Beyond Moralism in Uniform: Why Chaplains Must First Be Theologians
By James Brown - Posted at Gentle Reformation: I live in a strange environment. I’m a pastor but am called to a specific ministry context as an active-duty military chaplain. On Sundays, I serve at a chapel. During the week, I serve the Brigade where I’m assigned. Now, to be clear, chapels are not churches. There is no membership, no church discipline, and rarely a strong sense of community. Yet they fill a need for people away from their home church, exploring Christianity, or who haven’t found a local church. As a Major, I serve as “senior pastor” of one of the chapel services. Specifically, I serve the “Traditional Service.” Let me explain. In simple terms, a “traditional service” means using hymnals, which usually blends Presbyterian, some Baptist, Lutheran, and Methodist traditions. Unfortunately, in a desire for ecumenical peace, theological distinctives can blur and often disappear completely. I sat in chapel recently listening to a sermon that was genuinely well-meant, warm, a...
