THE MILITARY JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL CANADIAN CHAPLAIN SERVICE

FALL 2014 Published under the authority of the Chaplain General. Views and opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the Department of National Defence, the Office of the Chaplain General, or the Editor. The Editor reserves two rights: first, to reject any article for reasons of content, style or for any other reason; second, to modify article length. Articles, photos, letters to the Editor or comments must be forwarded in both official languages to:

Chaplain General National Defence Headquarters Ottawa, ON K1A 0K2 Attention: Dialogue Editor email: [email protected] THE MILITARY JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL CANADIAN CHAPLAIN SERVICE

Section One Vocation of Choice 3 Message from the Chaplain General – Padre John M. Fletcher, BGen 4 Restoring a Tradition as we Move Ahead: Reviving the Prefix “ROYAL” – Padre Guy Chapdelaine, Col 6 Pride of Vocation in an Historical Gift – Padre Jennifer Gosse, LCdr 8 International Muslim Military Chaplains Conference – Padre Suleyman Demiray, Capt 10 The Winds of Change: The Contribution of the Royal Canadian Chaplain Service to Multiculturalism from a Swiss Perspective – Matthias Inniger 12 Called Upon to be Men and Women of Hope – Padre Sylvain Maurais, LCol 14 Stations of the Cross at CFB Gagetown – Padre Kent Horsman, Capt 15 Multi-Base Vacation Bible School Initiative – Padre Dwayne Bos, Capt Section Two A Learning Chaplaincy 17 Padre Professionalism: A School for Chaplains – Duff Crerar, PhD 23 Understanding Religion and Violence: What Contemporary Scholarship Might Teach Us – Padre Michael Peterson, PhD, Capt 25 Couples Conference in Bagotville – Padre David Dytynyshyn, Capt 26 “Proclaims a Divine Presence”: Examining the Chaplian’s Role in At Peace with War – Padre David Clark, Capt 28 Legacy of Courage and Sacrifice – Padre James Lee, Capt 30 Protestant Development Day 2014 – Padre Michael Macintyre, Lt(N) 32 Haiti Milk Bag Project – Emily Chastkiewicz and Nancy Dytynyshyn Section Three Operationally Relevant Chaplaincy 34 USS Arleigh Burke Sailors Receive Blessings from Canadian Chaplain – MC2 Carlos Vasquez Stained glass window “Hope in a Broken World” at 36 NATO Air Force Chaplains Gather in Quebec City – Padre Barbara Putnam, LCol the Beechwood Cemetery commemorating the role of the Canadian Armed Forces Chaplaincy. 38 Ministry in the North – Padre Charles Irish, Lt(N) Used with permission. 40 International Chaplain Symposium: RIMPAC 2014 – Padre Jeannine Friesen, Lt(N) 42 Team Building on a North American Scale: RAW 2014 – Padre Mike Adamczyk, Maj 44 Nijmegen 2014: A Padre’s Perspective – Padre Stephen Morris, Capt 46 In Memoriam Section

Vocation of Choice ONEPAGE 3 Message from the Chaplain General Padre John M. Fletcher, BGen

4 Restoring a Tradition as we Move Ahead: Reviving the Prefix “ROYAL” Padre Guy Chapdelaine, Col

6 Pride of Vocation in an Historical Gift Padre Jennifer Gosse, LCdr

8 International Muslim Military Chaplains Conference Padre Suleyman Demiray, Capt

10 The Winds of Change: The Contribution of the Royal Canadian Chaplain Service to Multiculturalism from a Swiss Perspective Matthias Inniger

12 Called Upon to be Men and Women of Hope Padre Sylvan Maurais, LCol

14 Stations of the Cross at CFB Gagetown Padre Kent Horsman, Capt

15 Multi-Base Vacation Bible School Initiative Padre Dwayne Bos, Capt

THE MILITARY JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL CANADIAN CHAPLAIN SERVICE Message from the Chaplain General

As an avid proponent of Dialogue, both as a verb, (i.e. to engage in discussion) and as a noun, (i.e. our Royal Canadian Chaplain Service’s journal for those who are called to serve), I am very pleased to introduce this autumn edition of Dialogue.

This year, we honour the 100th this past October reminds us of both that showcases dialogue partners anniversary of the Canadian Armed the fragility of the peace we enjoy as engaged in discussion on important Forces’ service to Canada during WWI, well as our responsibility to promote and salient matters regarding the role as well as the 20th anniversary of the dialogue, foster understanding, and of religion in conflict, as well as in founding of our own Canadian Forces seek out opportunities to build and conflict zones. Chaplains are engaged Chaplain School and Centre. In the strengthen community. Capt Mike in a myriad of interesting work twenty years that have followed since Peterson’s article on the interrelation throughout the Defense Community in its inception the Chaplain School and between violence and religion is a support of Canada’s mission at home Centre has provided foundational and timely one, given the tragic events of and abroad. ongoing training for chaplains serving this fall, as we find Canadian military at home and abroad. I am pleased personnel deployed in support of You will also be encouraged to learn that you will be able to read about this operations in places where the line of how a spiritual retreat can help important step in our development as between religion and violence is all foster hope in the midst of such an a professional chaplaincy. too blurred. active and demanding ministry, as we are called upon to live out in so many This fall, we also celebrate the Within the pages of the Fall 2014 ways – private and public, national announcement by the Governor edition of Dialogue, you will find and international, professional and General of Canada, His Excellency, other interesting and informative academic! My hope is that you will the Right Honourable David Johnston, articles on subjects from our past enjoy this edition of Dialogue and find of the restoration of the Royal Prefix and present. You will also learn of in it a source of inspiration, a treasure for our chaplaincy. On 16 October, our chaplains’ considerable impact trove of good ideas which you might His Excellency the Governor General for good at the tactical, operational implement at your level and area of announced that henceforth the and strategic levels of ministry; from ministry, a revelation of new learning Canadian Armed Forces Chaplain major international joint exercises, to for your professional development Branch will be known as the Royal programs for well-being on bases, and a channel of encouragement. Canadian Chaplain Service. wings, and formations. You will be exposed to good news in the national The fall season, regrettably has and international arenas on how the Brigadier-General brought our Canadian Armed Forces Royal Canadian Chaplain Service is The Venerable John M. Fletcher family sorrow amid the joys we contributing to the common good in CD, QHC, BSc, MDiv, DD celebrate. The renewed threat of the intersection of religion and the Chaplain General of the Canadian Armed Forces international terrorism that reached public square; you will discover an our own shores and halls of parliament academic article and a book review Vocation of Choice 3 Restoring a Tradition as We Move ahead: Reviving The Prefix “Royal”

