A chaplain in the 45th Infantry Division leads a Christmas Day service in Italy, 1943.

US Navy Chaplain Kenneth Medve conducts Catholic Mass onboard the Ronald Reagan (2006)

A chaplain is typically a priest, pastor, ordained deacon or other member of the clergy serving a group of people who are not organized as a mission or church, or who are unable to attend church for various reasons; such as health, confinement, or military or civil duties; lay chaplains are also found in other settings such as universities. For example a chaplain is often attached to a military unit (often known as padre), a private chapel, a ship, a prison, a hospital, a high school, college or especially boarding school, even a parliamentary assembly and so on. In recent years many non-ordained persons have received professional training in chaplaincy and are now appointed as chaplains in schools, hospitals, universities, prisons and elsewhere to work alongside or instead of ordained chaplains^{[citation needed]}. Image File history File links Chaplain01. ... Image File history File links Chaplain01. ... The 45th Infantry Division was a unit of the United States Army in World War II. // Activated: In 1924 as a National Guard Division in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Oklahoma. ... Joseph and Mary with baby Jesus, at the first Christmas Christmas (literally, the Mass of Christ) is a holiday in the Christian calendar, usually observed on December 25, which celebrates the birth of Jesus. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 521 pixelsFull resolution (2100 × 1368 pixel, file size: 506 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) 060226-N-2959L-092 Persian Gulf (Feb. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 521 pixelsFull resolution (2100 × 1368 pixel, file size: 506 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) 060226-N-2959L-092 Persian Gulf (Feb. ... The United States Navy (USN) is the branch of the United States armed forces responsible for naval operations. ... USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76), the ninth and penultimate Nimitz-class supercarrier, was the first ship of the United States Navy to be named for former President Ronald Reagan. ... This article is about religious workers. ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury · Catholic Pope Coptic Pope · Ecumenical Patriarch Christianity Portal This box:      A pastor is an... For other uses, see Deacon (disambiguation). ... Clergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given religion. ... For the architectural structure, see Church (building). ... In religious organizations, the laity comprises all lay persons collectively. ... For the community in Florida, see University, Florida. ... Padre (pronounced ) is a commonly used term for a military chaplain in the American, Australian Army, British, French and the Canadian Forces. ... A chapel is a private church, usually small and often attached to a larger institution such as a college, a hospital, a palace, or a prison. ... For other uses, see Ship (disambiguation). ... For the town in the Republic of Ireland, see Hospital, County Limerick. ... For other uses, see High school (disambiguation). ... The House of Representatives Chamber of the Parliament of Australia in Canberra. ...

Origins

History records various 'equivalents' from ancient Assyria onwards, sometimes rendered as 'chaplains'. Favored theories of the derivation of the term relate to the relic cloak (capa or capella) of St. Martin of Tours or from the Latin term Capellanus. In various languages, the word equivalent to Almoner (e.g. Aumônier in French, Aalmoezenier in Dutch - but also Kapelaan with the military) is used in many instances where English uses chaplain, sometimes there are still other terms (e.g. also Proost, otherwise equivalent to Provost, in Dutch). For other uses, see Assyria (disambiguation). ... A relic is an object, especially a piece of the body or a personal item of someone of religious significance, carefully preserved with an air of veneration as a tangible memorial, Relics are an important aspect of Buddhism, some denominations of Christianity, Hinduism, shamanism, and many other personal belief systems. ... Evening cloak or manteau, from Costume Parisien, 1823 A cloak is a type of loose garment that is worn over indoor clothing and serves the same purpose as an overcoat—it protects the wearer from the cold, rain or wind for example, or it may form part of a fashionable... Saint Martin of Tours (Latin: Martinus), (316/317 – November 11, 397 in Candes) was a bishop of Tours whose shrine became a famous stopping-point for pilgrims on the road to Santiago de Compostela. ... Almoner (from the Greek eelmosyna alms via Latin Almosunartius and French, known in English since circa 1300) is a chaplain or church officer who originally was in charge of distributing charity. ... A provost is a senior official in a number of Christian churches. ...

In the Old Testament book of Joshua, Levite priests accompany the Israelites' military and political expedition into Israel; carrying the Ark of the Covenant and playing a major role in the goodwill of military matters. While these priests cannot be considered "chaplains" with the current meaning, their role as spiritual aides provides a model for modern chaplains to rely upon.

Originally a Christian chaplain had a function of serving as an aide to a bishop, and various chaplains still help the pope in his ecclesiastical duties. In other circumstances their duties were limited to saying a mass in certain functions. In many Catholic parishes the curate has one or more younger priests, styled Chaplains, attached to him, under his ordinary jurisdiction. In Roman Catholic Canon Law a chaplain is unique in that s/he operates by virtue of their own office. This has caused some problems since the introduction of non-ordained chaplains as the hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church does not understand non-ordained ministers having such power. One way that this has been addressed is to appoint non-ordanied trained chaplains to positions without using the title of chaplain relying instead on "co-ordinator of chaplaincy". However, research has shown that, in the school sector, ordination is not counted as an important dimension for those who use the services of a chaplain (see Norman, 2004). For other uses, see Christian (disambiguation). ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations · Other religions Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury · Catholic Pope Coptic Pope · Ecumenical Patriarch Christianity Portal This box:      This article... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Wycliffe Tyndale · Luther · Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Pope · Archbishop of Canterbury Patriarch of Constantinople Christianity Portal This box:      The Pope (from Latin... For other uses, see Mass (disambiguation). ... From the Latin curatus (compare Curator), a curate is a person who is invested with the care, or cure (cura), of souls of a parish. ...

