It's official. I am a chaplain candidate of the United States Navy (Reserve). What this means - honestly not a whole lot. Although I can now wear the uniform when occasion calls for it, I can't be called to active duty until I have finished my masters program, and even then I think I still have other paperwork to do. I believe the term I heard used was non-deployable asset. My papers went before the board in November sometime, and I heard back from the recruiters the first couple days of December. On Dec 14th at about 1500 (after another good hour of paperwork) I was sworn in as an Ensign. They gave me a certificate, and I went straight back to working on a final project.
I've finished another semester, this one was harder than the last. One of the other candidates totaled our writing at about 125 pages, and I don't even want to know how many pages we read. I feel like I'm being bludgeoned over the head with knowledge. I don't know what my grades will be but I'm expecting somewhere around a 3.5 g.p.a. Next semester I'll be starting CPE (Clinical Pastoral Education). CPE has nothing to do with the military itself. There are chaplain jobs at hospitals, prisons, universities, large businesses, and pretty much anywhere pluralistic environment needs to be managed.CPE is a one year course with a weekly class and a minimum number of hours spent volunteering as a chaplain at a hospital. If you were really smart you would find a CPE program to go through before you start your masters program, and get it done before. Most programs require only one quarter, and give you 6 credits for it. Finishing the whole course will make you a better chaplain though, so if you can, I would recommend doing all of it. I'm going to try and get through all four quarters while in the masters program, which will be a lot of work, and require some special concessions from the supervising chaplain.
As for life - I have a new son. Brought into this world just before 1100 on 17th of November. He gave me an early start into thanksgiving break. I know this blog is supposed to be about the journey to becoming a chaplain. Having a family is definitely part of that journey. The next time you get a chance, hold a newborn baby in your arms, with no distractions around you. Feel their little presence, straight from God. I dare you to find any place that is closer to heaven and God's footstool. You can feel Him, and His love radiating in the new life that he has entrusted to your arms. You can feel your own insignificance, and that, in spite of your insignificance, He loves you just as much as He loves that child. It's a lot to take in. For those of you who are to become chaplains ... engrave that love on your souls. It is the love that God has for each of his children, and that you will be responsible for relaying. It may be to one lone sailor on the deck of ship, or to thousands of Marines in a large battalion.
Friday, December 24, 2010
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Brothers in Christ
I'm now a month into the second semester of the BYU Chaplaincy masters programs. First, an update as far as things military are going. I went through MEPS (Medical Pre-screening) a few weeks ago. Not so bad. It's basically an amalgamation of every check-up you've ever gotten. They check your vision, hearing, do a written health check akin to one you've already filled out, do a physical, check your urine, and other things like that. There's no running, sit-ups, or push-ups. They check your flexibility, but there's nothing physically strenuous. Just a lot of waiting in line for one check-up, then waiting in line for the next. I've got all of my paperwork done that I need to do. I'm waiting on one letter of reference, and then I'll just be waiting for the board. From what I understand as soon as the board approves I'll be able to go to an officer and actually do the deed; pick an officer I know and have them swear me in.
In other news, this week is the 180th general conference, as well as my second LDS Chaplains conference. Every October conference they also have a conference for all LDS Chaplains. Friday before conference, we have an evening meeting with 'heavy hors d'oeuvres.' There is a speaker (about an hour), but it seems like the main purpose is to allow all the chaplains to catch up with each other, and see how all the other chaplains are doing. They give us tickets to all five session of conference, which occupies Saturday, and Sunday, then Monday and Tuesday will be a series of seminars from 8-5 in the church office building and conference center. Last year the Army Chief of Chaplains was among the speakers. This year we'll have Elder L Tom Perry and RADM Mark L. Tidd, Chief of Navy Chaplains. The whole experience is a spiritual feast, with the unfortunate risk of having so many great spiritual entrèes that you can't handle of it.
I titled my post Brothers in Christ because in one session of conference, when some of the other chaplain candidates in my cohort sat directly behind me in stead of scooting all the way to the end they were asked if they were family. Ryan Lewis jokingly said, "We're brothers in Christ, does that count?" I started thinking about the friendship and bond that has grown between us these past few months and I think his title for us is probably the best one. I happened to have my journal with me at the time, and I wrote down the following.
I was thinking about my fellow chaplains in school. We're not technically chaplains yet, but we are already brothers in Christ's gospel. It's interesting and amazing that we have already developed such a powerful bond. I can feel for each of them, and feel their love and support in return. I can think of no better term for it than brothers in Christ. How blessed am I.
I am on a long and arduous journey, but I am not alone. I have my Lord, my family, and my brothers in Christ.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Genesis
Today (or I guess yesterday since we're past midnight) a member of the seventy asked us to keep record of all that we do as chaplains so that our history can be cataloged for future generations. I can't remember his name (names have never been my strong point), but I felt the truth of it, so here I begin my chronicle.