Padre Guy Chapdelaine, Colonel Director, Chaplaincy Strategic Support

The decision to restore the prefix course, he reminded them that the the same banner. This restoration “Royal” was made official at the Royal Canadian Army Chaplain Corps takes us back to the tradition forged Canadian Armed Forces Campus at had first been granted the designation by our predecessors and highlights the fall General Officers’ and Flag “Royal” by King George VI on June 3, the fact that we are the heirs of all Officers’ meeting on October 16, 19482. At that time, all Canadian those chaplains who have heroically 2014. The announcement was made Army chaplains were part of the served their country through the by the Governor General of Canada, Royal Canadian Army Chaplain Boer War, the two great world conflicts, His Excellency David Johnston, Corps, consisting of two independent the Korean War, in Afghanistan and in to the assembled generals and flag organisations, one Protestant and the numerous peacekeeping missions. officers. At the end of August 2014, the other Roman Catholic. The word We can be proud of this legacy. the Chief of the Defence Staff, General “corps” designates all units or Tom Lawson, had received a letter members of a service or combat from Rideau Hall1 informing him that element within the Army.3 Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II had granted our request and that we Since Army chaplains had already would henceforth be known as the been granted the style “Royal” in Royal Canadian Chaplain Service. 1948, this announcement merely restores that designation. When the As a follow-up to this announcement Canadian Forces were unified in 1968, by the Commander in Chief, the Royal Canadian Army Chaplain restoration of the prefix “Royal” was Corps became the Canadian Forces celebrated at a Chaplain Mess Dinner Chaplain Service, still with its separate on October 30, 2014 at CFB Borden Roman Catholic and Protestant marking the 20th anniversary of the organizations. This year, as it becomes founding of the Canadian Forces the Royal Canadian Chaplain Service, Chaplain School and Centre. it has been made clear that all For the occasion, Major-General Éric chaplains of the Royal Canadian Navy, Tremblay, Commander of the Canadian the Canadian Army and the Royal For its part, the British army’s Defence Academy, graciously agreed Canadian Air Force are united under chaplaincy department received its to be guest of honour. Addressing “Royal” title4 in 1919, a privilege the guests, and especially the new granted by King George V. It is chaplains, who had just completed 2 CAO 268-3, Title “Royal” - The Canadian interesting to note that the British their basic occupational qualification Army Chaplain Corps. Supplement to acquired their distinction after the first number 80. The abbreviation will be RCAChC. global conflict, whereas King George VI so honoured the Canadian Army 1 Letter of August 25 from the Secretary 3 CAO 72-1 of March 22, 1948. As of this to the Governor General and Herald date until June 3, 1948, the Chaplaincy Chancellor, Stephen Wallace, to General Service was known as The Canadian 4 As of 1919, the Department was styled Tom Lawson. Army Chaplain Corps. The Royal Army Chaplains’ Department. Vocation of Choice 4 chaplains following the Second World War. Whether for the British or for the Canadians, this “Royal” title recognized the exemplary service of military chaplains who had served their country with devotion by providing the troops with pastoral services under the most difficult conditions.

It has to be remembered that on the eve of the First World War, Canada had no organized chaplaincy service. Only on March 15, 1917, did the Canadian Chaplain Service receive official standing. Following the Armistice of 1918 that terminated the First World War, the authorities saw fit to disband the Canadian Chaplain Service, as they had done after the Boer War. In 1939, two chaplaincy services emerged under the leadership of the Bishop of Pembroke, The Most Reverend Charles L. Nelligan5 for Roman Catholics and Anglican bishop The Right Reverend George Anderson Wells for Protestants6. The Chaplain Service received official status on August 9, 1945. However, the Treasury Board meeting of September 4, 1945 ratified the creation of a professional chaplaincy retroactive to May 1, 1945.7 Jean Pelletier8, both representing Roman Catholic chaplaincies under In 2015, we will celebrate the 70th the Canadian Conference of Catholic the leadership of a single Chaplain anniversary of the creation of the Bishops, and to Anglican bishop The General. This ecumenical, latterly Royal Canadian Chaplain Service. Right Reverend Russell Hatton and multi-faith model (with the recruitment In addition to marking this important Lutheran pastor The Reverend Jo von of the first Muslim chaplain in 2003), historic milestone, the Royal Canadian Schmelling, representing the Military respects the autonomy of the various Chaplain Service will be celebrating Chaplaincy Committee of the Canadian churches and religions and has the 20th anniversary of the London Council of Churches, commonly aroused keen interest worldwide. Accord. We owe this agreement to the known as the “5Cs”. These clerics We can be deservedly proud, for we Roman Catholic Military Ordinary, Most met in London, Ontario, to discuss are the only joint multi-faith chaplaincy Reverend André Vallée and Monsignor the way forward for the chaplaincy in the world. We are writing history. and reached agreement on its future. This agreement would open the way 5 Fowler, (Maj Ret’d) Albert. Peacetime for unification of the Protestant and Padres. Canadian Protestant Military Chaplains 1945-1995. St Catharines: Vanwell Publishing Limited, 1996, 8 Mgr Jean Pelletier was to become the p. 15. first Chaplain General of the Canadian Military Chaplain Service. At the time of 6 Ibid., p. 14. the London Agreement, he held the rank 7 Ibid, p. 46-47. of colonel. Vocation of Choice 5 Pride of Vocation in an Historical Gift

Padre Jennifer Gosse, Lieutenant-Commander Course Resource Research and Development Officer (CRRDO), Canadian Forces Chaplain School and Centre (CFChSC)

On 8 May 2014, the Commandant of CFChSC, accepted a precious gift on behalf of the Royal Canadian Chaplain Service (RCChS). This gift represents to us the bravery, dedication and honour of one of our most respected predecessors: Colonel the Reverend John Almond, C.M.G., who served as a chaplain to Canadian soldiers in both the Boer War and World War I. In addition, it reminds all chaplains of the simplicity of our calling. Sometimes our jobs as chaplains can seem very complicated indeed, but underlying all the administration, protocol and organization that Padre (LCol) Paul Acton accepts Padre Almond’s Communion Kit from accompany our positions, we have this Mr. Paul Almond, O.C. one very simple purpose: to serve the spiritual needs of the men and women the strength and comfort given by notice. With corners reinforced with of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). countless chaplains as they ministered gun tape, its carrying case is scarred personally and self-sacrificially to with the wounds of the battles it saw, In a ceremony attended by Colonel the men and women in their care testament to the courage of both Carl Doyon, Base Commander of CFB throughout all the wars, conflicts and Padre Almond and his troops. Yet the Borden, staff and students of CFChSC peace-keeping operations where the silver vessels inside still gleam in the and members of the Base Borden CAF has served our country. sunlight, reflecting the light and love Chaplain Team, Lieutenant-Colonel of God, just as they would have done the Reverend Paul Acton, received As chaplains, we are honoured that on the fields where he used them to from Mr. Paul Almond, O.C., the field the Almond family would commit spiritually feed the nervous young Communion Kit of Padre John Almond. such a gift into our keeping. As Padre soldiers he was preparing for battle. This 100 year old treasure, given to Acton said in accepting this gift, every the RCChS by his family and presented chaplain understands what importance CFChSC and the Base Borden in person by his nephew Paul, this Communion Kit had for Padre Chaplain Team were honoured to meet was used by Padre Almond to Almond. It was an essential part of his and host Padre Almond’s nephew, strengthen the spiritual resilience spiritual arsenal against the evil he Mr. Paul Almond, himself a noted of the soldiers in his care as he and his men were facing. He would television and film director, author, accompanied them in battle. have carried it with him everywhere, and Officer of the Order of Canada. This is our calling and this is always ready to offer the comfort of He spent the full day at CFB Borden. what this historical gift represents: the holy sacrament at a moment’s In the morning he toured CFChSC, Vocation of Choice 6 meeting the Commandant and staff, and then moved on to spend some time with the Base Chaplain Team, touring their facilities. Lunching at the dining mess with soldiers and officers from Base Borden, he met up with Mrs. Nancy Mallet, the Museum Curator of St. James Anglican Cathedral in Toronto and some other members of the committee planning an exhibit of chaplain artifacts in November 2014.

