Military Chaplaincy Ministry Plan Assignment
Andrew Pedde
CHPL 680 – Military Chaplaincy
April 14, 2024
Contents
Introduction…..…………………………………………………………………..……...3
The Call to Military Chaplaincy……………………………………..…………………4
Military Culture ……………………....………...………………………………………5
Endorsement…………………….…………………………………………………...…..9
Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………..…10
Bibliography……………………………………………………………………….……..11
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Introduction
Only two percent of Americans answer the call to serve in the United States military,
whether as an enlisted member or an officer. That is a relatively small number, and it is only
getting smaller as the United States Government continues to reduce the number of troops in the
armed forces. It is safe to say that the number of people called to serve as a Chaplain in the
military is even smaller. As an active-duty enlisted Soldier in the Army for a little over 5 years
now, I have seen the number of times that Chaplains on-base are stretched to their limits and
struggle to keep up with the demands of the Soldiers they serve. When I first began on this
journey of serving as a Chaplain in the military, I believed I had answered God’s Calling to
serve. I truly believe the Bible verse from Matthew 22:14, which says, “For many are called but
few are chosen” speaks to our world of military chaplains. In the following pages, I am going to
share my plan for being an Army Chaplain, starting first with my Calling to the Chaplaincy, how
I will deal with the culture in the military as a Chaplain, and how my Southern Baptist
denomination endorsement will play a big role in my day-to-day ministry in the military. As I
mentioned before, being called into the military is one of those things that requires serious
thought and prayer. It is a commitment that will change a person’s life forever. I was called into
the military back in the end of 2018, but I did not find out my true Calling into Chaplaincy until
the Winter of 2020 while at Eagle Heights Baptist Church in Kansas City, Missouri. A Chaplain
is often referred to as an enigma because of their special role in the military. According to
Professor Harvey Cox, “Chaplains wear the rank but have no command authority. They attend
the same schools and undergo the same rigorous training but do not carry a weapon. They go to
war but do not kill the enemy.”1
1 Michael C Whittington, Matters of Conscience: A Practical Theology for the Evangelical Chaplain Serving in the
United States Military (Lynchburg, VA: Liberty University Press, 2013), 89.
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The Call to Military Chaplaincy
If you were to ask any Christian to describe their Salvation testimony, many would be able to
tell you exactly when, where, and even what they were feeling the moment they accepted Jesus
into their heart to become their Lord and Savior. Some will remember and be able to describe
exactly where they were, where they were standing, and even what kind of relief and joy they
felt as they accepted the Lord into their heart and lives. The same can be said for many who are
called into the Chaplaincy. My Salvation testimony as well as my Call to the Chaplaincy come
back to me like it had happened yesterday. The day was May 8, 2008, at my home in Severn,
Maryland. I had just returned from my freshman year of college down at Pensacola Christian
College in Pensacola, Florida, and I had been going through a rough time. My Dad had recently
passed away unexpectedly, and I just was in a dark place where I did not know where I could
turn to. It was on this day that with the assistance of my mom and sister, Meredith, that I knelt on
my hands and knees and poured out my heart to Him and personally gave my life to Christ,
accepting Him into my heart to be my Lord and personal Savior. Oh, what a beautiful moment
that was! Talk about a life-changing moment. It was right at that moment that my life changed
for the better, and the spark for my Calling to the Chaplaincy began.
Fast forward a few more years later to 2020, to when I was at my first military duty station in
Fort Leavenworth, Kansas that I received the Call to the ministry as a Chaplain. I remember
working at the Mid-West Joint Regional Correctional Facility at the time and the message was
crystal clear, as if God Himself stood before me whispering, "You will be a chaplain." It sparked
a wave of doubt, questioning if I truly heard His voice. Initially, I dismissed it, but that dismissal
was short-lived. I instinctively turned to Isaiah 6:8 which says, “Also I heard the voice of the
Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.”
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Those words echoed in my mind, guiding me forward. I delved into education, eager to learn
about the roles of a pastor and chaplain. In my studies, a passage by Kelly Kapic quoting John
Calvin struck a chord, emphasizing the intertwining journey of knowing God and understanding
oneself.2 It dawned on me that to fulfill my role as an Army Chaplain, I must first intimately
know God—not just acknowledge His existence but cultivate a daily relationship through prayer
and worship. Equally crucial was understanding myself, confronting my beliefs and boundaries.
This self-examination was essential before embarking on the unique journey of military
chaplaincy.
