Church of God Chaplains Commission

In his book, Spiritual Formation, author Henri Nouwen describes a period of great dissatisfaction in his life. At the time, he was an academic but sensed his journey with God was calling him to do far more than he was currently doing. It was a friend who offered him the opportunity to travel another road. This is so typical for us in our walk with Christ. How often we need the help of a friend while we attempt to navigate our weary souls through the rugged terrain of life. Nouwen was challenged to take a road much less traveled and it changed so much more than he expected it to. He said, “I …had to let go of all my previous notions of church and community, traditional understandings about who is in and who is not and to empty myself of long-held opinions and judgments. “But in return, I … found a new home of deep joy and purpose.”

This is what I think about when I meditate on our Church of God Chaplains! You truly are amazing and you have already taken that step to empty yourselves of traditional understandings of what church is and how it should be. Too, you have allowed yourself to become free from long-held trappings of church systems that want to put you in a box so that you will conform your life and ministry in keeping with their judgments and opinions of who you are and what you should be as a minister of the gospel of peace! As I am now traveling through Eastern Europe and in only a few weeks will move on to South Africa, I am once again encountering our hall of heroes, men and women of God who have given everything for the most important thing; and that is to live their life with purpose and fulfillment in the centered will of our eternal Lord! May the joy of our risen King be yours today!

Donnie W. Smith, D. Min.
Director

Vocational Chaplaincy News

Last week at the Commission on Ministry in Specialized Settings (COMISS) Annual Conference a recently published book, Professional Spiritual & Pastoral Care, edited by Stephen Roberts, was used as the basis for a few of the sessions. The book is a compilation of 33 chapters written primarily by chaplains on various aspects of chaplaincy ministry.

The first two chapters addressed the theology of spiritual and pastoral care. The first chapter, “Creating a Personal Theology to Do Spiritual/Pastoral Care,” by Martha Jacobs, revealed what I believe will be an increasing trend in chaplaincy ministry as our society moves toward a post-Christian religious norm. Jacobs states, “…the work that multifaith (underline mine) chaplains do requires that they be open to hearing another’s theology and working with that theology to assist the patient (or family member or staff).” She believes that chaplains must adhere to two religious theologies: one from their faith community and one they personally develop to become a multifaith clergy.

I strongly disagree with Jacobs’ position that a chaplain should strive to be a “multifaith” minister. This may have the appearance of meeting a utilitarian need for the institution to have “one-faith-fits-all” chaplains, but I do not think this solution addresses the religious needs of any patient with integrity and puts the chaplain in the position of struggling with internal incongruence.

In the clinical setting, the needs of the patient take priority over the needs of the chaplain. However, for a chaplain to presume that he can take on the religion of the patient when the religion is not his own can also be viewed by the patient as an act of disrespect for his faith. I would be highly offended if a Muslim chaplain attempted to pray in tongues for me as a patient because he knew I was a Pentecostal.

There is an important distinction between respecting an individual’s right to practice their faith and respecting the tenets of their faith. Chaplains do not have to adopt the faith of a patient to connect with the spirit of the patient. What all humans have in common is that we are all eternal souls. There is temporal value in connecting soul-to-soul with a patient to help them in the time of crisis (God wants us to give a cup of cool water in his name to those who are thirsty), but there is eternal value when, as chaplains, we help someone connect to God through faith in Christ.

The post-Christian society will take the position that all religions are equally valid. If this were true, then a multifaith chaplain would be the way to go. The one who is The Truth is not defined by society and chaplains should not adopt a personal theology that redefines Jesus. I know Church of God Chaplains stand firm in our faith in Christ. The challenge will be working with other “Christian” Chaplains who do not.

If you have thoughts about this, send me a note.

News from the Field

Congratulations to Army Chaplain Jeff Bartell, who was selected for promotion to the rank of Major.

Congratulations to Army Chaplain Ryan Wood, who was promoted to Captain.

Christmas was not only a busy time in local churches but also in correctional facilities. Correctional Chaplain Eugene Wigelsworth, who oversees the chaplain program for facilities in Mississippi, devoted significant effort to achieve meaningful Christmas celebrations in all 44 facilities in the state that resulted in many souls coming to know Christ.

Richard L. Pace, D. Min.
Endorser and Coordinator, Vocational Chaplaincy Ministries

Community Service Chaplaincy News

Community Service Chaplains are being trained, receiving awards and honors and are graduating with their certification on a regular basis. We are so very grateful to God for His hand of blessing upon the Church of God Chaplains Commission. Next week we are in training in Sofia, Bulgaria. We are truly trusting that the Lord will help our churches and leaders in this great country to reach out to their community in a strong effort of Community Service. Please be in prayer regarding this training and preparation.