The afternoon began with the Presentation Ceremony mentioned above, where Mr. Almond presented The Communion Kit on display with a picture of its owner: Padre (Col) J.M. Almond, the Communion Kit and spoke C.M.G., Director of Canadian Chaplain Services, 1917. affectionately of his “Uncle Jack” as a chaplain, a parish priest, and a Finally, the day culminated in that This 100 year old treasure, consummate family man. More details great Base Borden Officer’s Mess given to the RCChS by his of his Uncle’s life and ministry are tradition, TGIT, where Mr. Almond was available in two books, told through surrounded by jovial young officers family and presented in the lens of the fictional Rev. John and shared war stories with them over person by his nephew Paul, Alford: The Pilgrim, based on the Rev. a friendly libation. From all reports, was used by Padre Almond Mr. Almond’s first experience in parish he and those who accompanied him ministry on the Canadian Labrador; for the day, were thoroughly impressed to strengthen the spiritual and The Chaplain, based on Padre with the professionalism and diversity resilience of the soldiers in Almond’s experience as a chaplain of the modern Royal Canadian his care as he accompanied in the Boer War. Chaplain Service. They left with a much greater understanding of the them in battle. An hour later, Mr. Almond addressed work chaplains do as we accompany approximately 100 young soldiers, CAF members in all the joys and sailors and air personnel at the Terra challenges of military life. Theatre as he launched his newest book, The Gunner, and described the The Communion Kit, now held in realities and consequences of war and trust for the RCChS by CFChSC, their effect on his own family in a very will find pride-of-place in the Chaplain personal way. This latest book in his Memorabilia Room that will form a part “Alford Series” is based on his own of the Resource Centre of CFChSC father’s service as a gunner in WWI. when the school moves to its new Later in 2014, he plans to launch location. There it will serve to remind The Hero, describing in intimate detail chaplains of our vocation as spiritual the shell-shock that plagued his father care-givers in a place that both after his war experience. celebrates our heritage and prepares us to meet the challenges of future CAF ministry. Vocation of Choice 7 International Muslim Military Chaplains Conference

Padre Suleyman Demiray, Captain Canadian Forces Base Borden

The first International Muslim Military Chaplains Conference (IMMCC) was held in the Netherlands in 2013 with around 35 military chaplains representing the Islamic faith.

The second IMMCC was held again in the Netherlands, from 9-10 June 2014. I was humbled when the Chaplain General told me I would be representing him and Canadian chaplains at this conference. By the time I flew out of the Toronto Pearson Airport, I had received many similar well-wishes from fellow chaplains. I felt a tremendous responsibility to Left side (right to left): Netherlands Military Director of Spiritual Welfare Services, (civilian colonel equivalent) Mr. R. P.J. Geenen; United Kingdom Islamic Religious represent all Canadian chaplains Advisor of Chief of Defence Staff and Service Chief, Imam Hafiz, and Major M. Hilali well, excitement from the opportunity (Conference Chairman). to meet with other Muslim military chaplains, and eager to learn from Right side (left to right): Netherlands Muslim Chief Chaplain Colonel A. Eddaoudi; Padre S. Demiray; and Netherlands Military Islamic Spiritual Counsellor, Major S. Aydin. their experiences as Muslim chaplains in other countries. This years’ IMMCC was nearly Welfare, who fulfills a managerial In fact this was my first real canceled due to low attendance. role rather than a chaplaincy role. opportunity to meet with Muslim However, Dutch, British, and Canadian His name is Mr. Geenen and he military chaplains from other chaplains – with me proudly wearing carries the civilian equivalent rank countries and to reflect upon our the Maple Leaf – were able to attend. of Colonel. At the beginning of the experiences. Even throughout my conference, Mr. Geenen made a deployments in Afghanistan, I had The Dutch initiated its Muslim military presentation explaining his role in the met and worked closely with military chaplaincy in 2009. They currently Dutch chaplaincy services. He stated chaplains representing a wide have two military chaplains of the that under his civilian directorship, variety of faith backgrounds – Islamic faith, Chief Chaplain Col A. chaplains were working together including a Dutch Humanist – but never Eddaoudi, and Islamic Spiritual effectively as interfaith and no-faith another uniformed Muslim military Counsellor Major S. Aydin. They also spiritual counsellors. chaplain from outside the Canadian have a full-time secretary. They report Armed Forces. to a civilian Director of Spiritual Vocation of Choice 8 When I arrived in the Netherlands, Maj Aydin met me at the airport. What wonderful hospitality! He too is of Turkish background and there is nothing we Imams of Turkish background love more than to show fellow chaplains hospitality. Netherlands has quite the Turkish population, so we found a good Turkish restaurant and feasted upon simit bagels, borek pastries, peynir cheese and, of course, Chai tea!