The term "chaplain" can also be used to describe the ministry style of an ordained priest or pastor wherein the clergy person devotes the majority of their time and effort to developing and maintaining a familial relationship environment for a small congregation. This is in contrast to what many consider the historic early-church and biblical pastoral model, wherein a priest or pastor devotes the bulk of their efforts to teaching, preaching, and discipleship; developing lay ministry within their parish or cure so as to bring about spiritual and congregational growth. This does not cite any references or sources. ... This article is about religious workers. ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury · Catholic Pope Coptic Pope · Ecumenical Patriarch Christianity Portal This box:      A pastor is an... A family of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso in 1997 A family consists of a domestic group of people (or a number of domestic groups), typically affiliated by birth or marriage, or by comparable legal relationships — including domestic partnership, adoption, surname and (in some cases) ownership (as occurred in the Roman Empire). ... For other uses, see Pastoral (disambiguation). ... In education, teachers are those who teach students or pupils, often a course of study or a practical skill. ... Preaching is the most important element in the protestant churches. ... A disciple (from the Latin discipulus, a pupil) is one who receives instruction from another; a scholar; a learner; especially, a follower who has learned to believe in the truth of the doctrine of his teacher, and implies that the pupil is under the discipline of, and understands, his teacher... This page is a candidate to be moved to Wiktionary. ... A parish is a type of administrative subdivision. ... Cure can be: successful treatment of disease preserve (meat, for example), as by salting, smoking, or aging (see curing) prepare, preserve, or finish (a substance) by a chemical or physical process (one example is the curing, or seasoning, of a cast iron pan; another is the curing of an adhesive...

While the term "chaplain" is Christian in origin, increasingly chaplains come from a diversity of faith backgrounds, often working in multi-faith teams.

Education

Chaplains generally receive the training that may have requirements that will vary depending on the type of chaplaincy and the particular organization^[1].

In addition to this, many hospitals are seeking Health Care Chaplains who are also a Board Certified Chaplain^{[citation needed]}, (B.C.C.) through the Association of Professional Chaplains^[2]. This certification requires four units of clinical pastoral education^[3] plus one year of experience, ordination/commissioning, ecclesiastical endorsement, and a number of other requirements^[4]. Military chaplains receive training through their particular branch of the service. Many hospitals and hospices employ chaplains to assist with the spiritual needs of patients, families and staff. ... A Board Certified Chaplain (B.C.C.) is a chaplain who has met the requirements through the Association of Professional Chaplains[1]. These requirements include: A B.A. plus an accredited graduate theological degree[2] Four units of clinical pastoral education One year of experience ordination or commissioning to the... Clinical Pastoral Education is interfaith professional education for ministry. ...

Court

Many historical monarchies and major noble houses had or even still have one (often several) 'private' chaplain, either following them or attached to a castle or other residence. Castles with attached chaplains generally had at least one 'chapel', sometimes as grand as a cathedral (as St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, also the 'home' of the Order of the Garter). See also Chapel Royal, and the Ecclesiastical Household. Nobility is a traditional hereditary status (see hereditary titles) that exists today in many countries (mainly present or former monarchies). ... St. ... The insignia of a knight of the Order of the Garter. ... The Chapel Royal did not originally refer to a building but an establishment in the Royal Household. ... This is a part of the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom. ...

Since in feudal times most laymen, for centuries even most noblemen, were poorly or not educated, the literate clergy was often employed as advisers and secretarial staff (as in a chancery) until the advent of legists and proper bureaucratic civil service (mainly under Absolutism), hence the term clerk, derived from Latin clericus ('clergyman'). This made them very influential in temporal affairs; there was also a moral impact since they heard the confessions of the elite.. For other uses, see Chancellor (disambiguation). ... The term Legist, from the Latin lex law, literally denotes any expert or student of law. ... The term absolutism can mean: A belief in absolute truth moral absolutism, the belief that there is some absolute standard of right and wrong political absolutism, a political system where one person holds absolute power, also called apolytarchy from Gr. ...

Military

The first English military-oriented chaplains were priests on board proto-naval vessels during the eighth century A.D. Land based chaplains appeared during the reign of King Edward I, although their duties included jobs that today would come under the jurisdiction of military engineers and medical officers. A priest attached to a feudal noble household would follow his liege lord into battle. In 1796 the Parliament of Great Britain passed a Royal Warrant that established the Royal Army Chaplains' Department in the British Army. For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... Edward I (17 June 1239 – 7 July 1307), popularly known as Longshanks[1], also as Edward the Lawgiver or the English Justinian because of his legal reforms, and as Hammer of the Scots,[2] achieved fame as the monarch who conquered Wales and tried to do the same to Scotland. ... Polish military engineers at work in Pakistan A military engineer is primarily responsible for the design and construction of offensive, defensive and logistical structures for warfare. ... See drugs, medication, and pharmacology for substances that are used to treat patients. ... Officer may refer to: Holders of an office Academia Chief Academic Officer · Sabbatical officer Military Officer (armed forces) Officers Training Corps · Reserve Officers Training Corps Corporate Law enforcement Customs officer · Peace officer · Police officer · Prison officer · Probation officer Politics and government Chief medical officer · Political commissar · Presiding Officer · Returning Officer... Liege or Liège has several meanings: A Liège is a classic sporting car, designed for personal assembly, by Peter Davis in Evesham, UK, and often used in Classic Trials and other long distance motoring events A liege is the person or entity to which one has pledged allegiance. ... It has been suggested that this article be split into multiple articles accessible from a disambiguation page. ... RAChD camp flag The Royal Army Chaplains Department (RAChD) is an all-officer corps that provides ordained clergy to minister to the British Army. ... The British Army is the land armed forces branch of the British Armed Forces. ...

