United States Navy Chaplain Corps
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The Chaplain Corps of the United States Navy consists of ordained clergy who are commissioned Naval officers. They serve not only in the Navy, but in the United States Marine Corps and United States Coast Guard as well.
Navy Chaplains "promote the spiritual, religious, moral, and personal well-being of the members of the Department of Navy." They share in the difficulties and rewards of Navy life. The Chaplain Corps consists of clergy endorsed from ecclesiastical bodies, providing assistance for all sailors. Navy Chaplains come from a variety of religious backgrounds including, but not limited to: Orthodox, Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist and Hindu. They are assisted by United States Navy enlisted personnel in the Religious Program Specialist (RP) rating.
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[edit] History
The Continental Navy which predates the United States Navy was approved by Congress on October 13, 1775. It was administered by a Marine Committee of three members later expanded to seven members. The Navy Regulations adopted by the Marine Committee on November 28, 1775 mirrored those of the Royal Navy. The second article of the Navy regulations of 1775 read: "The Commanders of the ships of the thirteen United Colonies, are to take care that divine service be performed twice a day on board, and a sermon preached on Sundays, unless bad weather or other extraordinary accidents prevent." Although the chaplain is not mentioned in this article, the reference to a sermon implies that Congress intended that there should be an ordained clergyman on board. The first mention of a chaplain in the Journals of the Continental Congress refers to his share in the distribution of prize money. On January 6, 1776 Congress passed a resolution detailing the prize share percentages and names the chaplain. On November 15, 1776, Congress fixed the base pay of the chaplain at $20 a month. The first chaplain known to have served in the Continental Navy was the Reverend Benjamin Balch, a Congregational minister, whose father had served in a similar capacity in the Royal Navy. Benjamin Balch's son, William Balch, is the first chaplain known to receive a commission in the United States Navy after the Navy Department was established in 1798.
[edit] Qualifications
The Navy accepts clergy from over 100 religious denominations and faith groups. In order to place chaplains in the military a religious body is represented by an "endorsing agent" who meets the critera set by the federal government. The endorsing agent may represent one denomination or serve as an umbrella agent for smaller faith groups or independent churches. A chaplain candidate must have the endorsement from a recognized agent as well as meet age, education and physical requirements.
Qualified applicants must be U.S. citizens at least 21 years of age; meet certain medical and physical fitness standards; hold a BA or BS degree, with not less than 120 semester hours from a qualified educational institution; and hold a post-baccalaureate graduate degree, which includes 72 semester hours of graduate-level course work in theological or related studies. At least one-half of these hours must include topics in general religion, theology, religious philosophy, ethics, and/or the foundational writings from one’s religious tradition. Accredited distance education graduate programs are acceptable.
Chaplains then attend the Navy Chaplain School in Newport, Rhode Island for a basic orientation course.
The Navy also has a “Chaplain Candidate Program Officer” (CCPO) Program for seminary students who might be interested in obtaining a commission before completing their graduate studies. The CCPO program offers significant pay advantages once a chaplain enters active duty. The program also includes on-the-job training under the direct supervision of an active duty Chaplain.
[edit] Mission
As members of the United States Navy Chaplain Corps we:
- ADVISE commanders to ensure the free exercise of religion
- PROVIDE religious ministry and support to authorized personnel;
- ADVOCATE for and promote the well-being of all personnel; and
- SERVE as command liaison to civilian religious leaders, communities,
[edit] Priorities
The Priorities summarize what's required to move the Chaplain Corps toward the fulfillment of the mission:
- Promote ethical and moral behavior throughout the Sea Services.
- Ensure religious ministry enhances current readiness.
- Think strategically for future readiness.
- Employ Reserve religious ministry assets more effectively.
- Realign assets to improve religious ministry for operational forces.
- Improve recruitment and retention.
- Enhance external and internal communications.
- Leverage technology to support the mission.
[edit] Guiding Principles
We are faithful to our individual religious traditions and practices.
- We respect the right of others to hold spiritual beliefs and religious practices different from our own
- We cooperate and collaborate in ministry.
- We are committed to the highest standards of morality and personal integrity.
- We are committed to professionalism in the performance of duty.
[edit] Vision
Devoted to God and Country, we unite to deliver innovative, life-transforming service throughout and beyond the Sea Services
[edit] Code of Ethics
From the National Conference on Ministry to the Armed Forces (NCMAF)[1], a private organization that United States Military Chaplains (active or retired) can join. The code is not official government policy.
- I will hold in trust the traditions and practices of my religious body.
- I will carefully adhere to whatever direction may be conveyed to me by my endorsing body for maintenance of my endorsement.
- I understand as a chaplain in the United States Armed Forces that I will function in a pluralistic environment with chaplains of other religious bodies to provide for ministry to all military personnel and their families entrusted to my care.
- I will seek to provide for pastoral care and ministry to persons of religious bodies other than my own within my area of responsibility with the same investment of myself as I give to members of my own religious body.
- I will work collegially with chaplains of religious bodies other than my own as together we seek to provide as full a ministry as possible to our people.
- I will respect the beliefs and traditions of my colleagues and those to whom I minister.
- When conducting services of worship that include persons of other than my religious body, I will draw upon those beliefs, principles, and practices that we have in common.
- I will, if in a supervisory position, respect the practices and beliefs of each chaplain I supervise and exercise care not to require of them any service or practice that would be in violation of the faith practices of their particular religious body.
- I will seek to support all colleagues in ministry by building constructive relationships wherever I serve, both with the staff where I work and with colleagues throughout the military environment.
- I will maintain a disciplined ministry in such ways as keeping hours of prayer and devotion, endeavoring to maintain wholesome family relationships and regularly engaging in educational and recreational activities for professional and personal development.
- I will seek to maintain good health habits.
- I will recognize that my obligation is to provide for the free exercise of religion for ministry to all members of the military services, their families and other authorized personnel.
- When on active duty, I will only accept added responsibility in civilian ministry if it does not interfere with the overall effectiveness of my primary military ministry.
- I will defend my colleagues against unfair discrimination on the basis of gender, race, religion or national origin.
- I will hold in confidence any privileged communication received by me during the conduct of my ministry.
- I will not disclose confidential communications in private or in public.
- I will not proselytize from other religious bodies, but I retain the right to evangelize those who are not affiliated.
- I will show personal love for God in my life and ministry, as I strive together with my colleagues to preserve the dignity, maintain the discipline and promote the integrity of the profession to which we have been called.
- I recognize the special power afforded me by my ministerial office.
- I will never use that power in ways that violate the personhood of another human being, religiously, emotionally or sexually.
- I will use my pastoral office only for that which is best for the persons under my ministry.
[edit] Controversy
In September 2006 Chaplain Lt. Gordon James Klingenschmitt was reprimanded and fined $3000 for disobeying an order not to wear his military uniform at a protest where he prayed "in Jesus' name". The background was his disagreement with a policy that requires any prayers at Navy command functions be non-sectarian. The Navy does not require that a chaplain give a non-sectarian prayer if his religious beliefs prohibit this.[[2]][1]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Cooperman, Alan. "Naval Chaplain Guilty of Disobeying an Order", Washington Post. Retrieved on 2006-09-30.
