Yeah, the issue was actually resolved a little over a week ago, but I've been really busy and distracted. Lotta stuff been happening recently. My bad. Figured I ought to post a diary here for all of you who followed the story closely and who probably wanted to know what all happened.
Anyway, we had a meeting, with the IG rep, the head chaplain, my First Sargeant, my shop chief, and myself present. Details below.
The chaplain apologized profusely for not immediately forming an email list as soon as someone had a problem with it, and I found out that I was not the only person who had asked not to be emailed. He apologized for the stuff he'd said and he said that if the chaplaincy created the perception of an unfriendly environment, it was not their intent and they're dreadfully sorry and they hope I'll find it in my heart to someday trust them again.
Incidentally, that won't ever happen, but I didn't tell them that.
All parties listed above told me I was absolutely and 100% right, and the chaplaincy was absolutely wrong on this, which was nice, but as they say, a verbal contract is worth the paper it's printed on.
I was told that, while I am always allowed to go straight to the IG, I still should have gone through my squadron's chain of command and seen if they could have solved the problem first. Even with having been told that, I still think I did the right thing, because now it is in the IG records that someone has made a complaint, even though it was resolved. It's on paper, and isn't swept under the rug.
My First Sargeant told me that, even though I was 100% right that the chaplain was doing something he shouldn't have done, my tone in the last email was inappropriate coming from a SrA to a Lt Col. Seeing as how I have email documentation of the half dozen or so nice-nice polite respectful emails I sent respectfully asking to be taken off the list, I didn't feel terribly bad about that. Niceness had gotten me "97% of the base is listed as Christian, and even non-Christians find the devotionals to be uplifting", and that's a direct quote.
After the meeting, the First Sargeant had me and my boss in his office, where he again said that my tone was out of line for talking to an 0-5 as an E-4, and I told him what I said above, that the nice emails had gotten me nowhere. But we let that point rest. He said again that my position was 100% in the right, but he asked me why I just didn't delete the emails and go about my business. I told him that if something wrong is happening, and nobody is doing anything to stop it, then I'll stop it. He asked me why I took that upon myself, and I said that it was because somebody had to. Then he said again that I should have gone to him first so that it could be resolved without going to the IG, and I yes sir'd, but if I could do it again I wouldn't do a thing differently. I've got a right to go to the IG, and I still haven't seen anything to make me think that my chain of command would be on my side. In fact, quite the opposite, because there were a few more things I found out:
My boss, the First Sargeant, and the IG rep all had no idea the emails were still going basewide, because when the email went out in mid July asking for people to reply if they wanted to continue receiving the devotionals, they all replied that they wanted to keep getting the devotionals. You can imagine how comforting that is, knowing that pretty much my entire chain of command is getting crazy Jesus emails like the ones posted here and probably agreeing with them too.
Even though I didn't bring it up before the IG as a concern, and therefore probably shouldn't be too surprised that it's still going on, we're still having prayers in mandatory formation that are accompanied by "inspirational stories" about things like people learning from the adversity of having a friend or close family member die. Yeah, the cyncical me thinks, let's give thanks that we have a God who is still willing to kill people to prove a point.
And today, in an email that the Operations chief sent out, he says
Lastly, I learned in church recently that, "it ain't about me." So, I challenge each of you as leaders to remember that these next few weeks are as critical as the first two. Don't allow any issue, situation, or person ruin what this team has accomplished the past 100+ days. It ain't about you, it's about this team and our team efforts. So, grit your teeth, squeeze your cheeks; whatever it takes, but let's leave here with pride and our heads held high.
I'm so glad that we're applying lessons learned in church to military operations. I also wonder what the issues, situations, and persons referred to are. Don't know if I want to know.
So, I got a pretty apology will felt somewhat good, stood up fr my beliefs to the First Shirt, had a few questions confirmed, but ultimately not a lot has changed. I'm not getting any more crazy jesus emails, but my chain of command is, and presumably enjoying it.
March 2007, can't wait to get out of the Lord's military.