Baptist Pastor has gone viral for reporting that he was denied access to the Dallas – Fort Worth airport chapel during a recent layover at the airport, while a Muslim prayer service was underway. Congressman Chip Roy (R-TX) issued a press release and is demanding answers from the airport. The incident is being framed as part of a “growing trend of Islamic dominance over shared public and religious spaces.”
As I await my flight home from seeing Voddie’s family an announcement in @DFWAirport says “all are welcome” to a “prayer service” in the chapel. With broken heart I went hoping maybe Scripture would at least be read. Instead I found this & was denied access. Imam-led Salah. pic.twitter.com/p6GhJ4IESB
— Tom Ascol @tomascol (@tomascol) September 26, 2025
The pastor says that, in fact, he was only blocked from entry if he wouldn’t remove his shoes and that he was asked to sit in back.
When I made a move to step further toward the door, he shifted his position to stand directly in front of me, making it clear that this prayer service was only for certain kinds of people, namely Muslims. 8/
— Tom Ascol @tomascol (@tomascol) October 1, 2025
A Texas State Senator running for Attorney General is also entering the fray on this.
We aren’t letting Texas turn into Dearborn, Michigan. It’s outrageous that a Christian pastor was excluded from a Dallas Fort Worth airport interfaith chapel by an Imam-led Muslim prayer service. I sent a legislative information request demanding answers from DFW airport. As… pic.twitter.com/wR6V4MOzIt
— Mayes Middleton (@mayes_middleton) October 2, 2025
According to the chapel’s director,
Recently, DFW Interfaith Chaplaincy was made aware of a disheartening claim posted on social media that a traveler was allegedly denied entry, or felt unwelcome, during a Muslim prayer service held in one of our airport chapels. We take that claim seriously, as we have upheld a tradition for 50 years of serving all who need a shared, respectful space for prayer or quiet reflection. We never refuse others from observing any service, or place requirements or restrictions on entering the space during any services.
We immediately investigated these claims with our Muslim cleric, who is our longest standing chaplain and a person who upholds our shared values of inclusive, shared spaces. Our cleric was shocked and saddened at this claim. He was not aware of the incident, and it was not brought to his attention until after the post was made online. Had he been made aware of the alleged encounter, he would have made clear that the space is open and available to all people with no restrictions on entry.
Our chapels are used by a variety of faith groups, often respectfully sharing the space simultaneously to pray and reflect. This is exactly how our chapels are designed to be used and have been used for five decades of service.
We offer weekly Protestant services, Chapel Mass and Juma prayer services for anyone working at or traveling through DFW. These services are always led by our Chaplains, are brief, and all inclusive. We want our airport community to know that we are shaken by this incident, which would run counter to our core mission, values and beliefs that all are welcome in our spaces. We thank the many tens of thousands of passengers and airport workers who have used our space respectfully for many years, and we look forward to continuing that legacy of service.
Muslim prayer services have long been held at 1:30 p.m. on Fridays at the DFW airport chapel. This is not a new service. The pastor felt that it was misleading to announce that a prayer service was available in the chapel and for it to turn out not to be a Christian service. Maybe announcements should be more specific, but signage says all are welcome at any time.
And I’d note that DFW airport has five chapels, one in each terminal, so I don’t see anything wrong with accommodating services for one religion in one chapel once a week? That really doesn’t seem to exclude anyone else from using the space – although it makes sense one might visit the chapel closest to their gate on a connection. After all, people often anchor to their gates and don’t venture off for food either (which is why so many airports have ipads at gates for ordering, and food delivery, so they don’t miss out on sales).
It seems to me that:
- A pastor, or any traveler, should not be blocked from entering an airport chapel unless they’re trespassing based on disruptive conduct. There’s no indication that was the csae here.
- But the pastor, and anyone else entering a religious service, should be respectful of the service that’s going on. Here that meant removal of shoes.
In other words, both sides were probably wrong here. The space is open to all, as the signage in front says! And everyone should be respectful of the services. In other words, don’t be a jerk. Let other religions have their service. Enter if you wish, but do so in a manner that doesn’t disturb people conducting their service, right?
(HT: Joe R.)
Rage farming, pure and simple
Oh so sad. Another supposed Christian discriminated against.
Sounds as if the white privileged traveler refused to respect their custom of removing his shoes!
Now even the Texas Pastors are feigning outrage over Muslims. Such a pathetic country.
100% agree with your conclusions.
Another reason Texas and Florida need to start their own country.
I am skeptical that most of this took place. I expect this apparent Baptist minister went to the chapel, saw non-Christians using it, and took umbrage. The rest is likely either a figment of his imagination or blown completely out of proportion.
I disagree. One should not have to remove shoes. Perhaps there are medical reasons for not doing so.
Does a woman have to wear or scarf or a top with sleeves? If it is open to all, it should be open to all. We do not have to adapt to the customs of foreign countries and peoples here in the US!
When will the persecution of old, rich, white, straight, christian, men in America ever end!
I disagree. One should not have to remove shoes. Perhaps there are medical reasons for not doing so.
Does a woman have to wear or scarf or a top with sleeves? If it is open to all, it should be open to all. We do not have to adapt to the customs of foreign countries and peoples here in the US!
Your post will not allow my comment saying that it looks as though I already posted the comment. NOT SO!
The space should probably be subdivided so several religions can use a portion of it at the same time without imposing rules on the other religions. Taking shoes off for the TSA at airports is more than enough for most.
Another possibility comes to mind: By who was he blocked? Someone with the authority to do so, or simply a Muslim who was praying and tried to enforce a non-existent rule?
With all of the straw man arguments, maybe straw will be in short supply.
Be disruptive and disrespectful, and you should be disrespected. His Christian values are now lost.
I believe all the old white men will be removed soon enough and the airports along with the rest of the country will remove their shoes and pause for the daily Muslim prayer calls, all aircraft will be parked facing the east.
Glad I was late to this ‘party.’ Gary, you could’ve lead with what you concluded: “don’t be a jerk.” That goes for about 75% of your posts. You know what, that mantra really is the modern equivalent of the golden rule. Treat others as you wish to be treated. Also, don’t be a jerk. DBAJ.
Garry, I think you’re missing the bigger picture here. These chapels are shared spaces in public terminals, and that means they should remain accessible and flexible for everyone, regardless of how they practice. It’s not appropriate to impose rules or restrictions that effectively exclude others from using a space that’s meant for all travelers.
Something as simple as whether someone chooses to keep their shoes on shouldn’t even be up for debate—it’s a public airport, not a private congregation. And while it’s true that each terminal has a chapel, not every traveler has the luxury of extra time to trek across the airport between flights. Suggesting that people simply “go somewhere else” isn’t a realistic solution.
The real issue is whether the “all are welcome” sign matches the practice on the ground. If one group monopolizes access in a way that keeps others out, that undermines the spirit of inclusivity these chapels are supposed to represent. That’s worth pointing out—without turning it into an alarmist argument about cultural or religious takeover.
“ But the pastor, and anyone else entering a religious service, should be respectful of the service that’s going on. Here that meant removal of shoes.”
Suppose an all-male or all-female Orthodox Jewish group decided to keep a service all one sex?
Slippery slope here.
@Carolyn
You’re right it’s a privilege to be White.