Wes Modder

Wesley J. Modder

Chaplain Wes Modder
Religion Christian
Denomination Assemblies of God
Personal
Nationality American
Born 1966 (age 48–49)
Flint, Michigan
Religious career
Previous post Force Chaplain for the Navy SEALs, Wing Chaplain for Helicopter Sea Combat Wing Pacific Fleet, Command Chaplain for the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit 1 MEF in Camp Pendleton, CA, Staff Chaplain Naval Nuclear Power Training Command
Present post Base Chapel Naval Weapons Station at Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina

Wesley 'Wes' J. Modder (born 1966) is a former Marine, and Christian military chaplain in the United States Navy. He appeared in national headlines after the US Navy denied him religious accommodation to preach according to his denomination's doctrine on marriage and sexuality.[1] Modder was also occasionally an author in ETHOS, a US Navy newsletter.[2]

Biography

Modder was born in Flint, Michigan, growing up in Clio, Michigan. He joined the US Marine Corps in 1984, moving up in the ranks for many years, including participation as Sergeant in Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. He was later commissioned as United States Navy Chaplain in 2000. Chaplain Modder was promoted to Lieutenant Commander in October 2009, and has since been deployed to many fleets including that of US Navy Seals. He remains in this capacity, and currently resides with his family in Charleston, South Carolina.[3]

Legal Case

On December 6, 2014, Modder's temporary lieutenant junior grade officer and assistant[4] brought two Equal Opportunity representatives and a five-page complaint against him. The complaint was on the grounds of discrimination of sexual orientation and different standards of respect including that of pre-marital sex. Unbeknown to Modder, his assistant was a married homosexual. Modder was later removed from duties and told to clean out his office.[5] After his commanders concluded he was "intolerant and "unable to function in the diverse and pluralistic environment" he received a "detachment for cause" letter on February 27, 2015.<ref name="MilitaryTimes>Tilghman, Andrew (March 11, 2015). "Chaplain faces possible discharge for being 'intolerant'". Military Times. Retrieved March 25, 2015.</ref>[6] On March 9, 2015, Modder sought assistance from Liberty Institute, which wrote a letter refuting the "detachment for cause" letter on legal grounds, and requested "religious accommodation" to continue his duties as a chaplain. This request was denied March 16, 2015.[7][8] Modder's lawyers will appeal this ruling.[9] From March 10, 2015 to present Modder has been temporarily assigned and relocated to Naval Support Activity Charleston while facing possible discharge if brought before the Naval board of inquiry.[5][10] On March 24, 2015 a sailor at a neighboring command unexpectedly died, Modder was going to attend and minister at the funeral when the US Navy issued a “no contact” order and banished him from the base. Liberty Institute stated “To deny Chaplain Modder of the ability to minister to a grieving family and other sailors is deplorable.”[11] On March 30, 2015 thirty-five members of Congress expressed their support for Wes Modder by sending a letter to Navy Secretary Ray Mabus and Chief of Chaplains Rear Admiral Margaret Kibben, the same day the Restore Military Religious Freedom Coalition sent a petition containing over 100,000 individual signatures expressing their support for the Modder.[12][13]

References

  1. ↑ "Navy Officials Violate Federal Law By Refusing To Grant Religious Liberty To Decorated Navy Chaplain, According to Liberty Institute". PR Newswire. March 18, 2015. Retrieved March 25, 2015.
  2. ↑ "ETHOS - Issue #6" (PDF). p. 26. Retrieved March 25, 2015.
  3. ↑ "Chaplain Wesley Modder vs. US Navy". Liberty Institute. Retrieved March 25, 2015.
  4. ↑ Smith, Samuel (March 20, 2015). "US Navy Violated Federal Law by Denying Religious Freedom to 'Decorated' Navy Chaplain Facing Possible Discharge for Voicing Christian Beliefs". Christian Post. Retrieved March 25, 2015. ..that sailor was actually assigned temporarily as a chaplain assistant," Berry said.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Starnes, Todd (March 9, 2015). "Former SEALs chaplain could be kicked out of Navy for Christian beliefs". Fox News. Retrieved March 25, 2015.
  6. ↑ Harper, Jon (March 11, 2015). "Commander wants Navy chaplain removed for alleged anti-gay remarks, discrimination". Stars and Stripes (newspaper). Retrieved March 25, 2015.
  7. ↑ Tilghman, Andrew (March 18, 2015). "Navy denies chaplain’s request for religious accommodation". World (magazine). Retrieved March 25, 2015.
  8. ↑ Hallowell, Billy (March 18, 2015). "Navy Chaplain Who Faces ‘Career-Ending Punishment’ Over His Views on Homosexuality and Premarital Sex Vows to Fight On After Military Rejects Religious Accommodation Plea". The Blaze. Retrieved March 25, 2015.
  9. ↑ Ruse, Austin (March 18, 2015). "From Hero to Hater: Navy Beats Down Chaplain’s Appeal for Religious Freedom in Homophobia Complaint". Breitbart. Retrieved March 25, 2015.
  10. ↑ Harper, Jon (March 18, 2015). "Commander denies Pentecostal chaplain’s religious accommodation request". Stars and Stripes (newspaper). Retrieved March 25, 2015.
  11. ↑ "Navy bans chaplain from ministering to family of dead sailor". Fox News. March 24, 2015. Retrieved March 25, 2015.
  12. ↑ "Congressional Members Rally In Support Of Chaplain Modder; Congressman Seeks Answers About How The Navy Obtained Private Information, According To Liberty Institute". PR Newswire. March 31, 2015. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
  13. ↑ "Over 100,000 Americans Call on US Navy to Reinstate Christian Chaplain Facing Discharge for Talking About His Faith". Christian Post. March 31, 2015. Retrieved April 26, 2015.


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