Christian Embassy
Encyclopedia
The Christian Embassy is an evangelical
organization affiliated with Campus Crusade for Christ
. Like its parent organization, Christian Embassy describes itself as non-political and interdenominational.
, founder of Campus Crusade for Christ
, and then-congressman for Arizona
John Conlan
, in order to serve as a spiritual resource to leaders working in Congress, the Executive Branch, and the diplomatic community.
The Christian Embassy runs a number of offices in cities around the world, including Washington D.C. and New York City
. It is a Christian
ministry, a recognized 501(c)(3) non-profit company, and its United Nations
office is a recognized Non-Governmental Organization
.
, and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency
. It also included two civilian employees of the Department of Defense
, and seven military officers, the latter filmed in uniform at the Pentagon
and identified by name and rank. After the video was posted on the Christian Embassy's website in November, 2006, the Military Religious Freedom Foundation
, a group led by retired Air Force lawyer Michael Weinstein, requested an investigation in a letter to the Department's Inspector General
. (The video was subsequently removed, but may still be viewed here.)
In July, 2007, the Inspector General issued a report on "Alleged Misconduct by DoD Officials Concerning Christian Embassy". The report concluded that some of the individuals filmed in the video did not violate any policies, but that others had violated DoD
policy by endorsing the Christian Embassy while in uniform. Furthermore, Chaplain (Colonel) Ralph G. Benson had provided a "selective benefit" to Christian Embassy by obtaining permission for them to film the promotional video in the Pentagon, and that he had done so by "mischaracterizing the purpose and proponent of the video."
Participating Army generals were Robert L. Caslen Jr., Vincent K Brooks and Air Force generals Peter U. Sutton and Jack J. Catton Jr.
Evangelism
Evangelism refers to the practice of relaying information about a particular set of beliefs to others who do not hold those beliefs. The term is often used in reference to Christianity....
organization affiliated with Campus Crusade for Christ
Campus Crusade for Christ
Campus Crusade for Christ is an interdenominational Christian organization that promotes evangelism and discipleship in more than 190 countries...
. Like its parent organization, Christian Embassy describes itself as non-political and interdenominational.
Mission statement
The Christian Embassy website, describes its mission this way,
"We believe that the workplace offers endless opportunities for people to explore and apply what they believe to what they do for a living. We provide safe places and practical resources to help national and international leaders working in D.C., their spouses and staffs integrate their faith and their work."
Overview
The Christian Embassy was started in 1974 by Bill BrightBill Bright
William R. "Bill" Bright was an American evangelist. The founder of Campus Crusade for Christ, he wrote The Four Spiritual Laws in 1952 and produced the Jesus Film in 1979.-Early life:...
, founder of Campus Crusade for Christ
Campus Crusade for Christ
Campus Crusade for Christ is an interdenominational Christian organization that promotes evangelism and discipleship in more than 190 countries...
, and then-congressman for Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
John Conlan
John Bertrand Conlan
John Bertrand Conlan is a retired U.S. lawyer and Republican politician. He served as a State Senator from 1965 to 1972 and as a United States Representative from Arizona from 1973 to 1977. In Congress, he was known as a strong and outspoken conservative...
, in order to serve as a spiritual resource to leaders working in Congress, the Executive Branch, and the diplomatic community.
The Christian Embassy runs a number of offices in cities around the world, including Washington D.C. and New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. It is a Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
ministry, a recognized 501(c)(3) non-profit company, and its United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
office is a recognized Non-Governmental Organization
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
.
Timeline
- 1975 - Founded in Washington D.C.
- 1980 - Opened United Nations office
- 1985 - First annual International Prayer Breakfast on the Opening Day of the United Nations General Assembly
- 1990 - UN office officially accredited as a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO).
- 2006 - Washington D.C. office widely covered in the news media after the organization films a promotional video with several prominent military officers in uniform in the Pentagon.
Pentagon Promotional Video Controversy
In 2004, Christian Embassy filmed a promotional video featuring endorsements by six Congressmen, two ambassadors, two ambassadors' wives, the Under Secretary for Benefits of the Department of Veterans AffairsUnited States Department of Veterans Affairs
The United States Department of Veterans Affairs is a government-run military veteran benefit system with Cabinet-level status. It is the United States government’s second largest department, after the United States Department of Defense...
, and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency
United States Environmental Protection Agency
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is an agency of the federal government of the United States charged with protecting human health and the environment, by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress...
. It also included two civilian employees of the Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
, and seven military officers, the latter filmed in uniform at the Pentagon
The Pentagon
The Pentagon is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, located in Arlington County, Virginia. As a symbol of the U.S. military, "the Pentagon" is often used metonymically to refer to the Department of Defense rather than the building itself.Designed by the American architect...
and identified by name and rank. After the video was posted on the Christian Embassy's website in November, 2006, the Military Religious Freedom Foundation
Military Religious Freedom Foundation
The Military Religious Freedom Foundation is a watchdog / advocacy group and civil rights organization whose stated goals are to ensure that members of the United States Armed Forces receive the Constitutional guarantee of religious freedom to which they are entitled by virtue of the Establishment...
, a group led by retired Air Force lawyer Michael Weinstein, requested an investigation in a letter to the Department's Inspector General
Inspector General
An Inspector General is an investigative official in a civil or military organization. The plural of the term is Inspectors General.-Bangladesh:...
. (The video was subsequently removed, but may still be viewed here.)
In July, 2007, the Inspector General issued a report on "Alleged Misconduct by DoD Officials Concerning Christian Embassy". The report concluded that some of the individuals filmed in the video did not violate any policies, but that others had violated DoD
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
policy by endorsing the Christian Embassy while in uniform. Furthermore, Chaplain (Colonel) Ralph G. Benson had provided a "selective benefit" to Christian Embassy by obtaining permission for them to film the promotional video in the Pentagon, and that he had done so by "mischaracterizing the purpose and proponent of the video."
Participating Army generals were Robert L. Caslen Jr., Vincent K Brooks and Air Force generals Peter U. Sutton and Jack J. Catton Jr.