannot jointly lead worship with them.

I'm cynical enough to see this as a direct challenge to the Pentagon's new policies on gay service members, and, equally so, a set-up to provide more fodder for the martyr mill. We've seen enough instances of chaplains claiming violation of their "religious freedom" already -- this one is only the latest. (Oh, and the story related by Boykin in that post is pretty much bullshit. There's what looks like a more accurate version at Think Progress.) We can expect to see more of this as chaplains try to adhere to the SBC directive.