The current form of military chaplain dates from the era of the First World War. A chaplain provides spiritual and pastoral support for service personnel, including the conduct of religious services at sea or in the field. In the Royal Navy chaplains are traditionally addressed by their Christian name, or with one of many nick-names (Bish; Sin-Bosun; Devil Dodger; Sky-Pilot; God Botherer etc). In the British Army and Royal Air Force, chaplains are traditionally referred to (and addressed) as padre. “The Great War ” redirects here. ... The British Army is the land armed forces branch of the British Armed Forces. ... “RAF” redirects here. ... Padre (pronounced ) is a commonly used term for a military chaplain in the American, Australian Army, British, French and the Canadian Forces. ...

In the Royal Navy chaplains have no rank other than "chaplain" while in the British Army they hold commissioned executive rank. On the foundation of the Royal Air Force Chaplains' Branch an attempt was made to amalgamate these differing systems creating "Relative Rank", where rank is worn but without executive authority. In practice chaplains of all three services work in similar ways using what influence and authority they have on behalf of those who consult them or seek their advice. This article is about the navy of the United Kingdom. ... The British Army is the land armed forces branch of the British Armed Forces. ... “RAF” redirects here. ...

In the United States, military chaplains have rank based on years of service and promotion selection. They are identified in uniform of both rank and religious symbol insignias.

A US Navy chaplain holds mass for Marines at Saipan, June 1944, honoring comrades fallen in initial amphibious landings

Chaplains are nominated in different ways in different countries. A military chaplain can be an army-trained soldier with additional theological training or a priest nominated to the army by religious authorities. In the United Kingdom the Ministry of Defence employs chaplains but their authority comes from their sending church. Royal Navy chaplains undertake a 16 week bespoke induction and training course including a short course at Britannia Royal Naval College and specialist fleet time at sea alongside a more experienced chaplain. Naval Chaplains called to service with the Royal Marines undertake a gruelling 5 month long Commando Course, and if successful wear the commandos' Green Beret. British Army chaplains undertake seven weeks training at The Armed Forces Chaplaincy Centre Amport House and The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. Royal Air Force chaplains must complete 12 weeks Specialist Entrant course at the RAF College Cranwell followed by a Chaplains' Induction Course at Armed Forces Chaplaincy Centre Amport House of a further 2 weeks. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 751 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (1386 × 1106 pixels, file size: 279 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) With a canvas tarpaulin for a church and packing cases for an altar, a Navy chaplain holds mass for Marines at Saipan. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 751 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (1386 × 1106 pixels, file size: 279 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) With a canvas tarpaulin for a church and packing cases for an altar, a Navy chaplain holds mass for Marines at Saipan. ... The Chaplain Corps of the United States Navy consists of ordained clergy who are commissioned Naval officers. ... The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is a branch of the United States military responsible for providing power projection from the sea,[1] utilizing the mobility of the U.S. Navy to rapidly deliver combined-arms task forces. ... Combatants United States Empire of Japan Commanders Richmond K. Turner Holland Smith Yoshitsugu Saito â€  Chuichi Nagumo â€  Strength 71,000 31,000 Casualties 3,426 killed; 13,160 wounded 24,000 KIA and 5,000 suicides; 921 prisoners The Battle of Saipan was a battle of the Pacific campaign of World... Theology finds its scholars pursuing the understanding of and providing reasoned discourse of religion, spirituality and God or the gods. ... The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces. ... Bespoke is a usually British English term for clothing made at a customers behest, and exactly to the customers specification. ... Amport House is a manor house near Andover, Hampshire used by the British military. ... Amport House is a manor house near Andover, Hampshire used by the British military. ...

In the United States military, chaplains must be endorsed by their religious affiliation in order to serve on active duty^[5][6]. This religious endorsement must be obtained throughout the active duty years of service and in fact it can be withdrawn at any time by the religious body with which the chaplain is affiliated. Without such endorsement, the chaplain can no longer serve on active duty as a chaplain.

In France, the existence of military chaplains has come under debate because of the separation of Church and State; however, their position has been maintained as of 2004.[1] Constantines Conversion, depicting the conversion of Emperor Constantine the Great to Christianity, by Peter Paul Rubens. ... 2004 is a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

A Roman Catholic army chaplain celebrating a Mass for Union soldiers and officers during the American Civil War (1861-1865).

