Military Chaplaincy - Another pace (the role)

Having established that our forces are not in the business of murdering, we now turn our gaze towards the role of the Chaplain in a military setting.

First and foremost the Chaplain is there to provide moral and spiritual guidance and pastoral support to ALL members of the armed forces, and the service in which they serve in particular. The Chaplain is present for those of ALL religions and those of NO religion. Regardless of the who or what, we engage with them and bring the otherness that we, as minister of the Gospel, have in this setting.

The Chaplain teaches and reinforce the values and standards of the service of which they are a part and will also find themselves engaged in the teaching of LOAC (Law of Armed Conflict) and engaging in some extremely challenging conversations regarding RoE (Rules of Engagement) and the reasons for our presence in places (and the jobs we are doing). Alongside this we have the field services, communions and other 'church' services, which include vigils, acts of remembrance, sending off of those who have died in combat and the receiving of same back here in the UK. We do funerals (military and civillian), weddings, baptisms and the other stuff normally associated with the parish/pastoral roles.

There is the joy of sharing Christ and seeing men and women in uniform accept Him and come through in their faith to a place where they themselves are selected for training. There is the precious ability to discuss with those in uniform the philosophy and theology of faith and to help ALL with their journey along their chosen path (one of my joys has been to help a young Buddhist grow in their faith such that they are now becoming a leader of others).

We are not in the forces to excuse or justify wrong, for this is not what our faith requires (Micah 6 - humility, justice, mercy says it all). We NEVER glorify war and do, in our acts of remembrance, accept the folly and failures that bring us to conflict - honouring the dead of all sides and those who were non-combatants too.

If anyone wants to be fully engaged in the pastoral role and have before them the opportunity to share their faith and to display it in their own life and attitudes, then look no further than the military Chaplaincy roles - full on and for christ - always