Duties and Responsibilities of the Chaplain CH (MAJ) Kenneth Williams

Action: Discuss the duties and responsibilities of Army Chaplains and religious accommodation. Conditions: Given a guided discussion in a classroom setting Standard: Discussed the duties and responsibilities of Army Chaplains as religious leaders, staff officers, and noncombatants and religious accommodation. Terminal Learning Objectives

Administrative Data Safety Requirements: None Risk Assessment: Low Environmental Considerations: None Evaluation: Leadership Exam

Chaplain, not Chaplin!

Historical and Legal Basis for the Chaplaincy Authorized by Continental Congress, 1775 Title 10, U. S. Code Served in every war beginning in the Revolutionary war Ensure Free exercise clause of 1st amendment

THE COMMANDER’S AND CHAPLAIN’S RESPONSIBILITIES The commander is responsible for ensuring that soldiers and their families have the opportunity for the free exercise of religion. The chaplain is a special staff officer responsible to the commander for religious support.

Army Chaplains Are... Religious Leaders –Fully qualified clergy –Endorsed by a religious faith group Staff Officers –Have authority to supervise and control –Do not exercise command Noncombatants

Chaplain Branch Insignia BuddhistChristianJewishMuslim

DACH - P redictable E quitable R eliable Muslim Orthodox Jewish Protestant Catholic TOTAL FY 2003 BES = 1367 Strength Report as of SEP 2003

Duties as Religious Leaders Services –Worship –Wedding –Funeral/Memorial Ceremonies Religious Education Core Principles –Nurture the living –Care for the wounded –Honor the dead Pastoral Care –Privileged communication –Sensitive information

Two types of communication: –Privileged: Formal act of religion or matter of conscience A right of the counselee –Sensitive: Not privileged but personally sensitive Improper for general dissemination

Duties as Staff Officers Advising the Commander Supporting Commander’s programs Coordinating UMT professional training Care for funds Manage facilities

Unit Ministry Team (UMT) Chaplain Chaplain Assistant -- 56M 71M, prior to Oct –The Chaplain’s Assistant is a combatant. –Assigned to Battalion or higher HQ

REFERENCES  DODD , Accommodation of Religious Practices within the Military Services, 3 Feb 88 and Change 1, 17 Oct 88.  AR 670-1, paragraph 1.7.B, Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia, 1 Sep 92.  DA PAM , Accommodating Religious Practices, 22 Sep 93.  AR 165-1, Chaplain Activities in the United States Army, 27 Feb 98.  AR , paragraph 5.6 and 5.6.H, Army Command Policy, 15 Jul 99.  Religious Requirements and Practices of Certain Selected Groups: A Handbook for Chaplains.

GUIDING PRINCIPLES  The Army’s Policy (DA PAM ): “It is the Army’s policy to approve requests for accommodation of religious practices that will not adversely impact on military readiness, unit cohesion, standards, health, safety, or discipline or otherwise interfere with the performance of the soldier’s military duties.”

GUIDING PRINCIPLES  The U.S. Constitution: The U.S. Constitution First Amendment prohibits enactment of any law “respecting the establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercising thereof.” Chaplains help advise the commander in protecting the “free exercise” of religion.

GUIDING PRINCIPLES  Civil Rights Act of 1964: “To be a bona fide religious belief entitled to protection under either the First Amendment or Title VII, a belief must be sincerely held, and within the believer’s own scheme of things religious.”  U.S. Supreme Court, Thomas vs. Review Board, 1981: “religious beliefs need not be acceptable, logical, consistent, or comprehensible to others in order to merit First Amendment protection.”

ELEMENTS OF RELIGIOUS DISCRIMINATION  Discounting beliefs of others  Religious jokes/slurs  Compulsory Services/Ceremonies  Stereotyping people by their religion  Non-Association due to religion  Worship time not made available  Lack of concern

CATEGORIES OF RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION  Worship Practices  Dietary Practices  Medical Practices  Wear and Appearance of the Uniform  Personal Grooming

WORSHIP PRACTICES  Some religious groups have worship requirements which conflict with the soldier’s normal availability for duty.  Example: Worship on days other than Saturday and Sunday, special Holy days or periods.

DIETARY PRACTICES  Some faith groups have religious tenets which prohibit the eating of specific foods, or prescribe a certain manner in which food must be prepared.  Example: A soldier with a conflict between the diet provided by the Army and that required by religious practice may request an exception to policy to receive separate rations.

MEDICAL PRACTICES  Some religions practice self-medical care, or prohibit immunizations, blood transfusions, or surgery.  Example: A soldier may request self-medical care for non-emergency or non-life-threatening illness or injury.  In emergency situations the medical treatment facility may order or the attending physician may take immediate steps to save a soldier’s life regardless of religious practices or objections.

WEAR AND APPEARANCE OF THE UNIFORM  Soldiers may wear: Religious apparel, articles, and jewelry that are not visible or apparent; that are discreet in style and subdued in brightness and color; that do not replace or interfere with the proper wearing of any prescribed article of the uniform.  Religious articles may not be temporarily or permanently affixed or appended to any prescribed article of the uniform.  Religious items which do not meet the standards of AR may be worn by soldiers in uniform while they are in a worship setting.

