“Prayer in Jesus’ name remains an issue in military chaplaincy” is the title of a SBCBaptistPress article.

“Prohibitions against praying in Jesus’ name have been a longstanding complaint lodged by several dozen current and former chaplains in their lawsuits against the Navy. The plaintiffs include 11 Southern Baptists.”, says the article.

Washington hosts the fight for the right of evangelical chaplains in all branches of the military to pray in Jesus’ name.

Initially, last October, Rep. Walter Jones and 68 other members of Congress asked President George Bush to issue an executive order addressing this matter. They wanted to protect chaplains’ constitutional rights. Later, in December, four congressmen presented supporting petition signed by almost 160,000 citizens. Evangelical leaders followed, sending a letter to Bush.

“This is going to be a major thrust to see if we can get this fixed,” said Billy Baugham, director of the International Conference of Evangelical Chaplain Endorsers. He also noted that chaplain Jonathan Sterzbaugh called him from Iraq Jan. 30 to inform him that he had been removed from preaching duties at chapel services.

It is not clear how the issue will be resolved.