Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Chaplain? Service to God and Country
What does the church say about military service?
Who needs chaplains?
What programs are available?
What about personal growth?
Innovative ministry?
Incentives?
How do I qualify?
How do I learn more?
What do I put on my dog tags?
What can I do?
Web sites
Chaplains are the spiritual guardians of the United States Military. In times
of joy and moments of conflict, they are friend and counselor, shoulder to lean
on and spiritual leader. Chaplains offer their ministry to a unique
congregation, full of different beliefs, cultures and religions. They accompany
the service members wherever they go, from a chapel on a military base, tent in
the field, or a ship in the gulf, using the Word of God to comfort and console.
The ministry does not stop with our service members, but reaches out to
families, spouses and children, a diverse community millions strong. This is a
patriotic and selfless opportunity to serve God and your country, to reach out
to people in the most demanding and rewarding times of their lives.
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World Conference Resolution 1249, Participation in Military Service, Adopted
April 19, 1996.
Whereas, The call to the church is to pursue peace; and
Whereas, The church recognizes the moral right and responsibility of
persons to make personal choices relating to how they will pursue peace; and
Whereas, As a church we affirm that each person in harmony with his or her
understanding of the teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ exercises an
individual stewardship by choosing to participate or not to participate in
military service; and
Whereas, A person may wish to have on record with the church a statement
explaining his or her choice not to participate; therefore, be it
Resolved, That a registry for such statements be established and maintained
at the headquarters of the church; and be it further
Resolved, That a person making a decision of conscience either to
participate or not to participate in military service has the respect, the
support, and the ministry of the church; and be it further
Resolved, That as a church we affirm that each person has the moral right
to nonviolently and conscientiously object to, or refuse to participate, or to
participate fully in military service in response to his or her understanding
of the gospel of Jesus Christ as taught by this church.
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All branches of service to include active and reserve units, VA hospitals,
and federal prisons.
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Full time active service
Reserve
Candidate
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Becoming a Chaplain is one of the most profound opportunities for personal
growth you’ll ever have. You’ll experience challenges unheard of in civilian
ministries. As a community leader, you will influence the culture of the
military and minister to the personal growth of service members and their
families. They depend on the moral and spiritual guidance that only a chaplain
can provide during the entire cycle of life, through births, baptisms,
confirmations and weddings. Whether it’s preaching, counseling or
administering the ordinances of your faith, you can build a religious foundation
that supports the military family’s spiritual growth.
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You will provide spiritual guidance to service members in their environment.
You might minister to troops on field maneuvers or deliver a sermon from the
back of a Humvee. You might fly from ship to ship, or walk the flight line
providing one on one ministry. You will need the flexibility to turn a tent into
a chapel, a field table into an altar, or a log into a pew. Many chaplains live
on military installations around the country and shepherd their flock from local
chapels. Others may find themselves jumping out of aircraft. Wherever you serve,
you are an integral part of the lives of service members and their families.
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You will be a highly visible and important part of a dynamic community. As a
chaplain, you really get to know the service members, and you have an enormous
impact on the lives of the diverse cross-section of Americans. As a commissioned
Officer, you also receive the benefits and privileges that go with being a
military leader: Officer’s pay and allowances, 30 days vacation annually, free
on-post or base housing or a housing allowance, medical and dental care for you
and your family, as well as retirement benefits. As a Reservist, you can earn a
supplemental income while performing ministerial duties.
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Meet all of the requirements set by the church to attain endorsement as
chaplain. See "Becoming a Chaplain" at http://www.CofChrist.org/military/BecomingChaplain.asp.
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For more information about this challenging career alternative contact the
Community of Christ Military Chaplain Endorser, Steven McCrosson, at
1-800-825-2806 ex 3074 or e-mail at
militaryministry@CofChrist.org
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Military services allow service members to note denomination
affiliation on identification tags. In many cases service members don't know
what to ask for to identify themselves as members of the Community of Christ.
The church suggests that service members ask for "CMNTY OF CHRIST"
inscribed on identification tags.
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Service Members
Individuals who are members of military services should contact the
Coordinator of Military Ministry at headquarters to be provided special
communications from the church and the Association for Ministry to the Military.
They should also make sure that the recorders in the congregations where they
are enrolled have their current address on file. This will assist the church in
providing ministry in various ways.
Members in military service are encouraged to participate in congregations
located near their military installation. We also understand that many military
members choose to be active within their base chapel community instead of a
local congregation because of their unique commonality of military service with
others in the chapel, the closeness and convenience of the chapel community, and
interconnectedness with other military members from other Protestant
denominations. Whichever way service members choose to participate in worship it
is important to stay in communications with the church if possible. Contact the
Coordinator of Military Ministry militaryministry@CofChrist.org
Congregations
Congregations with military facilities nearby should contact the Chapel or
the Senior Protestant Chaplain of the military installation from time to time
with the current contact information for the congregation. This will allow the
chaplain to refer inquiries. Because of the transient nature of service members,
many will check local phone book listings for congregational contact
information. Congregations are encouraged to assure their phone book listing is
current. Members in the military may visit a congregation temporarily or
transfer their membership for the period during which they are assigned to a
particular base. Involvement in local congregations provides excellent
opportunities for sharing life experiences.
Congregations are encouraged to communicate with deployed service members. If
your congregations has members deployed you should communicate with them at
least once each month. Congregation which have no service members within the
congregation, but would like to offer support, may sponsor a service member.
Please contact the coordinator for military ministry at
militaryministry@CofChrist.org
for more information about how you can become a sponsor.
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Community of Christ Association for Ministry to Military
http://www.cofchristpeacekeepers.org/
National Conference on Ministry to the Armed Forces, NCMAF
http://www.ncmaf.org/
U.S. Air Force Chaplaincy
http://www.usafhc.af.mil/
U.S. Army Chaplaincy
http://www.army.mil/info/organization/chaplaincy/
Civil Air Patrol
http://level2.cap.gov/index.cfm?nodeID=5178
U.S. Navy Chaplaincy: Navy, Marine, Coast Guard
http://www.navy.com/careers/officer/chaplain/
Department of Veterans Affairs Chaplaincy
http://www1.va.gov/chaplain/
The Federal Bureau of Prisons
http://www.bop.gov/jobs/job_descriptions/chaplain.jsp
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