PERSONAL GROOMING  The Army will not accommodate exceptions to personal grooming standards for religious reasons except: Religious-based exceptions to policy previously given soldiers under the provisions of regulation prior to 1 January 1986 continue in effect; however, soldiers previously granted authority to wear unshorn hair, unshorn beard, or permanent religious jewelry will not be assigned permanent change of station or temporary duty out of CONUS due to health and safety considerations.

 Remember the guiding principles.  Use chaplain as an adviser.  Follow the specific guidelines. SAMPLE POLICY LETTER

REQUESTS FOR RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION Considerations:  Religious beliefs are important.  Is the request sincere and based on religious reasons?  Will the accommodation have an adverse impact on military readiness, unit cohesion, standards, health, safety, or discipline?  The importance of accommodating the individual.  The impact of similar requests.  Are there alternative solutions?  Previous treatment of similar requests?

REQUESTS FOR RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION  Soldiers submit requests to their immediate commander.  Commander may approve informally or formally (in writing), or disapprove. Must respond within 10 days.  Accommodation remains in effect unless revoked by subsequent or higher commander.  Soldiers can appeal a disapproved request through each level of command to ODCSPER at DA.  If a soldier’s request is denied he or she can request separation from the Army.

Preparing for the Death of a Soldier Memorializing the Soldier The Grief Process Caring for the Family

Purpose of Memorializing To honor the deceased To honor God To honor the nation To encourage the mourners To aid the grief process.

Memorials Ceremony –Patriotic –Mandatory –Unit takes lead Service –Religious –Voluntary –Chaplain takes lead

Responsibilities Commander – comments focus on deceased and what is to be learned from the death. Chaplain – comments focus on encouragement and comfort

Considerations Time – 3 to 7 days Location Speakers Type of memorial Elements Display Purpose Unit reaction to death Attendees/seating Care for family Rehearsals

What Is Grief? A Process. –Denial –Anger –Bargaining –Depression –Acceptance Natural and normal

What Is Grief? Cont. a. Bereavement/Loss – an act; in any change there is loss. b. Grief – the emotion; the nature of the attachment determines the kind of grief. c. Mourning – the activity of incorporating the loss into our life; learning to live with it; new environment; create thing to fill void.

Bereavement/Loss Types of losses include: (1)Death (2) Divorce (3) Rape (4) Abuse – child/spouse

Bereavement/Loss, cont. (5) Loss of body part (6) Birth of a special needs child (7) Passed over for promotion (8) PCS/ETS – loss of support system

Grief Common Emotions Sadness Anger Guilt Hurt Shock Panic Distress

Grief, cont. Common Reactions Tightness in throat Heaviness in chest Lack of concentration – wandering; not completing tasks Change in sleep habits Loneliness

Grief, cont. Common Reactions, cont. Preoccupation with the deceased person or object of the loss. Need to tell and re-tell the experience Mood swings Flood of emotions

Mourning Appropriate Responses Listen. Don’t underestimate the power of presence. Allow emotion Encourage talk about the loss. Share genuine emotion. Send a note, card, or meaningful verse. Bring a meal or snacks.

Mourning, cont. Appropriate Responses Offer to provide child care. Offer to do some chores or run some errands. Ask about a preference regarding memorial gifts. Give a plant, living bush, tree, or flowers. Share the names of others that have had similar losses. Be patient.

Mourning, cont. Appropriate Responses Allow time for adjustments. Remember anniversary dates. Make early, frequent, and short visits.

Mourning, cont. Inappropriate Responses Taking over. Discouraging emotion. Expecting life to get back to normal.

Inappropriate Comments It was for the best. Forget about it. It was God’s will. You’re young. You can have another child. You have to be strong for your family. At least you have the rest of your family.

Inappropriate Comments, cont. It could have been worse. You’ll get over it. Time heals all wounds. Think of those that are worse off. I know just how you feel.

Appropriate Comments You cannot take away the pain. Grieving people have to work through their grief. There are no magic words.

Appropriate Comments, cont. I’m sorry. I care. I love you. I am so sad for your loss. What can I do for you?

Appropriate Comments, cont. I am here and I want to listen. Talk as long as you want. I have plenty of time. You don’t have to say anything at all. I can only imagine how terrible this must be for you.

Caring for the Family Letter of Sympathy or Condolence Encourage (but don’t force) the person to talk/feel Take a close friend of the family along Remember that grief/disorientation continues after you leave -- stay in touch, make yourself available Discourage major decisions in context of a trauma Provide practical assistance --meals, clean house, the kids (remember that kids are grieving, too)

Caring for the Family, cont. Provide help without creating dependence Network with other helpers --work as a team, be strategic --separate professional issues from daily, practical needs Don’t force help --let the individual decide how much is wanted/needed Most importantly: provide gentle, loving presence--just be there in a caring way

Questions