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Issue:
A local change in policy has resulted in off base, religious leaders being barred from base. Military chaplains historically sponsored pastors of churches in the local community to permit them to visit members of their congregation in housing and in the hospital. In today’s stressful environment, it just seems to me you would want them to have access now more than ever.
Response:
Thank you for this inquiry. The 435th Air Base Wing chaplain did not bar anyone from Ramstein – he simply removed chapel sponsorship from local pastors over whom he has no authority nor do they have accountability to him. Given today’s force protection environment, he does not want to grant sponsorship unless the holder of the pass directly supports the chapel program. The purpose of his action is to align sponsorship with the person or organization that is responsible for the person’s activities while on Ramstein. For example, if a local pastor wants to conduct a Bible study for his members who live on Ramstein, any person in the church with an appropriate ID card can still sponsor the pastor on base. We value the ministry that local pastors provide to our people. They still have access to Ramstein, but they need to be sponsored onto the base by the person who will be directly responsible for their activities.
