One might reason that the Christian flag could be placed in the chancel on the clergy's right, with the American flag on the floor level of the congregation on the congregation's right, or vice versa but this inevitably means that the flag in the chancel is higher than the other and thus has the higher place of honor.Ī further difficulty arises from the fact that in many church chancels the clergy presides from various places during different parts of the service - pulpit, lectern, Lord's Table and baptismal font. Any other flag so displayed should be placed on the left of the congregation or audience as they face the chancel or platform."īoth in The Flag Code and in the Bible, it is assumed that placement on the right signifies higher honor than - and priority over - placement on the left and that higher placement signifies higher honor than and priority over lower placement. But when the flag is displayed from a staff in a church or public auditorium elsewhere than in the chancel or on the platform, it shall be placed in the position of honor at the right of the congregation or audience as they face the chancel or platform. Any other flag so displayed in the chancel or on the platform should be placed to the clergyman's or speaker's left as he faces the congregation or audience. On the other hand, The Flag Code (United States Statutes at Large, Seventy-seventh Congress, Second Session 1942, Volume 56 - Part I, Public Laws) states in Section 3 (k): "When displayed from a staff in a church or public auditorium, the flag should occupy the position of honor and be placed at the clergyman's or speaker's right as he faces the congregation or audience. It is a cardinal tenet of our faith that our loyalty to Christ comes above all earthly loyalties. It is not a denominational flag or a church flag, but a symbol of our allegiance to Jesus Christ, who is above all others. The Christian Flag gives the background of the Christian flag and the reasons why it should always have the place of highest honor when it is displayed. Thank you for your inquiry concerning the use of American and Christian flags in church sanctuaries.Ĭommon as this practice is, there seems to be no way to display both flags together that does not dishonor one flag or the other. We post it here as a resource for your church. The following response to a request for help with the issues of placement of the American flag and the Christian flag in the sanctuary was written by Hoyt Hickman when he was a staff member of the Discipleship Ministries.
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