Presbyterian chaplains deployed to serve military units in war effort
By Thomas K. Chadwick, Special to The Layman Online, March 20, 2003
The story of Presbyterian military chaplains is not just a story of the career active-duty chaplains. Today, it is the story of reserve and National Guard chaplains who have been mobilized, most for periods of one to two years.
There are currently 22 civilian PCUSA pastors who have been involuntarily mobilized in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and the new Operation Iraqi Freedom. They come from presbyteries across the denomination.
Most are pastors or associate pastors of churches, a few are in pastoral counseling or teaching positions. In many cases they are deployed with units sent to the Middle East; some others are assigned to stateside commands where they relieve other active-duty chaplains who have been sent “forward.”
They leave behind churches that still need a pastor, and they rely greatly on the sympathetic support of presbytery committees on ministry that are working hard to fill these vacancies with temporary and stated supply pastors.
We, the Presbyterian Council for Chaplains, very much appreciate the support we have received from presbyteries across the country and we understand the hardships and sacrifices they are making in support of our chaplains and of our country.
Many active-duty chaplains are also deployed to the forward AOR (Area of Responsibility) in the Middle East. They have deployed with their units and commands. Some were only recently returned from a normal deployment cycle when their unit was “turned around” and deployed again.
One Navy chaplain, newly reported to her ship, was sent on a training exercise that was scheduled to last six weeks in the Caribbean, but while still under way, the ship was given new orders to steam East and they never returned to their homeport.
There are 125 active-duty chaplains serving in Navy (45), Army (50), Air Force (25) and full time V.A. (15). In addition, there are 150 PCUSA chaplains in the Reserves and National Guard, of which 22 have been mobilized: Navy (7), Army (10), Air Force (5).
Each chaplain has a story of personal sacrifice, long separation from loved ones, of exciting ministry to young men and women who have gone “in harm’s way,” of patriotism and fear. Each chaplain is also a witness and an example of the love and care our Presbyterian Church feels for service men and women. Those who serve in uniform are our children, our grandchildren, our neighbors, our work mates and, in some cases, our spouses.
The PCUSA’s deputy director of the General Assembly Council, Ms. Kathy Lueckert, has been forwarding the names of mobilized chaplains to all members of the GAC with a request for prayers for them and their families.
The PCUSA’s Peacemaking Office asked the PCCMP for a listing of all active and mobilized Reserve/National Guard chaplains and has posted this listing on their Web site, soliciting prayers for all of our chaplains. Local churches have contacted PCCMP for names of chaplains and are now sending prayer cards and letters to many chaplains.
Military and VA chaplains are fully ordained and endorsed clergy who have heard the call to minister in this specialized ministry. Each has the permission and support of his/her local presbytery.
The PCUSA joins with other Presbyterian denominations in supporting the Presbyterian Council for Chaplains and Military Personnel, the Washington, D.C. office that provides credentials for clergy to the Department of Defense and the Department of Veteran’s Affairs. The staff directors of PCCMP act to provide pastoral support to chaplains and their families and, indeed, to all Presbyterians in uniform.
Thomas K. Chadwick, director of the Presbyterian Council for Chaplains and Military Personnel, wrote this article at the request of The Layman Online.