Roman Catholic chaplains are generally organized into military ordinariates, such as the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA. Potential Roman Catholic chaplains must seek permission from their diocesan bishop or religious superior to serve as a military chaplain. While serving as a chaplain, the priest or deacon remains incardinated in their home diocese, but is temporarily under the direction of the prelate of the ordinariate for the duration of their service. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (840x496, 80 KB) Summary A Roman Catholic chaplain ministering to Union soldiers during the american Civil War. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (840x496, 80 KB) Summary A Roman Catholic chaplain ministering to Union soldiers during the american Civil War. ... The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. ... For other uses of Mass, see Mass (disambiguation). ... In this map:  Union states prohibiting slavery  Union territories  Border states on the Union side which allowed slavery  Kansas, which entered and fought with the Union as a free state after the Bleeding Kansas crisis  The Confederacy  Confederate claimed and sometimes held territories During the American Civil War, the Union... Combatants United States of America (Union) Confederate States of America (Confederacy) Commanders Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee Strength 2,200,000 1,064,000 Casualties 110,000 killed in action, 360,000 total dead, 275,200 wounded 93,000 killed in action, 258,000 total... A military ordinariate is an ecclesiastical unit responsible for the pastoral care of Christians serving in the armed forces of a nation. ... The Roman Catholic Archdiocese for the Military Services, also called the Military Ordinariate of the United States, provides the Roman Catholic Churchs pastoral and spiritual services to those serving in the United States armed forces or other federal services overseas. ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations · Other religions Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury · Catholic Pope Coptic Pope · Ecumenical Patriarch Christianity Portal This box:      This article... Incardinated This term is used in the Catholic Church term to describe the jurisdiction a Priest receives from his Bishop, that allows him to practice in public ministry. ... Pope Pius XI blesses Bishop Stephen Alencastre as fifth Apostolic Vicar of the Hawaiian Islands in a Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace window. ... Look up prelate in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Australian Defence Force Chaplains

Army and Air Force

Chaplains in the Australian Defence Force (ADF) have almost the same status as chaplains in the British armed services. Chaplains in the Australian Army and Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) are commissioned officers and wear the uniform of officers of their particular branch of the services as well as the rank to which they are qualified. Chaplains in the Australian Army and the Royal Australian Air Force begin their commission as a Captain (Army) or Flight Lieutenant (RAAF) respectively. There are five levels or "divisions" for the seniority of chaplains in the Australian Army and Air Force with each division corresponding to a worn rank. The highest "division" is Division 5 who are "Principal Chaplains," of which there are three per service representing the three major Christian denominations: Catholic, Anglican and Protestant. The Principal Chaplains of the Army wear the rank of Brigadier and in the RAAF, Air Commodore. Australian Army chaplains, whatever their rank, are mostly referred to as "Padre" by officers and soldiers alike. The title is also widely used in the RAAF for their chaplains. The Australian Army is Australias military land force. ... The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is the Air Force branch of the Australian Defence Force. ... In the military, a commissioned officer is a member of the service who derives authority directly from a sovereign power, and as such holds a commission from that power. ... The Australian Army is Australias military land force. ... The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is the Air Force branch of the Australian Defence Force. ... The term Anglican describes those people and churches following the religious traditions of the Church of England, especially following the Reformation. ... Protestantism is a general grouping of denominations within Christianity. ... Padre (pronounced ) is a commonly used term for a military chaplain in the American, Australian Army, British, French and the Canadian Forces. ...

Navy

Like chaplains in the Australian Army and RAAF, Royal Australian Navy (RAN) chaplains are commissioned officers and wear the uniform of a RAN officer, but like chaplains in the British Royal Navy (RN) they do not wear a rank. Rather they wear the same cross and anchor emblem worn by RN chaplains on their shoulder rank slides and do not have gold braided rings or executive loops on their winter sleeve coat or summer shoulder boards. Like other chaplains in the ADF, Navy chaplains have five divisions of seniority. Interestingly, whilst Australian Navy chaplains do not wear rank, they are accorded a certain rank for protocol and ceremonial occasions and for saluting purposes. Division 1, 2 and 3 Australian Navy chaplains are accorded the rank and status as Commander (Lieutenant Colonel equivalent in the Australian Army). Division 4 Australian Navy chaplains are accorded the rank and status of Captain (equiv. of Colonel). Division 5 Australian Navy chaplains are "Principal Chaplains," and these three chaplains, representing the three major Christian denominations: Catholic, Anglican and Protestant, are accorded the rank and status of Commodore. The title "Padre" for chaplains is less common and not officially encouraged in the Royal Australian Navy, although it is known to be used by some sailors and Navy chaplains in preference to the more formal title of "Chaplain" or form of address towards an officer such as "Sir." Like British Royal Navy chaplains, Royal Australian Navy chaplains wear a slightly different peaked cap to other Navy officers which apparently was designed by Winston Churchill. The Australian Army is Australias military land force. ... The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. ... In the military, a commissioned officer is a member of the service who derives authority directly from a sovereign power, and as such holds a commission from that power. ... Commander is a military rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. ... The term Anglican describes those people and churches following the religious traditions of the Church of England, especially following the Reformation. ... Protestantism is a general grouping of denominations within Christianity. ... Commodore is a military rank used in some navies for officers whose position exceeds that of a Captain, but is less than that of a Flag Officer. ... Padre (pronounced ) is a commonly used term for a military chaplain in the American, Australian Army, British, French and the Canadian Forces. ... Churchill redirects here. ...

Heads of Denominations

In the Australian Defence Force (ADF), the heads of military chaplaincy for those Christian denominations and of the Jewish faith that have an official association with the ADF, are also members of the ADF's "Religious Advisory Committee" (RAC). With respect to the Catholic and Anglican churches, their Bishops are members of RAC and they and the other members of RAC have the status of a two star General (US) or Major General (Australian Army), or Rear Admiral (RAN) or Air Vice-Marshal (RAAF). The term Anglican describes those people and churches following the religious traditions of the Church of England, especially following the Reformation. ...