The conference was moderated by Major Hilali. During one of my IMMCC Conference, Netherlands 2014, Closing Dinner at a Turkish restaurant. deployments to Afghanistan, I was Right to left: Mrs. Shafiza Golamun (Secretary), Imam S. Aydin, Imam A. Hafiz, asked to minister to Dutch Muslims Imam S. Demiray, Imam A. Eddaoudi; Co-op student working at Chaplain Office “inside the wire”. Major Hilali was Mr. A. Abdullah. among them; a fact I had forgotten— I think he was young Lieutenant Hilali It was through General Richards we might even invite chaplains from at the time – until he reminded me. that Imam Hafiz and I first came to other countries as well. The IMMCC know each other, even if it would be has great potential to meet the needs Major Aydin kicked off the conference nearly a decade before we met in of Muslim military chaplains in today’s with a recitation from The Quran. person. During my deployment global village. Much of its work can be During the conference, I shared a in 2006, General Richards was ISAF done via internet. Yet there is still that presentation on my unique experience Commander in Kabul. General Richards human touch in coming together face- as Canada’s pioneer fully-integrated would later be promoted CDS of to-face – the putting a face to a name Muslim military chaplain. This the British military. During my that facilitates mutual cooperation, presentation was well-received by my deployments, the General expressed networking and effective ministry for international peers, and they peppered much appreciation for my work our soldiers, sailors and air personnel. me with questions afterward. advising the chain-of-command and for my role facilitating religious leader A personal highlight of this conference engagement to win the hearts and was finally to meet Imam Hafiz minds of the Afghan people. Since our in person. Imam Hafiz is a British email introduction through General chaplain with whom I communicate Richards, Imam Hafiz OBE and I have often by email. He was the first Imam remained friends. with the British military, is currently promoted to the civilian equivalent At the conclusion of the second rank of Colonel, and his official title is IMMCC we decided that we must Islamic Religious Advisor of Chief of look toward establishing an umbrella Defence Staff and Service Chief. organization for military chaplains Imam Hafiz is also an Officer of the from NATO countries to help facilitate Order of the British Empire (OBE), networking, cooperation and mutual an honour for which he was nominated support - especially during times by General D.J. Richards. of international deployment. Perhaps Vocation of Choice 9 The Winds of Change: The Contribution of the Royal Canadian Chaplain Service to Multiculturalism from a Swiss Perspective

Matthias Inniger, Switzerland1

Even if Switzerland attracted attention by the approval of the initiative against the construction of minarets in 2009, Switzerland is principally multiculturally-oriented. Its history, its tradition and its structure give proof of this orientation. Within a minimum amount of space, four national languages and many different cultures can be identified. The cosmopolitan character of the city of Geneva, for example, which is the seat of many international organisations, confirms this multicultural orientation in the same way. Nevertheless, contrasting notes of some Swiss people can also be taken into account. The people immigrants have a Muslim cultural or a young segment of Swiss population.3 from Southern Europe and from religious background. Fear of unknown Living in a multicultural neighbourhood Asia, for example, were faced with religions and cultures characterise in Bern-Bethlehem and working as a xenophobic tendencies when they the behaviour of many Swiss. Protestant Minister I take note of these immigrated to Switzerland, even if Nevertheless, the adaptability of trends in our society. they are nowadays accepted and the immigrants from the Balkans, integrated citizens. Another example from Turkey and from other countries, My colleagues in the Swiss Army demonstrates this “contrasting note”. has generally been so considerable Chaplaincy notice the same trend On the one hand, many Swiss people that these men, women, and children in the context of the Swiss Army have welcomed the new food culture have become personable neighbours. Chaplaincy. In the barracks, and on of Kebap, Pide, and Pilav; on the While the sociologist of religions, military training grounds, they meet other hand the same people refuse to Jörg Stolz, states that the Swiss soldiers and officers with a Muslim welcome the immigrants who bring Christian churches become “smaller, background, who are well integrated this popular food, especially if these older and poorer”2, Islam (with almost young Swiss people. In view of these 6% of the population) is developing a 1 MATTHIAS INNIGER is a PhD student Swiss religion which can be located in 3 ENDRES, J, TUNGER-ZANETTI, A., (Ethics) of the North-West University, BEHLOUL, S., BAUMANN, M. 2013. South Africa (Prof Dr Koos Vorster), Jung, muslimisch, schweizerisch. and of the Greenwich School of 2 NEUE ZÜRCHER ZEITUNG, Muslimische Jugendgruppen, islamische Theology (Prof Dr Byron Evans). 04.04.2014. http://www.nzz.ch/aktuell/ Lebensführung und Schweizer Gesell- The topic of his thesis is: “The Christian- startseite/massiver-mitgliederschwund- schaft. Ein Forschungsbericht. Luzern: Muslim Dialogue in the Swiss Army in-der-reformierten-kirche-1.5371330, Universität Luzern, Zentrum Religions- Chaplaincy”. 21.04.2014 forschung, 92 p. Vocation of Choice 10 trends, it is reasonable to ask whether Chaplains have been recruited from Regarding my thesis, which concerns the Swiss Army Chaplaincy has to various religions, denominations new social developments and its move towards new strategies which and churches, and that the military implications for the development consider the needs related to spiritual personnel may practise their own of the Swiss Army Chaplaincy, care. My thesis, therefore, deals with religion. The rules are the same for the consideration of the Canadian the question of whether or not the everyone. No religion is ignored or Armed Forces Chaplaincy model Swiss Army Chaplaincy, which still discriminated against. Consistently, is most inspiring. The Swiss Army recruits Christian priests and pastors all military personnel know that they Chaplaincy can, in the same way as only, should, in harmony with the are accepted within the Canadian the Royal Canadian Chaplain Service, more integrated troops, become more Armed Forces in their individual send a positive message regarding diverse regarding cultural and religious religious affiliation. CAF Chaplains, social cohesion to the troops and to backgrounds. originating from various faith groups, the whole of Swiss society – provided care for the various spiritual needs that the important principles, such Within the scope of my research of military personnel. Therefore, as respect, tolerance, equality, and a endeavours I came across the the spirit of intercultural and interfaith sense of commonalities and building Canadian Armed Forces’ (CAF) dialogue can be felt. This spirit sends bridges, – have been considered Royal Canadian Chaplain Service, an excellent message to the troops, and implemented in this context. which seems to contribute in a and beyond that, to the whole of To achieve this goal, the Royal significant way to a peaceful social society. Colonel Guy Chapdelaine, Canadian Chaplain Service has the coexistence within the Canadian the Director of Chaplaincy Strategic function of a role model in this regard. Armed Forces. It is obvious that Support, is convinced that a more the organisation of the Royal diverse military chaplaincy is more Canadian Chaplain Service is such efficient and more resilient than a The rules are the same for that the chaplains and the military homogenous chaplaincy. He even everyone. No religion is personnel do not have to deny their demonstrates the readiness to religious affiliation. In this way, the constantly accept the challenges ignored or discriminated implementation of the right to freedom of social changes by predicting that against. Consistently, all of religion and the right to express “the Chaplain Branch [now Royal military personnel know one’s own religious affiliation has Canadian Chaplain Service] will be been guaranteed. Regarding the called upon in the future to be even that they are accepted options for the implementation of the more open, going beyond the Jewish, within the Canadian Armed right of religious freedom this form of Christian and Muslim faiths” and that Forces in their individual organisation reminds us of an “active the “winds of change are sweeping plural model” (Vorster, 2011:95) which the Canadian Armed Forces Chaplain religious affiliation. gives all religions the permission of Branch [Royal Canadian Chaplain functioning in a legally controlled way Service]” (Chapdelaine, 2013:14-15).6 in the public domain.4 The Canadian The Canadian Chaplaincy really Armed Forces Chaplains “minister is a world leader with regard to to their own, facilitate the worship the management of religious of others, and care for all” diversity. Hereby it contributes in (The Chaplain’s Manual, 1998:7).5 a most effective way to the social The permission of ministering to cohesion both in the Canadian their own and the call to facilitate the Armed Forces and in the multicultural worship of others, reflect both the Canadian society. fact that the Canadian Armed Forces

