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Ex-Baptist chaplain wants to be Wiccan; is military chaplaincy viable now?

Discussion in '2007 Archive' started by Joseph M. Smith, Feb 19, 2007.

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  1. Joseph M. Smith

    Joseph M. Smith New Member

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    This link will take you to a story in The Washington Post about Don Larsen, a military chaplain, who wants to be a "Wiccan chaplain" in the army. According to the article, he was once Baptist and is a graduate of NOBTS, but has been Pentecostal and a few other things as well!

    We long since recognized that Christians were not the only people in the military, and have had Jewish chaplains for many years. Then we began to get Muslim chaplains as well. How far does this go before we acknowledge either that military chaplains are primarily counselors who can operate without theological reference, or that a multicultural nation cannot reasonably provide for everybody's desires? That, of course, would mean that religious groups would need to provide and pay for chaplains. Is that a bad idea?

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/18/AR2007021801396.html
     
    #1 Joseph M. Smith, Feb 19, 2007
  2. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
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    Generally, the number of Chaplains that a denomination may provide is supposed to be based on a ratio of the servicemembers religious preference.

    So if sufficent number of soliders are Wiccan, then I suppose they should have a Wiccan chaplain.

    Sgt Salty
     
    #2 Salty, Feb 19, 2007
  3. Daisy

    Daisy New Member

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    So what happens when someone who is already a chaplain switches religions?
     
    #3 Daisy, Feb 19, 2007
  4. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
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    A chaplain can only remain in the military as long as he has the endorsement of his denomination. In order to switch, a Chaplain would have to have the endorsement of his new denomination. If he could not get it he would have to be seperated from the service.
    I suppose the only execption is if he had prior service in a MOS other than a Chaplain, and then would return to that MOS.

    Sgt Salty
     
    #4 Salty, Feb 19, 2007
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