Noncombatant status

The Geneva Conventions (Protocol I, 8 June 1977, Art 43.2) are clear that medical personnel and chaplains are noncombatants: they do not have the right to participate directly in hostilities. The widely held view that the Conventions require chaplains to be unarmed is untrue. (The fallacious argument begins with the fact that the Conventions specifically permit medical personnel to bear arms but do not mention chaplains. This misses a key point: the specific permission given in Protocol I, 8 June 1977, Art 13.2(a) refers to civilians, not service personnel). Original document. ... is the 159th day of the year (160th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Non-combatant is a military and legal term describing civilians not engaged in combat. ... is the 159th day of the year (160th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

It is generally assumed that during WWII chaplains were unarmed. Crosby describes an incident where a US chaplain became a trained tank gunner and was dismissed for this "entirely illegal, not to mention imprudent" action (1994, pxxi). At least some UK WWII chaplains serving in the Far East, however, were armed: George MacDonald Fraser recalls (1995, p109) "the tall figure of the battalion chaplain, swinging along good style with his .38 on his hip" immediately behind the lead platoon during a battalion attack. Fraser asks "if the padre shot [an enemy], what would the harvest be ... apart from three ringing cheers from the whole battalion?" (1995, p110). George MacDonald Fraser, OBE (born 2 April 1926 in Carlisle) is a British author of both historical novels and non-fiction books. ...

In recent years both the UK and US have required chaplains, but not medical personnel, to be unarmed. Other nations, notably Norway, Denmark and Sweden, make it an issue of individual conscience. There are anecdotal accounts that even US and UK chaplains have at least occasionally unofficially borne weapons: Chaplain (then Captain) James D. Johnson, of the 9th Infantry Division, Mobile Riverine Force in Vietnam describes (Combat Chaplain: A Thirty-Year Vietnam Battle) carrying the M-16 rifle while embedded with a combat patrol. Since 1909 US Chaplains on operations have been accompanied by an armed 'Chaplain (sic) Assistant'.[2], however perhaps on this occasion it was felt that an unarmed uniformed man would draw unwelcome attention. The 9th Infantry Division was a unit of the United States Army in World War II and the Vietnam War. ...

Captured chaplains are not considered Prisoners of War (Third Convention, 12 August 1949, Chapter IV Art 33) and must be returned to their home nation unless retained to minister to prisoners of war. is the 224th day of the year (225th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

Inevitably, serving chaplains have died in action, sometimes in significant numbers. The U.S. Army and Marines lost 100 chaplains killed in action during WWII: a casualty rate greater "than any other branch of the services except the infantry and the Army Air Corps" (Crosby, 1994, pxxiii). Many have been decorated for bravery in action (five have won Britain's highest award for gallantry, the Victoria Cross). The Chaplain's Medal for Heroism is a special U.S. military decoration given to military chaplains who have been killed in the line of duty, although it has to date only been awarded to the famous Four Chaplains, all of whom died in the USAT Dorchester sinking in 1943 after giving up their lifejackets to others. For other uses, see Victoria Cross (disambiguation). ... The Chaplains Medal for Heroism is a decoration of the United States military which was authorized by an act of the United States Congress on January 18, 1961. ... Awards and decorations of the United States military are military decorations which recognize a service members service and personal accomplishments while a member of the United States armed forces. ... Four Chaplains The Four Chaplains were four Army chaplains who gave their lives when the USAT Dorchester was hit by a torpedo and sank on February 3, 1943. ... USAT Dorchester was a United States Army Transport, sunk when it was part of a naval convoy during World War II. In February 1943, Convoy SG-19 left St. ...

Conflict with the Executive

A chaplain's religious beliefs and practices may lead to conflict with the Executive.

In January 1991 Lieutenant Colonel Garland Robertson, a US Air Force chaplain during Operation Desert Shield, wrote to the Abilene Reporter-News asserting that "... the American people are not united in their decision to support a military offensive against the aggression of Saddam Hussein in Kuwait." [3] Robertson was investigated by Air Force psychologists and relieved of his pastoral duties. According to Robertson, a visiting officer from the Chief of Chaplains office "indicated that compromise was essential for becoming a successful military chaplain," and that "if Jesus had been an Air Force chaplain ... he would have been court-martialled." [4]. See also: 2003 invasion of Iraq and Gulf War (disambiguation) C Company, 1st Battalion, The Staffordshire Regiment, 1st UK Armoured Division The Persian Gulf War was a conflict between Iraq and a coalition force of 34 nations led by the United States. ...

US Navy Chaplain Lieutenant Gordon Klingenschmitt was reprimanded and fined [5] during a September 14, 2006 court martial for wearing his uniform at a protest in March 2006 held by Roy Moore. Klingenschmitt was dismissed from the Navy in March 2007. He had been battling military policies that he considered to be an infringement of the rights of every chaplain to "conduct public worship according to the manner and forms of the church of which he is a member." [6] This article does not cite any references or sources. ... For the baseball player, see Roy Moore (baseball). ...

US Army Chaplain Captain Don Larsen was dismissed from his post in Iraq after changing his religious affiliation from Pentecostal Christianity to Wicca, which would have made him the first Wiccan military chaplain. However, his potential new endorser, the Sacred Well Congregation was not an officially recognized endorser, and his prior endorser, the Chaplaincy of Full Gospel Churches, refused to continue his endorsement after learning of his change of religion. As a result, the US Army was required to dismiss him from chaplaincy despite an exemplary service record. [7] Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Wycliffe Tyndale · Luther · Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Pope · Archbishop of Canterbury Patriarch of Constantinople Christianity Portal This box:      Pentecostal can also mean... For other uses, see Wicca (disambiguation). ...

