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The Voice for Chaplaincy - Chartered by Congress - Serving Since 1925
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Weekly Newsgram - July 18th 2018
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Army Chaplain School celebrates 100th Anniversary
The Army Chaplain Center and School are hosting a Centennial Celebration of the Army Chaplain School. Also, July 29 is the 243rd birthday of the Army Chaplain Corps.
Col. Jeffrey Hawkins is the commandant. He says this is a very big year for those at Ft. Jackson. Leaders will engage current and former members of the Army Chaplaincy, especially in the local area. In addition to the evening gala, they also have activities on the USACHCS campus. Events include a skydiving demonstration, historical re-enactments and displays, and a ceremony at their Memorial Garden.
The chaplain school's first session began March 3, 1918, to orient civilian clergymen to Army life. Thousands of chaplains, chaplain candidates and religious affairs specialists have received instruction in a variety of courses designed to best enable them to perform their duties in an Army environment. "We provide religious support to America's Army and their families while helping commanders ensure the right of free exercise of religion for all soldiers," says Hawkins.
USACHCS relocated from Ft. Monmouth, New Jersey to Ft. Jackson, South Carolina in 1995 and also is the home of the U.S. Army Chaplain Corps Museum.
The Centennial Celebration activities kick off at 8:30 a.m. this Friday, the 20th of July, with a skydive team demonstration, four historian stations with historical re-enactments, WWII and modern displays and a gathering at the Memorial Wall.
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In Memoriam
Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army, Retired
March 18, 1931 to July 10, 2018
Congregational
MCA Member 2014
Columbia, South Carolina
Colonel, U.S. Army, Retired
March 10, 1932 to July 6, 2018
United Methodist
MCA Member 1969
Anniston, Alabama
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A quick look back and a quick look forward.
The quick look back is to this past weekend at the joint Association of Professional Chaplains and National Association of Catholic Chaplains conference in Anaheim, CA. The plenary speakers were challenging, the workshops engaging and the collegiality was remarkable. As is so often the case, there were friendships renewed and new ones made. Of note for MCA is that after posting a note that I was available and would like to link up with folks, a number of military and VA chaplains checked in with me. Also, a few folks who were neither but were intrigued by who we are also stopped by.
In that regard it was refreshing, and challenging. Challenging in that the young military chaplains who were present had not heard of us. When I presented the simple acronym of ACE to explain what we do, e.g., advocacy, communications and education for military and VA chaplains, that was very helpful for them, and they appreciated finding out about us.
Of course, we had some of our great life members present as well, and they wanted to connect with us to keep in touch. Additionally, with our Communications Director, Chaplain Lyman Smith, present in his primary role as an endorser, as well as Chaplain Jan McCormack, I believe that MCA was well represented.
The look forward is to November 5 thru 7 for our National Institute, which after a conference call yesterday with our president, Chaplain Mike Langston, vice president/president-elect, Chaplain Dave DeDonato and Chaplain Lyman Smith, is starting to take shape very nicely. As a reminder to all, our conference will be the first part of a great week of chaplaincy activity, as the day we end on the 7th, the U.S. Army Chaplain Corps Regimental Association will begin and run thru the end of the week at the same hotel, the Sheraton Pentagon City. I would urge all Army members to cross-register for both events. The registration site for the USACCRA is
www.afr-reg.com/ArmyChaplains2018. The MCA registration site will be up shortly.
This a great opportunity to get the best that MCA offers, and to attend the biennial USACCRA conference as well.
As always, if you have any questions about what is happening with MCA, feel free to contact me at RazzW@aol. com, or text or call me at 847-269-9066.
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Chaplain News from Around the World
President Edgar Lungu has directed the Ministry of Defense to speed up the establishment of the chaplaincy school for the defense forces.
President Lungu has also directed the ministry to recruit more Chaplains to meet the spiritual and ethical needs of men and women in uniform.
The Head of State says the chaplains and their assistants require specialist training as their work is different from the regular church settings.
President Lungu said this in a speech read on his behalf by Minister of Defence Davies Chama.
This was during the Consecration and induction ceremony of Reverend Brigadier General Vincent Mwenya as Chaplain General to the office and Apostle for the Defence Forces.
The Nigerian Navy (NN) Directorate of Chaplain Services of the Roman Catholic Church has called for non-violence in resolving issues in the country today.
Speaking at the annual training seminar/conference of the Directorate in Calabar, the Flag Officer Commanding of the Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral Mathew Emuekpere, said the theme of the conference The Gospel of Non-violence and Mutual Coexistence among the Present Nigerian People: The Chaplains' Roles was apt to address the issues of disputes, struggles and rampant killings in some states in the country.
Emuekpere urged the Directorate to use to develop workable techniques which will aid their sermon at the pulpit as clergymen in order to restore unity within the barracks and by extension across the nation.
He said the Directorate was established to cater for the spiritual wellbeing of Navy personnel within and beyond the barrack, and that the conference is one of the exercises designed annually to keep the Chaplain personnel focused on the exigencies required by their duties at military and pastoral levels.
Director of the Nigerian Navy Chaplain Services, Very Rev Fr Commander Robert Oparaji said the theme of the conference could not have come at a better time in the history of Nigeria's existence as a country than now that the nation is contending with numerous challenges stretching from socio-political to ethno-religious.
The clergyman sued for peace, as all are one despite different tribes, ethnicity or backgrounds.
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Monday, 30 July - Wednesday, 1 August, 2018
Fort McNair, Washington, D.C.
Registration remains open on line. There is a $30.00 nonrefundable registration fee. The registration is broken up into 3 categories; Active Army, DOD others, (USAR, ARNG, USAF, USN, USMC and civilians) and Foreign Military Personnel. The $30.00 registration fee will cover the cost of welcome packets during the 3 symposium days. Everyone will pay separately for their box lunches, costing $17.00 per day, $51.00 over the symposium.
Plenary speakers include many notables. Information on the plenary speakers is available here. Of note, Chaplain (Colonel) Tim Mallard, a primary organizer of the event is also a featured speaker.
For a full agenda click here.
To register go here.
The Army MOI is available here.
A unique and rich opportunity for all involved and concerned with chaplaincy and our role in being ethical advisers in our ministry. And a great opportunity to connect with others who share your passion for ministry.
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Chapter Update
Susquehanna Chapter
Military Chaplains Association of the United States
20 JULY 2018 - SUMMER PICNIC TIME!!!
Where: Carlisle Barracks Chapel Picnic Pavilion
452 Mara Circle, Carlisle Barracks, PA
(Chaplain phone: 717-245-3318)
When: FRIDAY, 20 JULY 1130
1130 - Informal Gathering & Fellowship
1200 - Picnic Lunch - Burgers, Dogs, buns/rolls, & condiments provided
Please feel free to bring a picnic dish to share: potato salad, fruit,
baked beans, a dessert, cold drinks, etc.
1300 -Program Part 1: What's happening at Carlisle Barracks
Reservations: Call or mail reservations
Chaplain Bill McEllroy
524 Mill Street
Lebanon, PA 17042
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The Military Chaplains Magazine
2018 Themes and Submission Deadlines
Fall Issue
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Religious Accommodation in 2018
Articles to be submitted by September 30
Publication September 24
Winter Issue -
Chaplaincy and Religion in a Post-Truth World
Articles to be submitted by November 30
Publication December 21
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If you missed the July 11th
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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