PLANNED MINISTRY OBJECTIVES (PMO)

obliged to meet the mission of the church. In the Navy, a roster is maintained of chaplains who are acceptable to the government. Chaplains are re- quired to meet the mission of the command as a part of the naval service. COMMAND RELIGIOUS PROGRAMS ASHORE A Command Religious Program ashore will vary from a civilian parish model in the follow- ing ways. l The Command Religious Program has no parochial membership as in civilian churches. . Rather than meeting the needs of only one faith group, as in civilian churches, the Command Religious Program must meet the needs of all assigned personnel, regardless of their faith group. l Command mission, watch bills, work schedules, or other factors may necessitate scheduling worship outside the traditional times for worship that are observed in the public sector. For example, at a naval air station a flight line crew may have worship services conducted during a lull in operations (between flight prepara- tions); or because of operations, marines in the field may need to have worship services on Tuesday instead of Sunday. In other words, the Command Religious Program should not be limited by rigid confinement to a certain time and place, but creative planning will be necessary in order to provide religious services and programs for all members who desire them. COMMAND RELIGIOUS PROGRAMS ABOARD SHIP It is expected that those personnel who are serving aboard naval vessels will have religious programs made available on a regular basis as command operations permit. A variety of arrangements have been made to ensure that naval personnel aboard ship are afforded the right to the ministrations of their religion, including provisions for the sacraments and ordinances of their faith group. Chaplains are assigned to specific ships and squadrons to provide this ministry. When operations permit, the chaplain may also be transported to other ships to conduct worship services. Chaplains may also provide for services for members of other faiths by supervis- ing lay reader programs. The Department of the Navy is now assigning RPs to all ships with chaplains to provide professional support in the areas of religious programming and administra- tion. Special kits containing prayer books, recorded sacred music, and other equipment have been developed to support the Command Religious Program at sea. The leading RP must ensure that this kit is fully stocked at all times. PLANNED MINISTRY OBJECTIVES (PMO) An area of involvement in the Command Religious Program by the RP staff, and particularly the leading RP, is assisting the command chaplain in the development of the Planned Ministry Objectives (PMO) report. OPNAVINST 1730.1A states that the PMO report should be developed in detail for the budget year and out years and that it should be forwarded via the chain of command to the cognizant claimant staff chaplain for guidance. Important considerations, such as budget, manpower alloca- tions, watch bills, morale, mobilization plans, and operations, may be affected by, and impact on, a detailed PMO report. The PMO report must establish objectives for ministry that meet the religious needs of all assigned personnel and their dependents. When practical, the objectives should include, but not necessarily be limited to, the following services. DIVINE SERVICES The planned ministry objectives report should include arrangements for divine services each sabbath and may include details for divine services daily. The leading RP should submit a duty roster to the command chaplain to provide personnel support for the preparation of chapel spaces for these services. Large shore installations provide a full schedule of services on Sundays and weekdays. This enables command personnel to attend the service of their choice. Large shore installations normally have a minimum of two chaplains assigned, one of which is likely to be a Roman Catholic priest. Chaplains conduct public worship according to the manner and form of their own particular faith group. They may wear the vestments of their own liturgical tradi- tion as appropriate. Personnel are encouraged to 2-2