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• 5-6 pm Parker Pavilion, Welcome Reception
• 6-7 pm WCHP Lecture Hall, Film Screening
• 7-7:30 pm Conversation with filmmaker David Washburn

This extraordinary documentary tells the story of courageous faith leaders fighting for equality and religious freedom in the U.S. military. As Muslim chaplains, Rafael Lantigua, Khallid Shabazz, and Saleha Jabeen swear an oath to the Constitution, vowing to protect the right of every service member to practice their faith freely. Despite decades of military service, some still view them as the enemy and unfit to serve because of their beliefs. Rather than blend in, they accept the challenges and inherent dangers of being the public face of Islam for the U.S. military. Three Chaplains goes inside the armed forces to reveal how these chaplains practice, teach, and share their faith with troops around the country. Rafael, Khallid, and Saleha each face resistance—from accusations of terror to disapproval from their own families and community—while ascending to the highest ranks of the military. Like generations of minority service members before them, they call on the Department of Defense to support equality for all. (55 minutes)

Biography

David Washburn, director/producer

For more than a decade, David Washburn has made independent documentaries that bridge religious and cultural divides in the post-9/11 era. He has collaborated with American Muslim storytellers on three film projects, starting with An American Mosque (2013), which tells the story of the first mosque in the United States to be destroyed by a hate-crime. The film won multiple awards from Muslim advocacy groups and was broadcast on public television nationwide. His first feature film, Three Chaplains, premiered on PBS’s Independend Lens in 2023. For his work on the documentary, Washburn was honored with awards by the Religion News Association, American Academy of Religion, and Religion Communicators Council.

Suggested Reading

Spinoza, Ivonne. “The Complex Role and Diverse Array of Chaplains in the Military.” Independent Lens, 6 Nov. 2023,

Stahl, Ronit Y. Enlisting Faith: How the Military Chaplaincy Shaped Religion and State in Modern America, Harvard University Press, 2017.