Chaplains to Open Ranks

A local law enforcement chaplaincy under fire for requiring volunteers to be followers of Jesus Christ has agreed to open its ranks to volunteers from all faiths.

In a letter to city and county officials made public Wednesday, the chaplaincy’s president said the nonprofit group will change its policy “to dispel any misperceptions about the program’s motives or intent.”

Ed Linn, president of the chaplaincy board, said the group is embracing the shift as “a new opportunity” and looks forward to “working with others who share our desire to serve.”

Though the group has earned praise in Sacramento for its efforts to help victims of crime and other traumas, it was criticized last month after the revelation of its restrictive entry policy.

That commitment to Christianity, required of the group’s 90 volunteers, ran counter to the inclusive way the chaplaincy has operated for 25 years. The group routinely helps victims of all races and religions, taking pains to avoid proselytizing. Last year, the chaplaincy went on more than 1,200 calls.

The county and city, which help fund the group, had threatened to pull their money and other support for the chaplaincy, which gets open access to crime scenes and victims not given to other groups. Jewish and Muslim leaders, meanwhile, had called on the chaplaincy to open up its ranks or shut down.

James Lewis, a spokesman for Sacramento County Sheriff Lou Blanas, said department leaders are pleased that the chaplaincy has made the change, but they consider it simply “the first step in mending the fences.” Blanas, he said, has urged the chaplaincy to begin a dialogue with leaders of other religions.

Candice Fields, chairwoman of the Jewish Community Relations Council, said the community “can breathe a sigh of relief,” but added that the chaplaincy still has to make good on its vow.

“I’m hopeful their new [policy] will comply with the law and correct an unfortunate situation,” Fields said. “I would absolutely encourage participation by members of all faiths in a chaplaincy that doesn’t discriminate.”

The controversy erupted after an Episcopal priest applied as a volunteer chaplain and discovered that the group requires volunteers to sign two agreements professing faith in the Bible and Jesus Christ. The priest said he was troubled because the policy effectively excluded volunteers from other faiths and ran counter to the makeup of Sacramento’s diverse population.

City and county officials, meanwhile, expressed concern about the legality of the group’s restrictive entry policy in light of the taxpayer funding provided to the chaplaincy. The Sacramento chaplaincy gets nearly $50,000 in local government support annually, as well as two cars.

Linn said in his letter to city and county officials that the chaplaincy’s training program has long been open to other faiths.