Chapter 2 Religous Ministries in the Navy

CHAPTER 2 RELIGIOUS MINISTRIES IN THE NAVY The constitution guarantees all Americans the opportunity for the free exercise of religion. To meet this guarantee, the Navy must provide all of its members the opportunity to worship in their chosen faith. The Navy is a unique institution wherein traditional models of parochial ministry are not always possible or appropriate; therefore, ministry in the Navy is an institutional ministry. The Command Religious Program must be designed to meet the unique needs of Navy personnel in a variety of settings. INSTITUTIONAL MINISTRY VERSUS PAROCHIAL MINISTRY Various differences may be noted in institu- tional and parochial ministry as outlined in the following paragraphs. . Call versus contract—The establishment of a church in the public sector is most often in response to a ‘‘spiritual calling” upon a group of believers. Many of these churches will “call” a pastor. The fact that a Navy chaplain is a member of the clergy presupposes that all chaplains have received a “call to ministry”; however, a chaplain’s relationship to the Navy is based on a contract. . Faith group accountability—Both parochial and institutional ministries are account- able to their particular faith group or de- nomination for ministry. Chaplains receive an ecclesiastical endorsement from their faith group. In the public sector, the church, denomination, or faith group endorses or ordains the minister, rabbi, or priest. . Ministry—Public ministry is parochial (local) and is designed to meet the needs of the local congregation. Ministry in the Navy is both global and plural and is designed to meet the needs of all assigned personnel and their families. . Church government in the public sector versus religious ministry management in the Navy—Public churches are governed primarily by their denomination, church headquarters, diocese, or synod (polity); church structure; or church constitution and bylaws. In several denomina- tions, churches operate autonomously. Local churches may cooperate in certain mission endeavors. Such cooperation may be local, state, national, or international in scope. In the Navy, a local church structure does not exist. There are no deacons, elders, bishops, trustees, presbyters, pastors, or even members at government-owned facilities used as chapels. Navy chaplains are responsible to their denomination or faith group, but are commissioned officers guided by statutes and Navy directives. Professionally, RPs should remain pluralistic in their outlook regarding ministry in the Navy, even though they have personal religious viewpoints which they express privately. . Ministry responsibility—In civilian churches, ministers are responsible to the govern- ing body of the church for ministry. Navy chaplains are responsible to the endorsing denominational affiliate, the commanding officer, Congress, and the taxpayer for ministry. l Congregational funding versus congres- sional funding—In the civilian sector, local churches conduct operations funded by donations from the congregation. In order to separate church and state, laws dictate that civilian churches cannot be supported by any tax revenue. However, since ministry in the Navy is a responsibility of the command, it is funded entirely by Congress. . Personnel support in the civilian church versus personnel support in the Navy—Civilian churches usually elect or appoint a pastor, minister, rabbi, or priest and a staff who are acceptable to the church membership and who are 2-1