Pentagon revises military faith codes after Utah lawmakers' objections
The Department of Defense updated its list of religious designations for chaplains, removing the label “Christian” from several denominations following criticism from Utah representatives over the classification of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The U.S. Department of Defense announced on Monday that it had revised its list of faith codes used for military chaplains after receiving feedback from members of Utah’s congressional delegation. The earlier draft had identified the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as non-Christian, while labeling other groups such as Catholic, Baptist and evangelical churches as “Christian.”
In a post on X, the Pentagon said the previous version contained “redundant and unnecessary labeling” and that the agency’s role is to respect sincerely-held faiths rather than settle theological disputes. The updated list now omits the “Christian” designation for all faith groups.
Senators John Curtis and Mike Lee, both from Utah, criticized the original categorization, calling it inconsistent with the church’s own teachings. Curtis said it was “unacceptable for a government entity to characterize a faith in a manner that contradicts the religion’s own foundational tenets,” while Lee thanked Secretary of War Pete Hegseth for correcting the error. Representatives Burgess Owens and Mike Kennedy also expressed appreciation for the change.
According to a spokesperson for Curtis, the modification resulted from discussions between the senator’s office and the Pentagon on Monday morning. Kennedy noted that, regardless of theological debates, the government should not decide who qualifies as Christian.
The revision follows broader concerns about how the military classifies religious affiliations and reflects ongoing dialogue between federal agencies and religious communities.