Navy Chaplains Attend Endorser's Conference

ALEXANDRIA, Va (NNS) -- The annual Armed Forces Chaplains Board (AFCB) endorsers conference took place Jan. 14 at the Hilton Alexandria Mark Center in Alexandria, Va.

The theme for this year's conference was "Armed Forces Chaplaincy: Common Mission, Uncommon Ministry." It coincided with the annual meetings of the National Conference on Ministry to the Armed Forces (NCMAF), Endorsers Conference for Veterans Affairs Chaplaincy (ECVAC) and the Evangelical Church Alliance (ECA) which met separately throughout the week of Jan. 11–15 to discuss policies and issues related to the endorsement of military chaplains.

In attendance and speaking at the conference were the Chiefs of Chaplains of the U.S. military services, including Navy Rear Adm. Robert Burt; Army Maj. Gen. Douglas L. Carver; and Air Force Maj. Gen. Cecil R. Richardson.

Other speakers included Mr. Bill Carr, Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Military Personnel Policy; Army Maj. Gen. Charles D. Luckey, Assistant to the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff for Reserve Affairs; Army Chaplain (Col.) Steven E. Keith, Director, Armed Forces Chaplaincy Center; and Navy Captain Mark Steiner, Deputy Chaplain, Joint Chiefs of Staff.

"It's very important for [the leaders] of our chaplain corps to interface with our [chaplains'] endorsers to discuss current issues involving religion, the challenges we are now facing and will face and to keep in close contact with our [chaplains'] endorsers," said Col. Thomas E. Preston, USA, who is the executive director of the Armed Forces Chaplain Board. "We encourage all our chaplains to keep in close contact with their endorsers."

Rear Adm. Burt, Chief of Navy Chaplains, said, "The endorsers play a very crucial role in recommending suitable candidates to become military chaplains. Our military chaplains have an incredible responsibility to provide top-notch and professional religious care and counseling for our country's armed forces. We as members of the various chaplain corps are so grateful to our endorsers for the wonderful job that they do."

To be considered for appointment to serve as a military chaplain, all applicants must have an endorsement from a religious organization listed with the Department of Defense. Applicants for military chaplaincy must also meet minimum educational and experience requirements in order to serve.



For more news from Chaplain Corps, visit www.navy.mil/local/crb/.