4 VORSTER, J.M. 2011. Banning the 6 CHAPDELAINE, G. 2013. Burka? An Ethical Appraisal (in Journal Working Towards Greater Diversity: of Reformed Theology 5). Leiden: Brill. A Blessing or a Curse? The Experience 86-103 p. of the Canadian Military Chaplaincy. 5 THE CHAPLAIN’S MANUAL. 1998. Ottawa: Department of Chaplain Kingston: Chief of the Land Staff. 172 p. Services. 55 p. Vocation of Choice 11 Called Upon to be Men and Women of Hope

Padre Sylvan Maurais, Lieutenant-Colonel Director, Chaplain Services – 2

uniform who dedicate themselves to French biologist, Jean Rostand, the profession of arms. Those who who believed that the crisis in which practice this noble profession are we find ourselves may be a sign that called upon to use military force. we are witnessing [trans]: The use of this force brings them face to face, in the reality of combat, “the failure of a civilisation that has with the big questions at the very been unable to give a meaning to core of their duty. Reason can its knowledge, a goal to its power, justify the use of force, even lethal and an ideal to its freedoms”2. force, in keeping with precise rules And certainly it is because of this of engagement recognized by the disillusionment with the world that international conventions on armed we feel the urgent need to give the conflict. But despite these rational members of our military community justifications, our military personnel, words of faith and hope. But to when confronted with such extreme achieve that goal, we have to go situations, are often shaken to the very somewhere else and take another Believing and hoping in our humanity depths of their souls. What happens look at our humanity3. is certainly not easy in our world today. to the consciences, minds and souls That is what Maurice Zundel says in of our men and women who assume Yet is there in our humanity another the preface to his work Croyez-vous the risk of getting killed or seeing their source that will enable us to believe en l’homme? 1, which still resonates comrades killed or who, in the exercise that we have value? And is there today [trans]: of their military duties, receive or give a source of value that would be the order to kill other human beings? universally recognized? Listen again The nuclear arms race, the folly And how do they live with the fact to Father Zundel, who posits another of which is beyond dispute, that they must execute or issue such path that may offer hope for an demonstrates, with tragic evidence, orders? Dealing on a regular basis agreement between people of good man’s lack of belief in man. with these big ethical questions often will [trans]: Man believes in his knowledge, exceeds the power of human reason believes in his power, but does not and will. It must be admitted that many [...] It was said that an eminent believe in his value. Which explains of our military personnel, confronted doctor, asked if he believed in God, why he so blithely accepts the by these extreme situations, find rebuffed the questioner asking him: deaths of others – and sometimes themselves at a loss, no longer able to “And you, do you believe in man?”. his own death – in the name of believe and have hope in our humanity. “principles” that achieve victory Many of them become cynical or suffer 2 Jean Rostand, Science fausse et fausses in the cemeteries. in silence, seeing nothing in the power sciences. Quote taken from Benoît of knowledge and of man but an ability Garceau, Le savoir et le sens. Pour une This assertion by Zundel hits close to destroy the enemy or, quite simply, nouvelle entente entre la science, la pensée et la foi. Bellarmin, 2004, frontis- to home for our men and women in to destroy himself. piece page. 3 On this topic, read the latest work by 1 Maurice Zundel, Croyez-vous en At this point in my ruminations, Maurice Bellet, Translation, Croyant (ou l’homme?, Les Éditions du Cerf, I will invoke the words of the brilliant non) passons ailleurs pour tout sauver !, Vocation of Choice 1992, p. 7. Bayard, Paris, 2011. 12 And Father Pio, according to one we will learn that God has more The potential man is the being whom of his biographers, offered a visitor hope and belief in us than we we are sometimes called upon to who had humbly affirmed his do ourselves. become, through a new birth, through disbelief in God this miraculous the discovery, at the root of our being, riposte: “But God believes in you.” This inscription on the tombstone very of the presence within us of an infinite aptly translates the vision that Zundel worth. And this presence in us – which One can see in this unexpected had of man. And this is the view that we can see only through the eyes of meeting between two vastly Jesus of Nazareth himself has of all the heart and spirit – bids us to be different minds, apparently so mankind. It is a view that focuses more than our biology. It makes us see remote from one another, the hope always on the highest potential of the that we are called upon to be more of a possible agreement between all human being. It is a vision that says than the sum of our needs and our men of good will on the essence of always: “I believe in you because I instincts. It give us the wherewithal a problem that so urgently demands do not reduce you to what you have to believe and hope in our desire to our full attention4. done.” It is a vision that forms the be more than something, to become basis of forgiveness and reconciliation, someone; to be more than a mere If we are to succeed in having because forgiveness means not individual and become a unique belief and hope in our humanity, reducing a person to what he has person; to become more than an we must change how we see things. done. It is a vision that tells someone: object and become a subject; to no And, more often than not, such change “You are more than your role in life, longer merely suffer your existence, occurs at the most unexpected times more than what you have said, but to become a creator of your being; and places. I’ll offer an example: more than what you have done, or not to be more than a result or a product, One day, in a French cemetery, done.” These are words that inspire but rather a source and an origin. Zundel saw this inscription on a hope in us that we are called to be In this vision, hope means believing tombstone [trans]: something else, to be more than what in our ability to transcend ourselves, we often tend to be. Hope is sister to to excel, to attain the highest summits “We are the hope of God.” This the faith that allows us to believe in by summoning up all the potential inscription spoke deeply to Zundel. what is possible within us. Hope is the within ourselves. He often referred to it in his vision that enables us to distinguish, writings. Yet what precisely did this within ourselves, between the actual And what is the highest ideal to person, now vanished, want to tell man, whom we tend to be, and the which a human being can aspire? us in his desire to be remembered: potential man, whom we are called That is what human beings desire. “We are the hope of God.”? upon to be. So what is it that we desire? We desire This epitaph leaves us the memory greatness. And what is greatness? of a person who believed that God The actual man is the part of our A man’s greatness lies not in his always had hope in our humanity. humanity that too often reduces us ability to control everything through And he had wanted to share the to slaves to our physical needs and his knowledge and power. A man’s beauty of this discovery in his life mental instincts. The actual man refers greatness lies not solely in his ability by inviting us to see, to discover, to a humanity reduced to nothing more to walk on the Moon or travel to Mars and to remind ourselves that we are than the sum of his biological parts. through the power of his technology, beings loved by God, that He never It is the man who remains stuck at the because the greatest flight of all does fails to place all His hope in us. level of his skin and stays within the not involve reaching the stars but This eternal Presence reveals the closed horizons of his own thoughts rather letting go of one’s ego! Love of a Father who is full of and emotions. It is the man who The greatness of man lies in his tenderness and mercy, who believes that he himself is the source ability to free himself from his slavery continues to hope that we will of his own value and who seeks to to himself and become the inner believe and open ourselves to impose himself on others through the space of the meeting with the other this infinite gift that makes of force of his power, his possessions within himself and others, thereby us His sons and daughters. and his need to project. The actual transforming himself into a source Through this new inner vision, man is the being that keeps us of giving and generosity. prisoners of our ego.

