Volunteer chaplains in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department
have been banned from using Jesus’ name during prayers that are uttered
during public events.
Rather than serving as a discriminatory practice, the new policy is
intended — at least according to Major John Diggs who oversees the
chaplain program — as an effort to respect people of all faiths.
“[It's a] matter of respecting that people may have different faiths
and that it is not aimed at any one religion or denomination,” Diggs told WSOC-TV.
But while Diggs claims that the decision is rooted in not offending
non-Christians and that it is not geared toward any particular
denomination, some are voicing their disapproval. Take, for instance,
Pastor Terry Sartain, who is the senior faith leader at Horizon Christian Fellowship and who has been a chaplain with the police department for seven years.
Sartain was scheduled to speak recently at a government event where
he planned, as per usual, to use Jesus’ name in his invocation. Just
before the event, he received a phone call informing him of the
new-found ban. Naturally, he was saddened and made the decision not to
attend the event.
“When I heard this I was sad,” he explained. ”I asked if I could withdraw, because Jesus is the only thing I have to bless people with.”
In the end, the pastor was told that his decision not to attend and
pray at the event will hurt his standing as a chaplain. Despite this
incident, Sartain pledges to stay with the ministry, as he believes his
work with the police officers is important. That being said, he has
asked to have his name removed from the roster of individuals who would
offer up public prayers at local events.
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