Col. Samuel G. Anderson, US Army Chaplain (Col., Ret.) & MRFF Ad. Board Member Quentin D. Collins, and MRFF Ally Thank Mikey/MRFF for Action on Ft. Gordon Christian “Spiritual Fitness Barbecue”

Published On: November 17, 2017|Categories: MRFF's Inbox, News, Top News|0 Comments|

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Click here for background information on the Christian “Spiritual Fitness Barbecue”, MRFF’s actions, and the Army’s positive response


After a Mutually Positive Outcome, Col. Samuel G. Anderson (U.S. Army, Fort Gordon Chief of Staff) Sent an Appreciative Email to Mikey for MRFF’s Patience and Bringing the Christian “Spiritual Fitness Barbecue” to his Attention:

From: “Anderson, Samuel G III COL USARMY CYBER COE (US)”
Subject: RE: [Non-DoD Source] Re: Final Results- Inquiry into Spiritual Fitness BBQ- Fort Gordon GA
Date: November 17, 2017
To: Mikey Weinstein

Sir, thank you.  I am appreciative of the patience you displayed while allowing the command to dig into this problem, and truly appreciative for bringing this to our attention.  As previously stated, we DO WANT to do the right thing.  It was a pleasure working with you.  RA VA MIL!

v/r

Sam


 

US Army Chaplain (Colonel, Ret.) and MRFF Advisory Board Member, Quentin D. Collins, Sent the Following “Thank You” Email Expressing his Gratitude to Col. Samuel G. Anderson (U.S. Army, Fort Gordon Chief of Staff) for Looking Into “Egregious Errors” by Fort Gordon Chapel Staff in Leading Advanced Individual Training (AIT) Students to Believe Attendance at Christian “Spiritual Fitness Barbeque” was Mandatory:

From: Quentin Collins
Subject: Thank You
Date: November 17, 2017
To: Samuel Anderson
Cc: Mikey Weinstein

Colonel Anderson,

As a retired Army Chaplain (Colonel) and an advisor to Mikey Weinstein and the MRFF, I want to thank you for looking into the egregious errors perpetrated by your Chapel Staff and the Training Brigade(s) involved in this.  I joined up with Mikey after I PCS,d to my final duty station in New Mexico (official retirement date was 6 Feb 16).  Prior to my last military move I had worked for five and a half years in DC in and out of the Chief of Chaplains office, the Pentagon, the White House and the National Guard Readiness Center.  Repeatedly I would be presented activities where the “Devil Incarnate” Weinstein, was actively involved in his “attempt to destroy Christianity”.  So my opinion was somewhat jaded.  Upon moving to NM I was thrust into a Religious Accomodation issue where Mikey was actively involved.  As the Command Chaplain and the Senior Chaplain in the State it was my duty to investigate and present my findings to the Commanding General.  Though the case proved to be problematic and the complainant eventually proved to be disingenuine, my conversations with Mikey opened a totally different viewpoint.

In a previous “life” I worked as an executive for UPS and it always amazed me that the founder Jim Casey actually was the person that demanded the Teamsters represent the workers.  Why you might ask, does this have anything to do with your issues at Ft Gordon? It is due to the statement that became somewhat of a mantra in the Executive Suites, “keep the managers in check, so the ‘men’ would be able to do an honest days work for an honest days pay”.  In many ways Mikey has become the “Teamsters” in trying to keep the playing field level.  My greatest concern is the believe that many of my counterparts (mostly the junior Chaplains; but a few in leadership) hold, and that is the position of Chaplain is a “Missionary” to the Military.  As a protector of the 1st Amendment and a “check-in-place” that a Chaplain is charged with doing, MRFF ensures that Chaplains and Leaders protect the Free Practice of Religion (or none) as the situation dictates.

It saddened me greatly to see the overstep of the Chapel Team there in Ft Gordon, and personally knowing the parties involved – yes your Most Senior Chaplains there are adherents of the missionary concept – it seemed inevitable that such an activity would occur.  The only charge I give to you is to keep reminding the Chaplains that they are 100% Pastor/Leader and 100% Staff Officer.  Remind them of their duty and encourage tolerance training.  I have become anathema to many in the Chaplain Community (both Air Force and Army as I served in both) because I tossed in with MRFF.  I will assure you there are others like me.  In full disclosure, I think we know each other; but, with 33 years of service, as an enlisted man through to line officer then as a Combat Chaplain in both Air Force Special Operations and Army with 47 months of combat in the current conflicts, I have met a lot of people.  

In concIusion, I do not see eye-to-eye with Mikey on differing items and I do point those out; but, as long as people use their rank or position to prey on younger/junior members of the Military I will stand beside Mikey so that the position of Chaplain will be preserved and the three tenents of the Chaplain Corp “Serve the Living, Care for the Wounded and Honor the Dead” will stay for perpetuity.  I pray for you and the others in leadership during this time of change.  If there is anything you need please do not hesitate to let me know.

Respectfully,

Quentin D Collins, US Army Chaplain (Colonel-Retired), PhD, CPC, ELI-MP
2017 Recipient of the Thomas Jefferson Award – MRFF
National Advisory Board – MRFF
Founder – Family Reintegration Associates, Military Endeavor (FRAME) Initiative, A Certified Oregon 501 (c)3 Corporation
Founder – Step Out Families, LLC


Additional Praise for MRFF’s Success at Fort Gordon Pertaining to Christian “Spiritual Fitness Barbeque”:

From: (Name Withheld)
Subject: Re: Due to MRFF, Army Finds Mandatory Christian Event Unacceptable!
Date: November 17, 2017
To: Mikey Weinstein

Keep up the good work!  I wish I could send you big bucks, but I can’t.  When I can, I will.

There is considerable theocracy out there in America.  No manifestation of it is more dangerous than the military version.  What you are doing is what keeps us from drifting into a government like Franco’s Spain, or the Greece of the military junta era (1967-74), or the banana republics:  Lots of religion, lots of fascism.  It’s your finger in the dike that keeps that from happening.

 

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