4 Ibid., p. 12. Vocation of Choice 13 Stations of the Cross at CFB Gagetown

Padre Kent Horsman, Captain 5th Canadian Division Support Group Garrison Gagetown

comparison between the suffering love some military families in meeting their and service of Christ and the very real housing costs. Standing across from cost of a soldier’s service to country. the MIR we prayed for the injured, the ill and those who provide care At CTC participants prayed for for them in both body and mind. students, their families and the instructors at Gagetown. We recognized that the necessity of training involves difficult separation from loved ones. In a similar way, In cities and communities across Christ’s call to love and serve took Canada the Stations of the Cross him from his family and loved ones. has become a very public witness We prayed that our schools, training to Christian faith and provides an staff and students be strengthened opportunity for Christians of every in their work. denomination to pray for social issues facing contemporary society. At the cenotaph we remembered the The service concluded where it began cost of sacrifice and how, like Mary, at St. Luke’s Chapel with a time for In this same spirit, a Stations of mothers bear that cost most painfully fellowship and refreshments. the Cross walk took place during for the rest of their lives. We prayed Holy Week at 5CDSB Gagetown. for families who continue to grieve and To anyone’s recollection, this was the On 14 April 2014, the Christian heal from the loss of their loved ones. first time such a public remembrance chaplains joined other Christian Participants stopped to give thanks of Christ’s Passion took place at the soldiers and civilians carrying a large for the MPs and those in the military base. Carrying the cross and walking cross and stopping at various stations justice system who often work with the together offered participants an to offer prayers for the base, its units, most broken in our military community. opportunity to integrate and embody CAF members and their families. In particular, we remembered how, the faith. As we conducted the service, like Simon of Cyrene, the MPs are passers-by would ask what we were Beginning at St. Luke’s Chapel, often drawn into carrying the crosses doing. It offered an opportunity to the procession continued along of others whether they have a choice witness – in word and action – how faith a route that included the Combat or not. and spirituality have a public place in Training Centre (CTC), the cenotaph, garrison life. Rather than expecting 3 Military Police Platoon, the Deputy Worshippers also prayed for the people to come to the chapels, the Judge Advocate’s office, the Fire Hall, emergency services crews, those chaplains and the community of faith Accommodations, the MIR, and St. first responders who risk life and chose to walk amongst the people. Mary’s Chapel. Each station included a limb in the protection of others. reading from the Christian scriptures, At Base Accommodations we prayed prayer, and a brief reflection drawing a for the ongoing challenges facing Vocation of Choice 14 Multi-Base Vacation Bible School Initiative

Padre Dwayne Bos, Captain Canadian Forces Base Borden

This season of Vacation Bible School (VBS) saw a shared coordination of resources among three different bases (Borden, Bagotville, St-Jean) with chaplains assisting each other in planning and executing their respective VBS’s with Crosstalk Ministries (an ecumenical organization in Montreal). This year’s theme was “Follow the Leader,” based on the Gospel of Matthew.

Padre Bos (CLC (P) Borden), Padre Dytynyshyn (CLC (P) Bagotville) and Padre Irish (St-Jean) frequently consulted each other to discuss the At St-Jean, perhaps for the first time assistance. It was a successful challenge administration of the event, ever, the Protestant and Catholic teams in communicating the unique work of demonstrating a coordinated approach of Holy Spirit Chapel hosted VBS the Protestant chapel to garner the to inter-base ministry. Crosstalk offers (28 July – 1 Aug). This marked a Wing Adm O’s support. There were nine a full day VBS with a team of leaders departure from an exclusive focus on children registered. A team of three dedicated to travelling to different ministry to recruits, and an effort to adults from Crosstalk Ministries came communities and sharing their faith reach out to military families. (11-15 August), providing an excellent with youth across Canada. Six children were registered. Because ministry model to the chapel community. of their similar ages the children had The week ended with a base-wide Borden hosted Crosstalk for a second a lot of fun together with eagerness to “Welcome BBQ” that Friday evening year (14-18 Jul), with increased return each day. The week wrapped up with sixty-one people present. numbers of children registered providing with a special Family Service on Sunday. outreach to 28 children. Trinity and Attendance of families at this one-time By sharing experiences and resources, St Joseph chapels shared equally in service has sparked plans to offer a three chaplains supported one another delivering the program, providing funding Family Service on a regular basis. in a common ministry. The seeds of and volunteers. Several teenagers from the Word were sown, and the children the congregations volunteered as junior Emmanuel Protestant Chapel in enjoyed a fun and meaningful week. counsellors. The event ended with a Bagotville ran the first English VBS in One does not always need big numbers closing worship where the children seven years. Crosstalk Ministries caught for something to be important. Jesus presented worship songs, drama and Padre Dytynshyn’s attention not only said, “Where two or three are gathered, readings. Afterwards, people attended because it can offer bilingual ministry, there am I.” The kingdom of God is like a “Music in the Park” BBQ, featuring but also because the coordinator for mustard seed; even the smallest things, “Bob Hawkins’ Band”. The band also the chapel’s VBS had to withdraw for people and numbers are important, and invited the children to come up and medical reasons. Having never led a are a big deal. They are the seeds that sing with them. VBS nor participated in one before, God can grow. he contacted Padres Bos and Irish for Vocation of Choice 15 Section

VocationA Learning of Choice Chaplaincy ONETWOPAGE 517 MessagePadre Professionalism: from theA School Chaplain for ChaplainsGeneral PadreDuff Crerar, John M.PhD Fletcher, BGen