Military Culture
I have been told more than once that the United States military is a “mixture of what it means
to be an American”. This statement is meant to emphasize the fact that the United States Army is
comprised of individuals from all walks of life. There is diversity in the military in terms of race,
gender, political views, religious belief, personality and ability. These elements can be combined
in so many ways that it would be impossible to list them all. But when it comes down to it, we
fight as a team as one branch and as a family. This concept is very important to the United States
Army and its members. It is this sense of family that gives rise to some of the more difficult
aspects in which chaplains must minister.
As the culture has evolved and changed, more and more elements from the outside world
have entered the United States military. In recent years, chaplains, as well as commanders and
other ranking members, have faced new challenges. The “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Repeal Act of
2010” policy has ushered in a slew of moral and ethical dilemmas for chaplains to navigate.3
Issues such as same-sex marriage, transgender rights, and the alarming increase in drug and
2 Kelly M Kapic, A Little Book for New Theologians: Why and How to Study Theology.
(Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2013), 25.
3 Doris L Bergen, Military Chaplains from the First to the Twenty-First Century (Notre Dame,
IN: University Of Notre Dame Press, 2004), 13.
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sexual abuse cases are at the forefront. Yet, alongside these, chaplains wrestle with the ongoing
wars and emerging conflicts, with many turning to them for spiritual guidance. In this diverse
environment, how do Chaplains uphold our values? One approach is to embrace the second
command of Jesus found in Matthew 22:36 which commands us to "Love your neighbor as
thyself." While we may not endorse certain lifestyles, showing respect and love, regardless of
differences, remains the utmost importance. After all, every individual is a creation of God,
deserving of compassion and understanding, irrespective of faith beliefs. Everyone needs to be
loved and cared for. One thing that I have learned studying to be a military chaplain is that we
are supposed to be “pastor to some, but a chaplain to all”. That means there are some people out
there who will come to chapel on a Sunday and worship with you and hear the sermon. Those are
the people we’re pastoring and leading in their journey with Christ. The tricky part is that it’s
those same people plus the people they work with that even if they don’t go to chapel on Sunday,
we’re still responsible for their spiritual care. It’s chaplains like us that seem to bring peace in the
midst of chaos. That chaos can come in the form of a holiday when everyone is working twelve-
hour shifts to guard the gates of a base. It can come from a car accident that claims a member of
a squad. It can also come from battles and fierce fighting. Author Doris Bergen states, “It may be
precisely the chaos and terror of such moments that make the chaplain so important as a symbol
that somehow, even in the midst of death and fear, there is meaning. That role of chaplain, to
embody courage, hope and steadfastness in the face of alienation and destruction, may in turn
explain why so many popular accounts of chaplains emphasize an almost super human bravery.”4
In short, a chaplain is known as the quiet one in the middle of the storm. Being the quiet one
does not come so easily. In many cases, that quiet comes from the men knowing and respecting
4 Doris L Bergen, Military Chaplains from the First to the Twenty-First Century (Notre Dame,
IN: University Of Notre Dame Press, 2004), 14.
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the man or woman who represents God. A chaplain needs to know who they serve and how they
can best serve them. There are many ways in which they can do this. As John Laing puts it, “I
make a point of checking the religious makeup of my unit to learn as much as I can about the
religious preferences of the soldiers in the battalion that I serve. The better I know who is in my
unit, the better equipped I am to minister to everyone in my unit.”5 When it comes to performing
and providing in the Chaplaincy, it is important to remember to stay true to one’s beliefs but also
be prepared to minister to those outside of one’s convictions. Another thing we need to show is
that we are willing to be there for them, not just in battle but in training as well. Many excellent
chaplains get out there with their people and do the dirty work alongside them. Getting into the
troops is a great way not only to evaluate the environment of the unit, but many members don’t
want to go to the office to talk about a problem. In some cases, when a chaplain shows up on a
particular unit, in that person’s environment, they are more likely to feel comfortable talking to
the chaplain about the issues they may be facing. The trust and confidence these members put in
the chaplain comes from the constant presence of a nonjudgmental chaplain. Also, being around
the unit helps in the way you can interact with them and get a better understanding of the issues
they’re facing. By understanding the culture and the language of all the people serving in the
military, you will be able to better connect with each person on the unit. Especially when you are
in a deployed location, many times in these settings, you are not just serving your branch, but
you are ministering to all the branches, and maybe even our allies. While this is not necessarily
the case while being stationed state-side, there are some joint-bases where chaplains may be
assigned where they would need to minister to the different branches. Knowing and speaking the
language of the people you serve is extremely important because it allows you to connect with
the group of people you’re speaking with. It is one of the most critical aspects of being a