Badges and Insignia

The Latin Cross of the U.S. Navy Chaplain Corps

The Tablets of the U.S. Navy Chaplain Corps

The Crescent of the U.S. Navy Chaplain Corps

Military Chaplains are normally accorded officer status, although Sierra Leone had a Naval Lance Corporal chaplain in 2001. In most navies, their badges and insignia do not differentiate their levels of responsibility and status. By contrast, in Air Forces and Armies, they typically carry ranks and are differentiated by crosses or other equivalent religious insignia. However, United States military chaplains Association and every branch carry both rank and Chaplain Corps insignia. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ...

Chaplain's badges and insignia follow this general pattern (taken from the Royal Australian Navy): The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. ...

• A gilt cross is worn by chaplains of all Christian denominations and worn in the same manner as specialist badges.
• A chaplain’s cap badge is of the same design as an officer’s cap badge except that the laurel leaves are embroidered in black silk, edged and veined in gold. The peak of the cap is covered with black cloth.
• A clerical collar stock and/or black military style clerical shirt may be worn instead of white shirt and tie (including dress shirt and bow tie for evening wear.)
• The badge worn by chaplains on shoulder boards consists of a gold embroidered foul anchor on a Maltese cross of embroidered silver. This is similar, in embroidery, for soft rank insignia for shirts.
• Honorary Chaplains to the Sovereign wear a red cassock and a special bronze badge consisting of the Royal Cypher and crown within an oval wreath. The badge is worn above medal ribbons or miniature medals during the conduct of religious services. On the left side of the scarf by chaplains, who wear the scarf and on academic or ordinary clerical dress by other chaplains.
• Royal Navy Chaplains had no uniform until WWII when Churchill was allegedly concerned about German spies dressed as clergy entering Dockyards. Chaplains still enjoy the privilege of wearing a clerical suit as their uniform: it is in general Anglican chaplains serving ashore other than with the Royal Marines who use this right. Commando trained chaplains wear a small badge depicting a gold commando dagger on the right sleeve of mess dress and No 1 uniforms.

For other uses, see Christian (disambiguation). ... Maltese cross The insignia of a Serving Brother of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem The Maltese Cross is featured on the badge of the Bermuda Regiment, heir to the BVRC. Typical St. ... Embroidery is an ancient variety of decorative needlework in which designs and pictures are created by stitching strands of some material on to a layer of another material. ... This article is about the chemical element. ... Three Canadian officers in shawl or rolled collar jacket and waistcoat style mess dress or mess kit. ...

U.S. Armed Forces Uniforms, Badges and Insignia

Chaplains serving in the U.S. Armed Forces wear the uniform of their respective branch of service, and only wear clerical garb during the performance of a religious service. On most uniforms, the religious insignia device is worn on the left collar tab, and the rank insignia on the right. A uniform exception is that chaplains do not wear the ceremonial officer's sword. In the U.S. Navy, Chaplain Corps officers also do not qualify for or wear warfare pins (with the exception of the Fleet Marine Force Pin minus crossed rifles), unless these were earned prior to the servicemember becoming a chaplain. The United States Navy (USN) is the branch of the United States armed forces responsible for naval operations. ... The Chaplain Corps of the United States Navy consists of ordained clergy who are commissioned Naval officers. ... Badges of the United States Navy are military badges issued by the United States Department of the Navy to Naval service members who achieve certain qualifications and accomplishments while serving on both active and reserve duty in the United States Navy. ... The Fleet Marine Force (FMF) Officer Insignia is a qualification insignia of the United States Navy earned by Navy officers assigned to the Fleet Marine Force of the U.S. Marine Corps who have successfully completed the necessary requirements. ...

Criticism of employing Chaplains in the U.S. Armed Forces and Congress

At the New York Public Library in May 2007, Christopher Hitchens debated the Reverend Al Sharpton on the issue of theism and anti-theism. During the question and answer period which followed the debate, a question was posed by a male audience member in which the [man] mentioned that his brother-in-law was a U.S. Air Force Chaplain. In responding to the man's larger question, Hitchens first responded, This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Christopher Eric Hitchens (born April 13, 1949) is a British-American author, journalist and literary critic. ... This biographical article needs additional references for verification. ... Theism is the belief in the existence of one or more divinities or deities. ... Antitheism (sometimes anti-theism) is active opposition to theism. ... Seal of the Air Force. ...

"Well, at the risk of being callous...I don't think that we should be paying for Chaplains...I don't think that the U.S. Government should be employing any. James Madison, co-author of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom and of the First Amendment was very adamant on the point, and very clear; there shouldn't be...it's flat-out unconstitutional to pay or to employ a Chaplain to oversee the proceedings of Congress or to be in the Armed Forces. We can't have Chaplains on our payroll, that's that."^[7] This article describes the government of the United States. ... James Madison (March 16, 1751 – June 28, 1836), was an American politician and the fourth President of the United States (1809–1817), and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. ... Thomas Jefferson was the author of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom. ... “First Amendment” redirects here. ... Type Bicameral Houses Senate House of Representatives President of the Senate President pro tempore Dick Cheney, (R) since January 20, 2001 Robert C. Byrd, (D) since January 4, 2007 Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, (D) since January 4, 2007 Members 535 plus 4 Delegates and 1 Resident Commissioner Political...

