CHAPLAIN ALLIANCE FOR RELIGIOUS LIBERTY June 7, 2016 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact CHAPLAIN ENDORSERS at info@chaplainalliance.org or call (571) 293-2427
Chaplains call on commander to renew Boykin invitation
FORT RILEY, Kansas — Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty sent a letter Tuesday to Maj. Gen. Wayne Grisby, commander of the First Infantry Division, that calls upon him to renew an invitation to retired Lt. Gen. Jerry Boykin to speak at a division prayer breakfast. Grisby recently rescinded the invitation to Boykin and cancelled the June 6 event after receiving threats from Mikey Weinstein of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, who objected to the invitation because of Boykin’s well-known faith.
“Uninviting one of the most decorated retired Army generals alive who has served in our most elite fighting units just because an outside activist doesn’t like his strong Christian testimony is dishonorable and without any legal foundation,” said Chaplain (COL) Ron Crews, USA Retired, executive director of Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty. “In fact, that decision flew in the face of the very freedoms of religion and speech that our fighting men and women have fought to protect since the very beginnings of the U.S. military.”
Crews explained that the prayer breakfast was not a mandatory formation. No soldier was required to attend.
“Maj. Gen. Grisby should reinstate the invitation to Lt. Gen. Boykin to let the members of his command know that members of the military can make their own decisions about who they want to listen to concerning matters of faith,” Crews said.
“Finally, just because Mr. Weinstein complained does not mean you have to capitulate to his demands,” the Chaplain Alliance letter to Grisby states. “It is my understanding that there was never a formal complaint through proper chain of command. Instead, an outsider made a complaint and you responded. Mr. Weinstein has no legal grounds to complain to you nor does his complaint have any legal standing. Hosting a prayer breakfast is your prerogative as a commander. Your chaplains can act on your behalf to invite a speaker who will inspire and encourage those under your command. I ask you to reconsider your decision and renew your invitation to LTG Boykin.”
Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty is an organization of chaplain endorsers, the faith groups that provide chaplains for the U.S. military and other agencies needing chaplains. The endorsers in Chaplain Alliance speak for more than 2,600 chaplains serving the Armed Forces.
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