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The Voice for Chaplaincy - Chartered by Congress - Serving Since 1925
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Weekly Newsgram - April 12th
, 2017
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The Value of Honoring Differences
This week Jews and Christians, both western and eastern, experience the unusual coincidence of Passover, Holy Week, and Easter. Even as adherents to these historic religions gathered this week to remember great events in their faiths, we were all reminded, only too clearly, of the hatred which remains that causes some to seek violence rather than peace.
On Palm Sunday morning the news broke from Egypt that two separate bombings had occurred targeting Coptic Christians during their observance of Palm Sunday. Dozens were killed.
In November of 2016 the FBI released its latest statistics regarding hate crimes in the United States in 2015. Religious bias counted for 19.7% of all reported hate crimes. There were more anti-Jewish crimes (664) than anti-Muslim crimes (257). Crimes against Jews were up 9% and against Muslims, 67%.
In the midst of this distressing news comes hope. As we all know, chaplains are working more than 40 hour this week across our globe. Chaplains are deployed in special configurations to ensure, to the extent they can, individual service members, families, and other personnel have the opportunity to celebrate within their faith traditions as if they were at home. We applaud their efforts and give thanks for their dedication.
On Monday, the Washington Post ran an article submitted by David Frommer, an Army Chaplain with the California Army National Guard and a Jewish Cantor. Frommer relayed, in a somewhat humorous way, his own experience of being mobilized in 2016 to provide Seders at Bagram Air Field in Afghanistan.
At the end of the piece Frommer reflects on what could be considered the miracle of the chaplain corps - "The institution of the Chaplain Corps goes beyond the letter of the law to ensure that its spirit - our American value of honoring differences - is what guides the Army's approach to accommodating soldiers of every faith. Like our country at this moment, the military is always inclined to favor uniformity over diversity, but its chaplains exist to balance that inclination with generosity and prevent it from descending into callousness or bigotry."
He concludes, "I had to spend time in both (Afghanistan and the US Army) to realize that pluralism in America is not just a value, but a miracle well worth celebrating."
Lyman Smith
Executive Director
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TAPS
Colonel, USAF, Re
tired
United Methodist Church
MCA Life Member 1981
Deceased March 30, 2017
Sedona, AZ
Lieutenant Colonel, USA, Retired
Roman Catholic Church
MCA Member 1963
Deceased April 10, 2017
Leinster, Ireland
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Arlington Service for Chaplain G.T. Gunhus
Chaplain Gunhus will be laid to rest at a graveside (only) ceremony on April 28, 2017 at 1500. An informal reception will be held following the service at the Memorial (Main Post) Chapel.
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One Hundred Years Ago, April 6th,
The United States Entered
World War One
The World War One Centennial Commission hosted a ceremony to commemorate the entry of the U.S. into World War 1. The ceremony was held at the World War I Museum and Memorial in Kansas City, MO. The "Great War' and the 'War to End All Wars" is being remembered in many ways during the next two years. The below from the Commission's website captures some of the sacrifice our nation offered in 1917.
More than four million American families sent their sons and daughters to serve in uniform during the Great War.
116,516 U.S. soldiers gave their lives in combat. Another 200,000 were wounded,
a casualty rate far greater than in World War II.
More than 350,000 African Americans served in the U.S. military, as did Native Americans and members of other minority groups. And, for the first time, women joined the ranks of the U.S. armed forces.
World War One Commemorative Commission
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Religion and Spirituality:
The Impact on Chaplains
MCA National Institute 2017
October 23 - 26, 2017
Newport News, Virginia
or call
866-329-1758
ask for Military Chaplains
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If you missed the April 5th
edition of the Newsgram
click here
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SUPPORTING CHAPLAINCY IN AND OUT OF UNIFORM: Active, Retired and Former Chaplains of the
United States Army,
United States Navy,
United States Air Force, Department of
Veterans Affairs, and
Civil Air Patrol
AND THOSE THEY SERVE: military members, veterans, and their families
at home and around the world
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The Military Chaplains Association of the USA
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