Every chaplain goes into their first command knowing something. In fact we know many things. This is because the military requires us to have graduate degree in religious studies, be ordained clergy, and have experience as clergy in the civilian world before we’re even eligible to come on Active Duty as chaplains.
Still, there are things we don’t know. This is because, while we may have ministry experience, ministry in the military context is new to us. So what is something I wish I knew at the outset before I ever got started? For me it’s this:
Ministry of Presence is More Strategic Than You Think.
I know, it’s not really revelatory. Chaplains talk a lot about ministry of presence. But this, in my humble opinion, is the first lesson new chaplains need to learn, internalize, and embody.
Just being around isn’t passive, you can actually categorize it as preventative care. Before you ever have the ability to speak into someone’s life, you have to show up. One of my favorite examples of this in the Bible comes from the story of Job. After losing everything precious to him, his friends come to comfort him. And they do nothing for days except sit with him in silence.
Presence is powerful.
It’s hanging out with the watchstanders on the bridge of the ship in the middle of the night. It’s sitting in silence in the ER waiting room with a terrified spouse. It’s enduring the suffering – embracing the suck – alongside of the men and women in your command.
I remember one time when I was an infantry chaplain that the entire battalion did a ruck march. We were hiking with weight and were putting in some miles. During training hikes, the command stops at certain intervals to drop packs, rest, and drink water or consume nutrition. I dropped my pack and started walking up and down the line checking on Marines. I worked my way to the front of the column and found the Commanding Officer and Sergeant Major. When they saw me coming, the CO said, “Chaps, you’re everywhere!”
I was not literally where as I am not omnipresent! 🙂 The point is that, because of a strong ministry of presence, the command FELT like I was around, enduring the same things that the Marines had to endure. It opened up all sorts of doors for ministry later on. (As a side note, when the battalion heads out to the field for a field op, I believe the chaplain and assistant need to plan to be there for the entire thing and not spend one night and then head back home. Different chaplains have different philosophies – this is mine. If the battalion is out, you need to be out with them.)
Visibility IS ministry – it is not wasted time.
When I was part of the ship’s company assigned to USS FORT MCHENRY (LSD-43) I got in the habit of serving dinner on the mess decks every Friday night we were out to sea. The officers and chiefs have their own dining area, the rest of the crew eats on the mess decks. Because I served chow every Friday night, I had face time with every single Sailor and Marine who came to eat. That kind of presence paid off in a BIG way, helping me connect with my crew and opening other avenues for ministry down the road.
Do not underestimate the importance of showing up, of being where the command is and going through the same things the rest of the troops are going through. This is the legwork of ministry that lays the foundation for being able to speak into people’s lives when they need it.
—
How about you? What would you like to know about chaplaincy in the military?
For more information on how to be a military chaplain, check out the latest book from Chaplains Linzey, Travis and Linzey titled “Military Ministry.”
Military Chaplain Guide 