Sharing your religious faith in the workplace

  • Published
  • By Chaplain (Maj.) Randall D. Groves
  • 71st Flying Training Wing chaplain
VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  The chapel recently accomplished its annual spiritual needs assessment, receiving 217 responses. Thank you for your participation. The assessment revealed your concern regarding the free exercise of religion in the military environment.

The question is, "Can I share my religious faith or personal beliefs in the military environment?"

Air Force Instruction 1-1, "Air Force Standards," tells us that the answer is sometimes "yes" and sometimes "no."

The answer is "yes" because the Constitution guarantees the free exercise of religion for all Americans, including military members. AFI 1-1, paragraph 2.12.1, reflects this guarantee by encouraging all military members to "confidently practice your own beliefs."

However, there are some boundaries in the military environment which change the "yes" to a "no."

Boundary 1: Disrespect
If for you, "free exercise" means verbally sharing your religious faith or personal beliefs with others, you must do so without disrespecting other viewpoints.

AFI 1-1, paragraph 2.12.1, encourages military members to practice their beliefs "while respecting others whose viewpoints differ from your own."

You can have a conversation about religious faith or personal beliefs, but proselytizing --attempting to convert without invitation -- is disrespectful. Denigrating another's religious faith or personal beliefs is also disrespectful and may degrade morale, good order and discipline.

Boundary 2: Disobedience
The constitutional guarantee of the free exercise of religion does not excuse you from obeying military directives, instructions or lawful orders. However, in the event of a conflict you may request religious accommodation from your commander.

Department of Defense Instruction 1300.17 outlines the religious accommodation process. The authority to approve or deny the request rests with the commander, not the chaplain. However, chaplains are always ready to advise.

AFI 1-1, paragraph 2.12.2, requires that the religious accommodation request must always be "dealt with fairly" by the commander.

Boundary 3: Appearances of non-neutrality
The Constitution also guarantees that the government will never endorse or disapprove of religious faith, but will remain neutral. The "yes" becomes a "no" if your actions create the appearance that the government is no longer neutral.

Such an appearance might "degrade the trust and confidence that the public has in the United States Air Force," according to AFI 1-1, paragraph 2.11.

Commanders and supervisors in particular must avoid using their positions to promote their religious beliefs or extend preferential treatment for members of a particular religion because such actions may degrade morale, good order and discipline.

A superior and a subordinate can discuss religion; however the discussion should generally be initiated by the subordinate.

If your religious faith encourages you to share your beliefs, consider the common saying, "Actions speak louder than words."

The most powerful way to share your faith may not be through words, but through actions. Your lifestyle, habits, decisions and especially the way you treat other people, creates far more influence than anything you say.