Dr. Donnie Smith is in Romania this week with Jake Popejoy and Dennis Watkins, finalizing necessary paperwork for the Chaplaincy and Care Center in Oradea. God has given the Commission a great ministry opportunity in Romania and we are so thankful to Bob and Carline Schmidt for their tireless efforts to extend this ministry throughout Romania and surrounding areas.

Reports from the Field

Community Service Chaplain Ben Junion, Maryville, Tennessee, reports the following:
“Prayers and Needs: Our finances and prayers for our children and our grand-daughter. We are very thankful for our jobs and children.
Significant Activities: Helped with Christmas for needy families at the Church; working as a road chaplain and continue doing my work at juvenile every Sunday afternoon.”

Community Service Chaplain James Ellerby, Huntington, New York, reports the following:
“Prayers and Needs: Keep me in prayer. The back problem that sidelined me for several weeks in July arose again. But God is good. He got me up and around in much less time than the previous bout. Significant Activities: Lighthouse Missions Food Outreach, Hospital Visits, Men’s Ministry Committee Meeting and Ushering.”

Community Service Chaplain Frank Smith, Plantersville, Alabama, reports the following:
“Prayers and Needs: I need prayer and some speaking engagement to help with work I am doing in Honduras. Thank you all very much.”

Community Service Chaplain Douglas Messerly, West Des Moines, Iowa, reports the following:
“Significant Activities: Feeding the homeless in shelters every Saturday, go to homeless camps to pray and take food, Bible study, volunteer at homeless outreach warehouse 2 days weekly.”

Community Service Chaplain Ernest E. Bowes, Lenoir, North Carolina, reports the following:
“Please pray for: My Mom, My Sister, My Sister-in-Law, and several people in my church that are facing life threatening diseases. Also, please lift me up in your prayers as I have a ruptured disc in my neck @ the C 6 – C 7 level, and am in some hard pain at times in my hip and leg, and some in my neck… I go to the Dr. on the 17th, but I completely trust the Lord for my complete healing…. Pray for the shut-ins, and for jobs… Significant Activities: Hospital Visitation: Caldwell Memorial, Lenoir, North Carolina.”

Community Service Chaplain Rhonda Hall, King George, Virginia, reports the following:
“The special event we did this past month was our Christmas program. I was excited because I had 9 people from my work to come and see the program. I am praying about a new ministry effort that will start soon, which will be in my home and it will be for those who do not attend church. I am excited about this. Also, I am in contact with someone at Northern Neck Regional Jail about coming to minister to the inmates.”

Report from Hispanic Coordinator Abel Cuen

LOS CAPELLANES DE DALLAS TEXAS DE FIESTA CON LA GRADUACION 2011

Muy bien realizada y organizada estuvo la Graduacion de los Capellanes de la Region Sur Central en donde el Obispo Administrativo Dr. Fidencio Burgueño nos honro con su presencia y con su apoyo. El Obispo Burgueño dio la nota de la noche al animarnos a construir un futuro brillante, que sea digno de los hispanos pero sobre todo brillante pues somos la iglesia del Señor quien va delante de nosotros como poderoso gigante.

Damos las gracias tambien al pastor local en la iglesia Central Park el Rev De La Garza quien siempre estuvo a nuestra disposicion y las instalaciones de la iglesia de mucha calidad le dieron una vestimenta alagadora a la ceremonia.

Graduamos 52 Capellanes de Servicio Comunitario quienes a su vez trajeron invitados entre familiares y amigos habia una gran congregacion.

Presenciando la ceremonia el director de reclutamiento del departamento de Bomberos de la ciudad de Garland y el del departamento de Policia de Garland TX quien al participar menciono que la ciudad tienen las puertas abiertas a los capellanes de la iglesia de Dios pues la necesidad es muy grande y sobre todo tratandose de personal bilingue como es el caso de nuestros graduante.

Como siempre una felicitacion al trabajo de excelencia realizada por nuestro coordinador regional en la zona sur central de los Estados Unidos, Miguel Angel Esparza y a su familia quienes siempre estan con el en la logistica de todos los eventos. A DIOS SEA TODA LA GLORIA. AMEN.

Dr. Jake Popejoy
Coordinator, Training and Community Service Chaplains