For me the journey began during priesthood session of general conference a few years back. I don't remember exactly which one, but it was well before I was married(2007). Something one of the speakers said reminded me of a question that had been on my mind for some time; what should I do with my life? There came into my mind a resounding that that I needed to try and be a seminary teacher. The thing that bothered me a little was the word try, which almost implied that I was going to fail. Nevertheless I began the process of becoming a seminary teacher. My wife, being the more spiritual of the two of us knew that something was wrong before I did. All through my final months of training she kept asking me if I was sure that this is what I wanted to do. After a semester of student teaching I finally realized this myself, and began the search anew.
College seemed like the place to be with the waning economy, but we had no way to pay for it. That brought in the idea of the military service. We looked at several branches and compared army/navy/reserves, etc., and the idea of being a chaplain got thrown in the mix too. The real change happened on the way home from by brother-in-law's graduation from MCRD San Diego. There was a car overturned on the side of the road, and in our caravan we had an EMT, police officer, MD, and a marine (he directed traffic). We stayed there until the ambulance arrived. While the rest were doing what they could my wife and I got out and helped pick up the papers that were scattered across the side of the highway. I felt an overpowering desire to help, and not just here and her daughter, but everyone I possibly could. Somehow, in that moment, I knew the way that I could help best was to be a chaplain. At a chaplain conference (held annually in conjunction with LDS general conference) about a year later, my wife and I both felt prompted that we were to join the Navy.
The process of getting here is quite a bit of paperwork and time. The first step is to get in touch with military relations at the church office building. To even be considered you have to have an ecclesiastical endorsement from your bishop, stake president, a member of the seventy, and the military relations division of the church. Once you've been endorsed you then have to get accepted into a masters of religion program somewhere. While it's possible to go to any divinity school and earn a masters, we chose BYU because of the scholarship opportunities and the benefit of being educated by those of your own faith. Once accepted you can then start all of the paperwork. You need a complete background check, so just about everything you've done and everywhere you've been for the last 7 years. You'll need to get references, peer reviews, interviews, health papers, etc. If all were to go perfectly and you had all of your paperwork down lickety split you'd be lucky to get it done in three or four months. As it is, near the end of my first semester of college I'm still a couple months from officially being in as a chaplain candidate. Then it will be two years of school, the officer version of basic training, and chaplain schools (6 weeks, like AIT). Then if the board accepts you, you're officially in. It's a long process, but I have faith that it will most definitely be worth it.
Next post I'll go into the semester so far, and schoolwork in general.
For me the journey began during priesthood session of general conference a few years back. I don't remember exactly which one, but it was well before I was married(2007). Something one of the speakers said reminded me of a question that had been on my mind for some time; what should I do with my life? There came into my mind a resounding that that I needed to try and be a seminary teacher. The thing that bothered me a little was the word try, which almost implied that I was going to fail. Nevertheless I began the process of becoming a seminary teacher. My wife, being the more spiritual of the two of us knew that something was wrong before I did. All through my final months of training she kept asking me if I was sure that this is what I wanted to do. After a semester of student teaching I finally realized this myself, and began the search anew.
College seemed like the place to be with the waning economy, but we had no way to pay for it. That brought in the idea of the military service. We looked at several branches and compared army/navy/reserves, etc., and the idea of being a chaplain got thrown in the mix too. The real change happened on the way home from by brother-in-law's graduation from MCRD San Diego. There was a car overturned on the side of the road, and in our caravan we had an EMT, police officer, MD, and a marine (he directed traffic). We stayed there until the ambulance arrived. While the rest were doing what they could my wife and I got out and helped pick up the papers that were scattered across the side of the highway. I felt an overpowering desire to help, and not just here and her daughter, but everyone I possibly could. Somehow, in that moment, I knew the way that I could help best was to be a chaplain. At a chaplain conference (held annually in conjunction with LDS general conference) about a year later, my wife and I both felt prompted that we were to join the Navy.
The process of getting here is quite a bit of paperwork and time. The first step is to get in touch with military relations at the church office building. To even be considered you have to have an ecclesiastical endorsement from your bishop, stake president, a member of the seventy, and the military relations division of the church. Once you've been endorsed you then have to get accepted into a masters of religion program somewhere. While it's possible to go to any divinity school and earn a masters, we chose BYU because of the scholarship opportunities and the benefit of being educated by those of your own faith. Once accepted you can then start all of the paperwork. You need a complete background check, so just about everything you've done and everywhere you've been for the last 7 years. You'll need to get references, peer reviews, interviews, health papers, etc. If all were to go perfectly and you had all of your paperwork down lickety split you'd be lucky to get it done in three or four months. As it is, near the end of my first semester of college I'm still a couple months from officially being in as a chaplain candidate. Then it will be two years of school, the officer version of basic training, and chaplain schools (6 weeks, like AIT). Then if the board accepts you, you're officially in. It's a long process, but I have faith that it will most definitely be worth it.
Next post I'll go into the semester so far, and schoolwork in general.
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