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Praying in Jesus' Name
I saw the [news] last Thursday (Aug.30,2007) on Fox News about a Florida chaplain being fired for praying in Jesus' name. Then I saw the Association of Professional Chaplains (APC) going on record saying that chaplains should only pray universalist prayers. If a Jewish chaplain was asked to pray, I would expect a good Jewish prayer. If a Muslim chaplain were asked to pray, I would expect a good Muslim prayer. And if a Christian chaplain were asked to pray, I would expect a Christian prayer.

I've been a member of the APC (and its predecessors) for 30 years, and [while] in patient care have never had a problem with praying in Jesus' name. I had a Jewish CEO along the line who asked that at large gatherings if I wouldn't pray "in Jesus' name," so I moderated it to "in your name" and let people plug in their "your." He let it pass.

I hope that in the name of political correctness, we as chaplains are not expected to give up our integrity. I certainly don't want Jesus to be ashamed of me before God some day.

Alan Williams
San Angelo, Texas