The U.S. House of Representatives has approved a measure that would permit military chaplains to pray in Jesus’ name at public events.
The provision gained approval as part of a $513 billion Department of Defense authorization bill, which the House passed in a 396–31 vote May 11.
The Armed Services Committee had attached the prayer measure to the overall bill before sending it to the full House.
The Senate will still have to approve the language as part of the authorization legislation.
The new language says: “Each chaplain shall have the prerogative to pray according to the dictates of the chaplain’s own conscience, except as must be limited by military necessity, with any such limitation being imposed in the least restrictive manner feasible.”
The provision seeks to correct what some House members have considered inappropriate military restrictions, especially on evangelical chaplains who normally follow the New Testament pattern of praying in Jesus’ name.
A Navy policy issued in February urges chaplains to use inclusive prayers when they are outside worship settings.
Beyond chapel services, “religious elements for a command function, absent extraordinary circumstances, should be nonsectarian in nature,” the naval rules read.
Guidelines from the U.S. Air Force, released that same month, said chaplains “will not be required to participate in religious activities, including public prayer, inconsistent with their faiths.”
But the guidelines also state that “nondenominational, inclusive prayer or a moment of silence may be appropriate for military ceremonies … when its primary purpose is not the advancement of religious beliefs.” (BP, RNS)
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