98% Christian military chaplaincy reinforces barriers to diversity

[cleanhippie]

The military chaplaincy has a diversity problem and it just got worse. The chaplaincy is currently 98% Christian, 90% Protestant, and 66% “evangelistic” Christian (the denominations that may engage in a more political expression of their religion). The same denominations in the general military population are 70%, 50%, and 19% respectively. This mismatch in the diversity in the chaplaincy is a problem on its face that the military should address with aggressive training and recruitment initiatives.

Contrary to that approach, the Armed Forces Chaplains Board with the input of the National Conference on Ministry to the Armed Forces, which accepts only current military chaplain endorsers, have updated regulations to include a new barrier to potential chaplain endorsers. Department of Defense Instruction 1304.28, the regulation governing chaplain accessions, was revised in January 2012 to include a new provision prohibiting new endorsers from using a currently serving chaplain as their first chaplain candidate. Candidates for Wiccan, pagan, Hindu, and humanist chaplains who have approached MAAF, and possibly others, have been currently-serving and fully-qualified chaplains and would have been ineligible if this new barrier had been in place.

A representative from the Armed Forces Chaplains Board indicated to MAAF that the change was intended to increase the authenticity of new endorsers and their candidates. If a chaplain were to convert, then they should focus on that conversion experience. The regulations now implement a veto authority for the military over endorser decisions and who can represent what religious community. This creates Establishment clause questions especially since the barrier is applied exclusively to new endorsers and not the “in-crowd” of current endorsers.

A lawyer working on chaplaincy and endorsement suggested the change was intended to increase the quality of endorsers. However, the change focuses exclusively on new endorsers, doing resolve the challenges of endorsers and endorsements (this link is not related to the lawyer referenced). Recommendations 3 and 4 below would go much further to improve the quality of current chaplains and their endorsers by providing for more consistent application of chaplaincy standards.

http://www.secularnewsdaily.com/2012/03/09/98-christian-military-chaplaincy-reinforces-barriers-to-diversity/

[msongs]

1. military should get out of the "chaplain" industry completely nt

[cleanhippie]

2. Agreed.

[cbayer]

3. Are you saying that those serving in the military should not have access to chaplains

or services provided by chaplains?

[deacon_sephiroth]

4. I think the old school rule should apply

"not unless you brought enough for everyone."

[cbayer]

5. While there is a concern about proportional diversity, there are currently

Wiccan, pagan, Hindu, and humanist chaplains (according to the article).

This article looks at a proposal that would inhibit further diversity, not a good thing.

I was questioning the member who seemed to be stating that there should be no chaplains.

[kooljerk666]

7. NO CHAPLAINS PERIOD FOR ANYONE

goto church on your own time & keep your BS & lies to yourself.

[cbayer]

8. Excuse me? Many members of the military do not have access to

a church or other place to spend time with those who share their beliefs or lack of beliefs.

And the members who utilize these services do so on their own time.

[cleanhippie]

10. Respectfully, cbayer, you are exhibiting extreme ignorance on this issue.

Many members of the military do not have access to a church or other place to spend time with those who share their beliefs or lack of beliefs.

One cannot swing a dead cat without hitting a church outside of most military bases. There are PLENTY of places for people to do that.
http://members.iquest.net/~c_m_f/cmflists.htm for a start..

And the members who utilize these services do so on their own time.

That is just plain false. Military members are given time away from work to attend church services if they wish, while those that choose not to stay at work and well, work.

[deacon_sephiroth]

9. how can you not agree with that many capitol letters?

but seriously, most of the time, if troops do go to the chaplain it's on thier own time more or less...