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The Voice for Chaplaincy - Chartered by Congress - Serving Since 1925
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Weekly Newsgram - September 6th,
2017
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photo by Jennyfer Hernandexz Dialogo
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Guatemala was the site of U.S. Southern Command's (SOUTHCOM) 2017 Annual Chaplain Symposium, held August 1st to 3rd, where the topic of "The Impact of Faith in the Armed Forces" was addressed. For three days the spiritual leaders interacted during workshops, forums, and talks that allowed them to study the importance of religion for each service member. This event offered the military chaplains, assistant chaplains, and other clergy information, language, global perspective, and views on religion's essential role in the militaries of North, Central, and South America, and the Caribbean.
The meeting of religious leaders from more than 14 nations in the region and the Caribbean strives to strengthen alliances and spiritual support for all service members in each of the armed forces as well as seeking religiously oriented solutions and sharing experiences among the clergy in attendance.
Colonel Oscar Jacobo de León, the chief of Chaplain Services for the Guatemalan Army and one of the hosts, welcomed each of the representatives from partner nations, reaffirming to them that one of the most important missions of the Army High Command is the welfare of its service members and that spiritual support is part of that welfare. "If a soldier is searching for God, he will be more productive in his work and in his service, and will improve his family relationships, friendships, and society at large," Col. De León stated, indicating that 56 percent of service members in the Guatemalan Army are Catholic and 44 percent are evangelical Christians. "Those of us in chaplain services must work on the soldier's soul so that it reflects his peace and his love on the outside. Those unseen actions, faith, and a clear conscience are what we need to be working on, and our work is precisely that," he added.
U.S. Air Force Colonel Greg Woodbury, Jr., the SOUTHCOM chaplain and co-host, indicated that the symposium was being held in order to forge relationships with other leaders and, above all, to emphasize that spirituality is an important part of life. He said the intent was to look for solutions to service members' personal problems. "We believe that God created us, and we need to have a relationship with him. We're here to discuss ways of helping people, not only within the military but also sharing that help with all those around us," he stated.
The 2017 event was the most recent of these now annual events. Chaplain (Col) Mike Lembke, then the Southern Command Chaplain, organized and presented at the event in 2010. The topic was "Religion Matters". We are pleased to have Chaplain Lembke as one of our primary presenters at the National Institute this year. We look forward to hearing more from him on this important topic.
Please sign up for the meeting today using the links below.
Lyman Smith
Executive Director
Full article on the Chaplain Conference here.
Article on the 2010 conference here.
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TAPS
In Memoriam
Lieutenant Colonel, United States Air Force, Retired
United Methodist
Richmond, VA
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Welcome New Members
Chaplain Ricardo C. Rogruguez
LT, USNR
Catholic Apostolic Church in America
Anaheim, CA
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Chaplain Jan Horton by Bruce Ackerman/Star Banner via AP
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Chaplain offered solace at
Pentagon on 9/11
As the 16th Anniversary of the attacks of September 11, 2001 approaches we are reminded of the impact these hateful crimes had on those who perished, their families, their rescuers, and our nation as a whole.
Recently, the AP did a story (
Marian Rizzo - May 28 2017) with retired Army Chaplain (COL) Jan Horton. Among the discussion topics was her ministry and presence during the day of the attack.
excerpts from the article -
And she (Horton) wiped away tears as she talked about the events of Sept. 11, 2001, when hijackers plowed American Airlines Flight 77 into the Pentagon, killing 125 of her co-workers.
"You go back and to a degree you relive it all," she said. "It was amazing to me to see God's presence and love healing everything. Time after time, you see love in the face of hate."
"What people did to save someone else was the most inspiring thing I ever saw," Horton said. "One of the women was on fire. Three or four people saw her and took off their jackets and put them on her to smother it. You weren't thinking about yourself at all. The thought was, what can I do to help the firemen or the next casualty? By late afternoon, the firemen had been working for hours and were hot and tired. Three of us broke into a concession stand. A two-star general got down on his knees and scraped up ice for them."
The injured were moved to the courtyard first, then were transferred to ambulances outside the complex.
Horton convinced the guards to let her and two other chaplains through the barricade to minister to the injured.
"We just knelt beside them," she said. "Every one of them would cry immediately when we started to pray. More than anything, you're making sure they know that God is with them and to have that sense of peace that they're not alone."
As we. as a people, remember 9/11 this year we also are reminded, that within the next two years, recruits will be entering the military who were born after the attack. Time has a way of changing perspectives. May we never forget and may we also move forward.
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Save the Date: Join Us for a National Day of Prayer September
8-10, 2017
September 10, is World Suicide Prevention Day. This weekend, the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention invites faith communities across the nation to pray for those whose lives have been touched by suicide. Pray that we can all grow in faith that brings hope, and hope that brings life.
Whether in your church, your temple or synagogue, your mosque, or even by yourself, join us.
As we pray, let's also pledge to be aware of those around us who are struggling with any of life's challenges--especially those affected in any way by suicide- and to be there for them in their times of need.
Be there in person, be there with care, be there with prayer.
On this Faith-Hope-Life Day, we pray for emotional, mental, and spiritual healing. Just as we regularly pray for persons with physical concerns, such as cancer or heart disease, we especially pray this day for those dealing with mental health concerns and feelings of hopelessness, and for the people who love and care for them.
It's time to break the silence around suicide and help all who struggle. Please join us.
Because, where there is faith there is hope, and where there is hope there is life.
So Faith-Hope-Life Day, let's be there-in person, with care, with prayer.
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Religion and Spirituality:
The Impact on Chaplains
Registration Now Open
or send an email to
for a paper registration form
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 A
ugust 30th
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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