623 Multi-BaseUnderstanding Vacation Religion Bibleand Violence: School Initiative What PadreContemporary Dwayne Bos, Scholarship Capt Might Teach Us 7 InternationalPadre Michael MuslimPeterson, MilitaryPhD, Capt Chaplains Conference 25 PadreCouples Suleyman Conference Demiray, Capt in Bagotville 8 StationsPadre David of theDytynyshyn, Cross Capt Padre Kent Horsman, Capt 26 “Proclaims a Divine 10 APresence”: Return to ExaminingTradition to the LaunchChaplian’s Us IntoRole thein At Future: Peace Thewith Restoration War of the Royal DesignationPadre David Clark, Capt Padre Guy Chapdelaine, 28 ColonelLegacy of Courage and Sacrifice 11 PridePadre ofJames Vocation Lee, Captin an Historical Gift 30 PadreProtestant Jennifer Development Gosse, LCdr Day 2014 12 CalledPadre Michael Upon to Macintyre, be Men and Lt(N) Women of Hope 32 PadreHaiti Milk Sylvan Bag Maurais, Project LCol Emily Chastkiewicz and 13 TheNancy Winds Dytynyshyn of Change: The Contribution of the Royal Canadian Chaplain Service to Multiculturalism from a Swiss Perspective Matthias Inniger

THE MILITARY JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL CANADIAN CHAPLAIN SERVICE Section Padre Professionalism: A School for Chaplains

Vocation of Choice Duff Crerar, Ph.D. ONEPAGE 5 Message from the Chaplain General Though considered professionals in During the Cold War, the process grew given short courses in management, Padre John M. Fletcher, BGen civilian life, military pastors and priests into several weeks of military officer administrative leadership and originally did not enjoy that status training at various bases (including (for those making Lieutenant-Colonel) 6 Multi-Base Vacation in Canadian military circles. During combat indoctrination and weapon how to get along with senior officers Bible School Initiative the 1990s chaplains embarking on use) followed by a lecture-crammed at NDHQ.2 Padre Dwayne Bos, Capt what became arduous deployments Ottawa orientation week, covering discovered that our padres needed the religious (and other aspects) The somewhat haphazard process 7 International Muslim better training; and the work of military of their new vocation.1 Preparation worked remarkably well, so long Military Chaplains chaplaincy needed better protection for operations, as well as any other as service was characteristically in Conference from its political, social and military chaplain training was done in the first a climate of Cold War deterrence Padre Suleyman Demiray, Capt critics. Military professions, like their year on-the-job. After several years’ and Peacekeeping missions, but, civilian counterparts, conduct their experience, chaplains could apply for by 1992, Canadian chaplains were 8 Stations of the Cross own training, set their own standards, supporting deployments in a chaotic Padre Kent Horsman, Capt self-regulate their members, and By 1994, Canadian and brutally violent world. Service have their own schools. By 1994, members, including chaplains, and 10 A Return to Tradition to Canadian chaplains realized their chaplains realized their their loved ones, were dealing with Launch Us Into the Future: future depended on the pastoral role future depended on the emotionally and spiritually devastating The Restoration of the Royal becoming professional, while keeping experiences, and could not re-adjust to Designation pastoral role becoming the profession pastoral. The time had post-deployment life. Senior chaplains Padre Guy Chapdelaine, come for a Canadian Chaplain School. professional, while of the Cold War era had little familiarity Colonel keeping the profession with accumulated stress, while some The question of what a Canadian chaplains were showing dramatic 11 Pride of Vocation in an pastoral. Historical Gift chaplain needed to know went back signs of burnout. There was an evident Padre Jennifer Gosse, LCdr to the First World War. Until 1939 knowledge and training gap. however, church and state authorities study leave at a recognized university assumed prior seminary education, or regular Officer Professional 12 Called Upon to be Men and Entrepreneurial Women of Hope a few years in a civilian parish, and Development Plans. In-service training Padre Sylvan Maurais, LCol on-the-job military experience, were was available through courses offered leadership, fiscal all that a padre needed. Officers grew by each element (such as Sea survival, necessity and 13 The Winds of Change: The accustomed to putting up with a few Air indoctrination, Parachuting, and Contribution weeks of their new padre fumbling Arctic living), as well as First Aid, ecumenical opportunity. of the Royal Canadian through military etiquette, procedures Staff course instruction, and French Chaplain Service to and regulations. During World War II, or English Language programs. Although the first proposal for a Multiculturalism from a indoctrination “schools” for chaplains The Operational Ministry course, Chaplain School had been shot down Swiss Perspective emerged (particularly Camp Borden designed in the 1980s, was reserved by authorities in 1957, it had not been Matthias Inniger for Protestant Army chaplains and for chaplains with a minimum of forgotten.3 In Ottawa, Major William “sky pilots” at Air Force Manning three years permanent service. Fairlie began promoting the idea of a Pools, while some took officers’ Many applied for the four-week course chaplains’ school.4 Chaplain General courses at Brockville, Lachine or at the Halifax Alcohol Rehabilitation (P), BGen David Estey received the first Domaine D’Estrel) but these taught Clinic (developed by chaplains with formal proposal in November, 1992, mainly administration procedures, clinical expertise but run by the from LCol G.E. Peddle, Command drill and uniform regulations and, Navy Medical Branch). Experienced Chaplain (Protestant) to Canadian

