The Voice for Chaplaincy - Chartered by Congress - Serving Since 1925
Weekly Newsgram - May 10th , 2017

 The Association of Clinical Pastoral Education Turns 50

   The Association of Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE) celebrates 50 years of service in 2017. In 1967 four existing ruling bodies for clinical pastoral education came together to form the ACPE. In 1969 the Department of Education placed the ACPE on its list of nationally recognized accrediting agencies/associations in the field of clinical pastoral education.
   Getting to that moment in 1967 was no easy task. Four separate traditions had evolved since the 1920s with strong personalities and differing perceptions of how best to help students entering the ministry be prepared to provide pastoral care in practical ways. Two trends expressed in varying ways competed through the period of incubation of this emerging conception of equipping pastors with the skills, competencies, and understandings they would need to meet the challenges of ministry in institutional settings.
   Over the years the four traditions took life as the Council for Clinical Training of Theological Students, the Institute for Pastoral Care, the Lutheran Advisory Council, and the Southern Baptist Association for Clinical Pastoral Education. After several years of working through the process, these four groups merged to form the ACPE in Kansas City in October of 1967.
   Today the ACPE is a " multicultural, multifaith organization devoted to providing education and improving the quality of ministry and pastoral care offered by spiritual caregivers of all faiths." It's 2,300 members provide training in over 300 certified centers with 600 certified faculty members. Each year 9,000 units of ACPE certified CPE are completed in both hospital settings but increasingly in community and other institution based models.
   As the MCA continues to advocate for increased professionalism for military chaplaincy, the ACPE is a valued partner working with us toward the future.      Congratulations ACPE on the value added to those who serve.


Lyman Smith
Executive Director





Rest In Peace


MAJ, USA, Retired
Christian Church, Disciples of Christ
Joined MCA 1975
Deceased November 16, 2016
Marble Falls, TX


Lieutenant Colonel, USAF, Retired
United Methodist Church
Joined MCA 1992
Deceased March 13, 2017
Alamogordo, AZ 



New Member Welcome

Associate Member

SGT Nomon R. Kennedy
United States Army, Retired
Presbyterian Church in America
Niota, TN



The Public Health Service and Politics

Have you ever wondered about another of the nation's uniformed services - The Public Health Service Commissioned Corps? This often overlooked service is a vital component of our nation's health care system serving along side members of the other uniformed services and in several cabinet level departments and other agencies. The USPHS has responsibility to deliver the Nation's public health promotion and disease prevention programs and advancing public health science. As chaplains, we will find ourselves working along side of these uniformed servants in crisis and peace time as we are each devoted to the complete well being of those we serve. 

Occasionally we hear of the Surgeon General of the United States and the advocacy this officer has with respect to public health issues. Given the importance of public health and the public debate on health care related issues, one might imagine an intersection between the Surgeon General and political concerns. 

Attached  you will find a recent article by former Surgeon General VADM, Retired, Richard Carmona. Admiral Carmona had an interesting career prior to becoming the Surgeon General which included an Army stint as a Special Forces medic, a nurse, a surgeon, a police officer, and a public health administrator. 

The article is most instructive on the history and mission of the USPHS. In addition to informing us of our shared history, Carmona also pleads for a return to a public health service which is treated with "the same dignity, respect, accountability, and civilian political oversight as all our (other) uniformed services."  

MCA Academic Scholarship Application Deadline Draws Near

The MCA annually provides academic scholarships to individuals seeking service as a military chaplain. To be eligible an individual must be enrolled in a degree program acceptable to the military to qualify as a chaplain and be endorsed by a DOD recognized endorser for the military chaplaincy. 

MCA academic scholarships are in the amount of $1,000.00 each and are provided to the institution the the recipient attends. An individual may receive successive awards from one year to the next as he or she prepares for the chaplaincy. 

We can award up to five scholarships this year - one of which is funded by the generous donation made by Women United in Ministry to support women desiring to serve as chaplains in our nations armed forces. 

Applications for 2017-2018 scholarships are now being accepted. You may access an application here or one can be mailed by requesting from the MCA office at chaplains@mca-usa.org. All necessary information is contained on the application form. 

Please get the word out to any CCPOs or other students currently matriculating and desirous of becoming a chaplain for life. Thanks for helping to build our future. 

Annual MCA Awards and 
National Executive Committee Members

Please make your nominations now for our Annual Awards and NEC. 

Each year we present three awards to deserving individuals who represent the values and principles we embrace and advance as an organization. The three are:

The National Citizenship Award - presented to an individual or individuals  who make a significant contribution in public service and who support the values and needs of our nation's military members and their families.

The G, William Dando Volunteer Service Award  - Our award for volunteer service is named for Chaplain Dando and honors one of our members who exemplifies a life long commitment to sacrificial service.

The David E. White Leadership Award - Presented by the Military Officers Association of America to a chaplain wit a  lifetime commitment and  vision for Joint service, inter-agency collaboration, and overall ministry professionalism.

We also elect four new members to our NEC each year seeking to have all segments of our membership represented on our governing board. 

Please send your nominations and supporting reasons to chaplains@mca-usa.org. Nominations will be received through June 30. Thank you. 


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 
MCA Chapter Event

Susquehanna Chapter - May 2017 Meeting

Friday, May 19, 1130 - Gathering; 1200 - Lunch; 1300 - Program
Calvary Church, 1051 Landis Valley Road, Lancaster, PA 17601

call or mail reservations to: 
Chaplain Bill McEllroy, 524 Mill Street, Lebanon, PA 17042717-228-2071; mcellroy@the-unnercircle.com

Please wear you uniform -  spouses and significant others welcome

More information here


Visit our  website. There you will be able to update your contact information, join,  pay your dues, make donations,  file ministry reports, contact our supporters, read The Military Chaplain magazine and otherwise connect to resources.

If you missed the May 3rd  edition of the Newsgram    click here
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

The Military Chaplains Association of the USA
(703) 533-5890 | Email | Website
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