The issue seems to hinge on the Separation of church and state in the United States. The separation of church and state is a legal and political principle derived from the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, which reads, Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof . ...

Corporate Chaplains

Some businesses, large or small, employ chaplains for their staff and/or clientele. According to The Economist (August 25 2007, p64) there are 4,000 corporate chaplains in the US alone, with the majority being employees of specialist chaplaincy companies such as Marketplace Chaplains USA. According to the company, turnover at Taco Bell outlets in central Texas dropped by a third after they started employing chaplains.

Domestic chaplains

A domestic chaplain was a chaplain attached to a noble household in order to grant the family a degree of self-sufficiency in religion. The chaplain was freed from any obligation to reside in a particular place so could travel with the family, internationally if necessary, and minister to their spiritual needs. Further, the family could appoint a chaplain who reflected their own doctrinal views. Domestic chaplains performed family christenings, funerals and weddings and were able to conduct services in the family's private chapel, excusing the nobility from attending public worship. They would also be an important source of scholarship in the household, tutoring children and providing counsel to the family on matters broader than religion. Nobility is a traditional hereditary status (see hereditary titles) that exists today in many countries (mainly present or former monarchies). ... The household is the basic unit of analysis in many microeconomic and government models. ... This article is about scholarship (noun) and scholarship as a form of financial aid. ...

The domestic chaplain was an important part of the life of the peerage in England from the reign of Henry VIII to the middle of the nineteenth century. Up until 1840, Anglican domestic chaplains were regulated by law and enjoyed the substantial financial advantage of being able to purchase a license to hold two benefices simultaneously while residing in neither. For other uses, see Peerage (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... Henry VIII (28 June 1491 – 28 January 1547) was King of England and Lord of Ireland (later King of Ireland) from 22 April 1509 until his death. ... The term Anglican describes those people and churches following the religious traditions of the Church of England, especially following the Reformation. ... For other uses, see Law (disambiguation). ... To licence or grant licence is to give permission. ... Originally a benefice was a gift of land for life as a reward (Latin beneficium, means to do well) for services rendered. ...

Various Non-Military

Chaplains also can be attached to emergency services agencies, educational institutions and colleges, private clubs, scout troops, ships, hospitals, prisons, nightclubs, private companies and corporations. Chaplains also serve in hospice programs and retirement centers. The term can also refer to priests attached to Roman Catholic convents. This article is about the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts/Girl Guides organizations. ... For the town in the Republic of Ireland, see Hospital, County Limerick. ... Laser lights illuminate the dance floor at a Gatecrasher dance music event in Sheffield, England A nightclub (or night club or club) is a drinking, dancing, and entertainment venue which does its primary business after dark. ... For other uses, see Corporation (disambiguation). ... Palliative care is any form of medical care or treatment that concentrates on reducing the severity of the symptoms of a disease or slows its progress rather than providing a cure. ... A retirement home is a place of residence intended for the elderly. ... The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. ... A Beguine convent in Amsterdam. ...

Chaplains in fiction

Chaplains have appeared as characters in several works of fiction about historical and imagined militaries. Father Mulcahy, a character in the M*A*S*H novels, film, and TV series, is perhaps the best known fictional chaplain. Father John Patrick Francis Mulcahy is a principal character from the film M*A*S*H, played by Rene Auberjonois, and the television series, played by William Christopher. ... M*A*S*H: A Novel About Three Army Doctors, the original novel that inspired the M*A*S*H movie and TV series, was written by Richard Hooker, himself a former military surgeon, and was about a U.S. mobile army surgical hospital in Korea during the Korean War. ... MASH is a 1970 satirical American dark comedy film directed by Robert Altman and based on the novel MASH: A Novel About Three Army Doctors by Richard Hooker. ... M*A*S*H is an American television series developed by Larry Gelbart, inspired by the 1968 novel M*A*S*H: A Novel About Three Army Doctors by Richard Hooker (penname for H. Richard Hornberger) and its sequels, but primarily by the 1970 film MASH, and influenced by the...

The profession of military chaplaincy is reflected in several major works of world literature, such as in the Herman Melville novella Billy Budd, Jaroslav Hasek's unfinished novel The Good Soldier Švejk, and Joseph Heller's novel Catch-22. Herman Melville (August 1, 1819 – September 28, 1891) was an American novelist, short story writer, essayist, and poet. ... Jaroslav Hašek (April 30, 1883 - January 3, 1923) was a Czech humorist and satirist who became well-known mainly for his hilarious, world-famous novel The Good Soldier Svejk, a unfinished collection of farsical incidents about a soldier in World War I which has been translated into sixty... Joseph Heller (May 1, 1923 – December 12, 1999) was an American satirical novelist and playwright. ...

In the brutal dystopian future of Warhammer 40,000, Chaplains are combat priests. Warhammer 40,000 (informally known as Warhammer 40K, WH40K, W40K or just 40K) is a science fantasy game produced by Games Workshop. ...

