<p>Dear Secretary:</p><p>Currently, United States military service men and women are faced with a painful dilemma of conscience. Those wishing to exercise their religious liberties, which are protected by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, risk exposing themselves to possible disciplinary action.</p><p>While Pentagon statements claim that those who "evangelize" do not risk court-martial, under the Uniform Code of Military Justice "proselytization" is considered an offense. This confusing language could have a chilling effect on those of all faiths, leaving them fearful to express who they are and what they believe.</p><p>According to Russell Moore, president-elect of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, "… no one should engage in coercion when it comes to sharing their faith with others. But there must also be room for freedom for our chaplains and military members to be distinctively Southern Baptist and for others to be distinctively Catholic or Jewish or Muslim as the case may be."</p><p>Please ensure that the United States Department of Defense will fully respect the religious diversity of all service members and their First Amendment rights to share their faith with fellow service members by eliminating threat of disciplinary action for proselytizing from the Uniform Code.</p><p>Sincerely,</p>