5 John D Laing, In Jesus’ Name (Wipf and Stock Publishers, 2010), 52.
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chaplain to the people you serve. It is the mission of every chaplain to care for their people. They
want to reach as many people as possible so they can shine a light in a dark world. In a sense, the
chaplain really should follow the words of the Apostle Paul found in 1 Corinthians 9:19-23
which says, “For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I
might gain the more. And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them
that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; To them
that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,)
that I might gain them that are without law. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the
weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. And this I do for the
gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.” We must be like them. We need to
understand where they’re coming from. We need to know what they’re going through every day
in order to serve them better where they are. The lost and hurting have always been a priority for
the church, and they should be a priority for the chaplain. The chaplain must remember that he
was a church pastor before he joined the military. The military limits the evangelization of its
troops to chaplains, but that doesn’t mean that there are not hurting and lost people out there who
need Jesus, and it is our job to bring them to us and answer the questions that are weighing on
their hearts.
Earley and Wheeler explain that, “Everyone needs Jesus. There’s no one born on this earth
who doesn’t have a huge, God-fearing emptiness in their heart. We are all sinners. We all need
the gospel. We all need life-changing doses of Jesus Christ.”6 This is why it is vitally important
that we remain true to our faith denomination as well as our endorser. They will be the one to
help guide the chaplain through difficult situations that may come their way.
6 Dave Earley and David A Wheeler, Evangelism Is: How to Share Jesus with Passion and
Confidence (Nashville, TN: B & H Academic, 2010), 38.
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Endorsement
Having an endorser ensures that those called into the Chaplaincy are truly the best
representation of the faith group. The requirements for becoming a chaplain in the Southern
Baptist Convention are very strict. The two absolute requirements for becoming a Southern
Baptist Chaplain are: 1) you must be ordained; and 2) you must have a Master of Divinity
Degree in Military Chaplaincy from an accredited institution. These requirements, as defined by
the Southern Baptist Convention, are also the requirements that have been set forth by the Army.
This endorsement is significant because it indicates that there are people who have vetted the
candidate and determined that this person meets the criteria of the faith group to represent that
faith group. This endorsement gives the chaplain a certain level of credibility and respectability
that is inherent in the position. When someone has an endorsement of any kind, it means that
they have the full support and backing of that individual, group or community. This endorsement
is significant because it indicates that there are people who have vetted the candidate and
determined that this person meets the criteria of the faith group to represent that faith group. This
endorsement gives the chaplain a certain level of credibility and respectability that is inherent in
the position. When someone has an endorsement of any kind, it means that they have the full
support and backing of that individual, group or community. Ordination goes along with the
endorsement for the military. Just like the endorsement, the chaplain must be ordained in the
church that the endorsement comes from. Ordination for a chaplain is important because it is an
honor that’s not given to everyone who requests it. You must go before your local church’s
Elders, answer some questions, and get the Elders’ laying on of hands to confirm your
ordination. This further qualifies you to become a chaplain.
Conclusion
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As chaplains grow and mature in their faith, God’s divine plan for their lives becomes clearer
and clearer. At this point in my life, I believe my call into this ministry was timely and
necessary. In the last few years, the culture and environment in the military has changed several
times, and it is essential that a Chaplain knows and understands where they are in these changes
brought on by the secular world. It is also important that the Chaplain knows where he stands on
his beliefs and what his endorser allows him to believe. This is critical because the endorser has
placed their trust in the Chaplain who represents them to their military members. Finally, a
Chaplain must have a guiding principle or guiding principle that guides his day-to-day activities.
So how does a chaplain fulfill his calling in the military as a Chaplain? One of the most
important things for a chaplain as a pastor or Christian is to remember and embrace the love and
acceptance of every soul. As a chaplain it is our job to ensure that every member always feels
that love and acceptance.
Bibliography
Bergen, Doris L. Military Chaplains from the First to the Twenty-First Century. Notre Dame,
IN: University of Notre Dame Press, 2004.
Earley, Dave, and David A Wheeler. Evangelism Is: How to Share Jesus with Passion and
Confidence. Nashville, TN: B & H Academic, 2010.
Kapic, Kelly M. A Little Book for New Theologians: Why and How to Study Theology. Downers
Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2013.
Laing, John D. In Jesus’ Name. Wipf and Stock Publishers, 2010.
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Whittington, Michael C. Matters of Conscience: A Practical Theology for the Evangelical
Chaplain Serving in the United States Military. Lynchburg, VA: Liberty University
Press, 2013.
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