See also

• Almoner
• Health Care Chaplains
• College of Health Care Chaplains
• Hospice chaplain
• Association of Hospice and Palliative Care Chaplains
• International Christian Maritime Association
• Minister
• Navy Chaplain Corps
• Priest
• Royal Army Chaplains' Department
• Animal chaplains

Almoner (from the Greek eelmosyna alms via Latin Almosunartius and French, known in English since circa 1300) is a chaplain or church officer who originally was in charge of distributing charity. ... Many hospitals and hospices employ chaplains to assist with the spiritual needs of patients, families and staff. ... The College of Health Care Chaplains (CHCC) is the UK national professional association for Chaplains working in health care, including the NHS. The College was formed in 1992 by the amalgamation of the Hospital Chaplains Fellowship and the National Association of Whole Time Hospital Chaplains. ... Hospice chaplains or geriatrics chaplains are, simply, chaplains often assigned by or working with hospitals, seminaries or volunteer organisations, that specialise in providing long-term spiritual care, especially to geriatric patients and those suffering from terminal illness. ... The Association of Hospice and Palliative Care Chaplains (AHPCC) [1] is a UK professional body, exisiting specifically for chaplains working in a Hospice and/or Palliative Care setting. ... The International Christian Maritime Association (ICMA) is an ecumenical association of 27 Christian organisations, representing different churches and Christian communities. ... For other types of minister, see Minister In Christian churches, a minister is a man or woman who serves a congregation or participates in a role in a parachurch ministry; such persons can minister as a Pastor, Preacher, Bishop, Chaplain, Deacon or Elder. ... The Chaplain Corps of the United States Navy consists of ordained clergy who are commissioned as officers in the Navy. ... This article is about religious workers. ... RAChD camp flag The Royal Army Chaplains Department (RAChD) is an all-officer corps that provides ordained clergy to minister to the British Army. ... Animal chaplains provide a wide array of services to the community, including pet loss grief support, animal memorial services, praying for animals who are sick or injured, comforting bereaved family members, holding hands with pet owners during surgery or euthanasia at a veterinary clinic or animal hospital, and performing animal...

References

1. ^ http://www.usafhc.af.mil/ US Air Force, http://www.navy.com/careers/officer/clergy/ US Navy, http://www.professionalchaplains.org/index.aspx?id=254 National Association of Professional Chaplains, http://www.najc.org/main/documents/aboutus_000.pdf, National Association of Jewish Chaplains, http://www.nacc.org/membership/categories.asp National Association of Catholic Chaplains, http://www.muslimchaplains.org/membership_account.php Muslim Chaplains Association
2. ^ http://www.professionalchaplains.org/
3. ^ This may be provided by The Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, The Canadian Association for Pastoral Practice and Education, or the National Association of Catholic Chaplains
4. ^ http://www.professionalchaplains.org/index.aspx?id=254
5. ^ http://www.goarmy.com/chaplain/requirements.jsp
6. ^ http://www.usafhc.af.mil/
7. ^ Full debate between Christopher Hitchens and Rev. Al Sharpton (from which this quote was taken) is available on Google Video

• Autry, Jerry D., Gun Totin' Chaplain (Airborne Press, 2006) ISBN 0-934145-11-3
• Bergen, Doris.L., (ed), 2004. The Sword of the Lord: Military Chaplains from the First to the Twenty-First Century. University of Notre Dame Press ISBN 0-268-02176-7
• Budd, Richard M., Serving Two Masters: The Development of American Military Chaplaincy, 1860-1920 (University of Nebraska Press, 2002)
• Crosby, Donald F., 1994. Battlefield Chaplains: Catholic Priests in World War II. Lawrence, Kansas: University Press of Kansas. ISBN 0-7006-0814-1
• Fraser, G. M., 1995 trade paperback edition. Quartered Safe Out Here: A Recollection of the War in Burma. London: Harper Collins. ISBN 0-00-272687-4
• Gibson, W. (1997). A Social History of the Domestic Chaplain, 1530-1840. London: Leicester University Press. ISBN 0-7185-0093-8. 
• Johnson, James D., Combat Chaplain: A 30-Year Vietnam Battle (University of North Texas Press, 2001)
• Norman, James (2004) At the Heart of Education: School Chaplaincy and Pastoral Care. Dublin: Veritas Publications. ISBN 1853907529
• Smith, John C., Chaplain (International Chaplains Association)
• "Buddhist Chaplains in the Field of Battle" in Buddhism in Practice by Sybil Thornton, ed. Donald S. Lopez, Jr. (Princeton: Princton University Press, 1995).
• Yost, Israel A.S., Combat Chaplain: The Personal Story of the World War II Chaplain of the Japanese-American 100th Battalion eds. Monica E. Yost and Michael Markrich. (University of Hawaii Press, 2006).

Books

• Christ in the Camp - Religion in Lee's Army J William Jones, Diggory Press, ISBN 978-1846855436
• Experience of a Confederate Chaplain 1861-1865, A D Betts, ISBN 1846853389
• Encounters with Indians: Experiences of a U.S. Army Chaplain in Wyoming Territory, 1867-1870 Rev. Edmund B Tuttle, ISBN 978-1846858147
• The Padre of Trench Street (about Jesuit Father William Doyle) Alfred O'Rahilly, ISBN 190536315X
• The Unutterable Beauty Geoffrey Anketell Studdert Kennedy, ISBN 1846851106

The Society of Jesus (Latin: Societas Iesu), commonly known as the Jesuits, is a Roman Catholic religious order. ... The Reverend Geoffrey Anketell Studdert Kennedy (June 27, 1883 - 1929), was an Anglican priest and poet. ...

External links

• The Canadian Association for Pastoral Practice and Education
• Association for Clinical Pastoral Education
• International Chaplains Association