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The Voice for Chaplaincy - Chartered by Congress - Serving Since 1925
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Weekly Newsgram - May 17th
, 2017
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Forum to Focus on Religious Freedom Report and Prisoners of Conscience
This past Thursday, May 12, Vice President Mike Pence joined Franklin Graham at a world summit on the persecution of Christians in Washington, D.C. In his remarks, Pence focused on the role of the military in addressing global religious freedom issues. Among his other comments Pence said, "(America) will not rest, we will not relent until we hunt down and destroy ISIS at its source." He also declared, "Protecting religious freedom is a foreign-policy priority of the Trump administration."
Today (May 17) the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (UCIRF) meets to discuss its 2017 Annual Report. This is the 18th such report of the Commission and in it, more than 35 countries are identified for religious freedom violations which have been documented within their borders.
Not only is this report significant in light of the emphasis placed on religious freedom by the Trump administration, but also because this report is the first issued since the passage of the Frank R. Wolf International Religious Freedom Act of 2016. Signed into law by President Obama shortly before the Christmas Eve bombings of Coptic Christian churches in Egypt, the law makes significant changes to the original International Religious Freedom Act adopted in 1998. Among these changes:
- Requires the ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom to report directly to the Secretary of State;
- Establishes an "entities of particular concern" category - a companion to the "countries of particular concern" classification used for nearly 20 years by the State Department for non-government actors, such as the Islamic State (IS) and the Nigerian terrorist organization Boko Haram.
- Institutes a "designated persons list" for individuals who violate religious freedom and authorizes the President to issue sanctions against those who participate in persecution.
- Requires all foreign service officers to be trained in the "strategic value of international religious freedom."
- Includes, for the first time, the following language to address protection for those who claim no religion; "(T)he freedom of thought, conscience, and religion is understood to protect theistic and non-theistic beliefs and the right not to profess or practice any religion."
- The new bill also condemns "specific targeting of non-theists, humanists, and atheists because of their beliefs."
This year's
UCIRF annual report
recommends the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), the Taliban in Afghanistan, and al-Shababb in Somalia be designated as "Entities of Particular Concern", i.e. non-state actors engaged in severe religious freedom abuses
Today's presentation will also include discussions by individual USCIRF Commissioners on their selected Religious Prisoners of Conscience (POC) - individuals imprisoned for their religion or beliefs. This discussion is intended to advocate on their behalf and to raise awareness of their plight in a larger context.
The impact of the changes in the law and emphasis on religious freedom within the Trump administration on chaplaincy remain to be seen. All of us should be aware of the issues and ready to respond with both knowledge and consideration in the present complex ministry environment.
Lyman Smith
Executive Director
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Rest In Peace
Chaplain Donald L. Wilson
Colonel, USAF, Retired
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Deceased May 9, 2017
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New Member Welcome
Chaplain Rusty Trubey
Captain, USAR and VA
Assemblies of God
Drumore, PA
Chaplain Alfred D. Climie
Lt Col, CAP
Coalition of Spirit Filled Churches
Katy, TX
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North Carolina Guard and Reserve families as well as Active Duty, have the opportunity to participate in an adaptation of the nationally recognized evidence-based family skills-building curriculum called the Strengthening Families Program: For Parents and Youth 10-14 (SFP 10-14).
SFP 10-14 has been shown to improve family functioning, youth-skill building, school attachment, and academic performance as well as reduce risky youth behaviors, including substance use, for up to 14 years after program delivery.
A new version adapted for military families; SFP 10-14 for Military Families, will be offered to families randomly selected for the intervention group. Researchers at RTI International and Iowa State University will evaluate implementation of SFP 10-14 for Military Families and look to see the impact it has on military families.
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Strength for Service Devotional
To God and Country
You Are Invited To Write a Devotional for Military Members
* The United Methodist Publishing House is looking for 100 current or former military chaplains to write a devotional for a revised Strength for Service devotional book!
* This opportunity for anyone who has served or is serving as a Christian military chaplain
* Devotionals are written to the service member from you using the Bible and your experiences
Email Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell for information and a sample at:
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Annual MCA Awards and
National Executive Committee Members
Please make your nominations now for our Annual Awards and NEC.
Each year we present three awards to deserving individuals who represent the values and principles we embrace and advance as an organization. The three are:
The National Citizenship Award - presented to an individual or individuals
who make a significant contribution in public service and who support the values and needs of our nation's military members and their families.
The G, William Dando Volunteer Service Award - Our award for volunteer service is named for Chaplain Dando and honors one of our members who exemplifies a life long commitment to sacrificial service.
The David E. White Leadership Award - Presented by the Military Officers Association of America to a chaplain wit a
lifetime commitment and
vision for Joint service, inter-agency collaboration, and overall ministry professionalism.
We also elect
four new members to our NEC each year seeking to have all segments of our membership represented on our governing board.
Please send your nominations and supporting reasons to
chaplains@mca-usa.org. Nominations will be received through June 30. Thank you.
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Religion and Spirituality:
The Impact on Chaplains
MCA National Institute 2017
October 23 - 26, 2017
Newport News, Virginia
or call
866-329-1758
ask for Military Chaplains
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MCA Chapter Event
Susquehanna Chapter - May 2017 Meeting
Friday, May 19, 1130 - Gathering; 1200 - Lunch; 1300 - Program
Calvary Church, 1051 Landis Valley Road, Lancaster, PA 17601
call or mail reservations to:
Chaplain Bill McEllroy, 524 Mill Street, Lebanon, PA 17042717-228-2071; mcellroy@the-innercircle.com
Please wear you uniform -
spouses and significant others welcome
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If you missed the May 10th
edition of the Newsgram
click here
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SUPPORTING CHAPLAINCY IN AND OUT OF UNIFORM: Active, Retired and Former Chaplains of the
United States Army,
United States Navy,
United States Air Force, Department of
Veterans Affairs, and
Civil Air Patrol
AND THOSE THEY SERVE: military members, veterans, and their families
at home and around the world
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The Military Chaplains Association of the USA
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