especially, how to fit into officer culture. chaplains marked for promotion were Forces Training Systems, based in A Learning Chaplaincy 17 Trenton. Peddle proposed a single, amalgamated chaplaincy, undoing differences, these teams found the interdenominational school the parallelism begun in 1939, and mutual understanding between Roman at Canadian Forces Base Borden. betraying central differences of Catholics and Protestants which The school would train both Reserve doctrine and practice. Fortunately for facilitated branch amalgamation in and Regular Force chaplains, write its the school, Bishop Vallée and most 1995. Thus began the intense work of own curriculum, set its own standards Protestant church leaders, including recasting not only chaplain training but and supply its own teachers. the Canadian Council of Churches the very definition of the CF chaplain The school’s Basic Officers Training Chaplain Committee, gave their for the new millennium. Course would be especially designed support. Chaplains General, despite for chaplains.5 Peddle’s Roman advice from most service heads that The writing teams completed four Catholic counterpart, LCol Julian a self-directed school was a bad idea, courses for immediate development: Rheault, already had won over stuck to their guns, backed by the Basic Chaplain Training, Ecumenical Chaplain General (RC), BGen Roger Chief of Personnel Services. But the Team Building, Peacekeeping Bazin, and the Bishop Ordinary, greatest resistance came from Training Monsignor André Vallée. Meanwhile, Command itself, which brooked no at Borden, Base Chaplains (P) challenge to its standards or authority. Peddle became the first Majors William MacLellan and (RC) Commandant, while Ronald Bourque proposed that, Base Borden chaplains, with the consent of the Base Defining and Designing Commander, the Borden chaplains an Ecumenical Project supervised by only one could do the instructing.6 Base Chaplain, drew On 19 April 1993, Rheault and Peddle two instructors from On the surface, the project was submitted the revised Request for daring, and doomed. 1992 saw a Approval in Principal.7 Though CF the base team. force reduction of 30% in chaplain Training Systems was designated as personnel, and the military gossip Command and Training agency for the (for those about to deploy) and a padres and Roman Catholic pastoral Command course (though afterwards Bishop Vallée and most associates, two months earlier, Gaudreau continued to nail down it took another sixteen months before aspects of the much-in-demand Protestant church leaders, the inauguration of the new “project” Peacekeeping Course).9 Peddle including the Canadian (training authorities objected to any became the first Commandant, designation as an official School). while Base Borden chaplains, Council of Churches Chaplains promised to make all their supervised by only one Base Chaplain, Chaplain Committee, courses follow Training Systems drew two instructors from the base gave their support. standards, though this required some team.10 The resource and instructional patient and painstaking support centre required one more thing: from experienced Training Officers, space. The Base Technical Services in Ottawa concerned standing such as Col Paul Hargreaves, Officer quickly found room in the down the permanent chaplaincy for Capt David Hurl and Maj Serge decommissioned hospital. The first a list of Reserve padres on short Gaudreau. During May that year, Basic Training cohort, on 13 April, term contracts for peacekeeping. Peddle, Rheault, Bourque, McLellan, 1994, was launched in a condemned Critics ringed the project, including and about twenty other chaplains building with fifty bedrooms, offices, chaplains from both the Protestant and drafted new Military Occupational an operating theatre, radiology room Roman Catholic services who were Analyses for Pastoral Associates, and laboratories.11 A second Basic alarmed by the ecumenical project. Roman Catholic and Protestant cohort began that summer.12 The First The sharpest critics were chaplains Chaplains.8 It is hard to under-estimate Intermediate course was finished in (raising the ghost of the controversial the significance (for school and the fall.13 By then, planning for the combined Chaplain Service of future chaplains) of these writing Peacekeeping course and immediate World War I) who prophesied that boards. In spite of disagreements, delivery of the first Senior Chaplain unified training could only lead to an inexperience and denominational course were underway.14 The first A Learning Chaplaincy 18 Peacekeeping courses, based on began throwing out what he thought training was prevented by the need many lessons learned on recent were obsolete documents, triggering for separate Protestant and Roman deployments, were delivered in spring some impromptu dumpster-diving by Catholic components (about 10% of and summer of 1995. The School, Commandant and Chief Instructor.18 the curriculum, McLellan estimated). described by Peddle (and many more) Ruggle was swamped by applications as a minor miracle, was underway.15 The first decade also was for Reserve billets, as every area characterized by governance disputes. chaplain wanted their padres qualified The School soon established an Peddle’s draft of Commandant’s for “total force”.22 His successor, international profile. A Reserve Directives (1994) stated that the Ronald Bourque, despite school Chaplain to the Base Cadet Camp school was responsible for its own endorsement by the Commander of came for a Chaplain Manual, as he direction and management, but Training Group MGen Caines, was was departing overseas to set up an chaplains, however exalted their convinced that the School needed Estonian military chaplaincy. Tonis rank, had neither power of Command to its own military officer training. Nomik became the first to complete all nor any permanent established He brought in military personnel three of the School’s earliest courses, accreditation within the Training and lengthened the Basic Training and Estonia’s first Chaplain General. establishment.19 Chaplains General, Course to 13 weeks. Rugged fitness School instructors subsequently made who considered themselves the standards and intense exposure to the several teaching visits to Estonia, and final authority on chaplain training, military side of CF culture (including a steady stream of trainees attended would try to direct curriculum change battle indoctrination) he reasoned, the Canadian School.16 In 1995, and staff appointments to the guaranteed that graduates would South Africa, then, in 1997, Hungary Commandant, but such directives contacted Chaplain General Pelletier were rejected by Training Systems. about sending trainees to the School.17 Though most difficulties were resolved Operational demands South Africa received two teaching by Commandant and CI pilgrimages to created an atmosphere missions from staff, over the next few Training Systems offices, a sometimes that forced rapid growth, years, while Commandants cemented adversarial relationship developed training contacts with Hungary, between the School, Training Systems, first to a permanent home Lithuania, Slovenia and Ghana its successor CFRETS, later CFSTG.20 on the ground floor of (to name a few examples). A meeting the Dental School. with the United States Navy’s Senior Chaplain in Pensacola led to chaplains Commandants exchanged with the school (United and School Growth meet and exceed the expectations States Army exchanges came later), of harsh critics. Responding to the and a permanent exchange position Having presided at the launch, fallout from the harrowing Balkan between the Canadian and US navies. Peddle handed on to Commandant and African missions, and some William MacLellan. He adopted two controversy over CF leadership, a Operational demands created an principles of instruction: “teach new Ethics course (delivered in both atmosphere that forced rapid growth, to our weaknesses and our lack languages), and a revised course in first to a permanent home on the of knowledge to ensure that our Ecumenical Team Building were added ground floor of the Dental School. mistakes were not perpetuated to the reconfigured Peacekeeping and Old courses were revised and more through ignorance” and “produce Humanitarian Operations Course.23 developed. The Resource centre better unit and supervising chaplains By this time, the school was training became an archive, including reports than we were at present”. MacLellan almost one hundred chaplains a year.24 from the field and a wide collection recalled, “My personal bias was that of military and chaplain resources if we could teach chaplains how to Bourque’s other concern was from NATO nations. Some attempts to advise the Commander, to function professional development.25 Padres weed the growing pile of paper were as a Team, do business planning required theological training to keep more successful than others: during with a strong visionary influence, current in their own profession as the summer of 2000, an over-zealous then everything else would fall into clergy and spiritual leaders, absorbing and under-briefed new chaplain place”.21 Complete integration of new research in suicide-prevention, A Learning Chaplaincy 19 critical incident stress training, administrative standards. Johnstone During 2003 he brought together and ethics. He approached civilian helped launch the first bilingual Ethics Col G. Mahon, CFSTG Commander academics from St. Paul University, course and a Pastoral Counselling and Chaplain General Bourque for and negotiated chaplain study course taught by future Commandant face-to-face negotiations, supported leaves to acquire graduate degrees George Zimmerman, who has teamed Captain Beattie’s measures to make in ethics, theology, counselling and up with Professor G. Meier of St Paul the School cost-effective (taking the other programs.26 The result was the University. Nevertheless, continual five year business planning cycle from growing body of Chaplain Subject (if low level) tensions lingered between the much-relieved Chief Instructor), Matter Experts who now teach at the school and training authorities.29 and re-established the CRRDO position School and in other venues of the CF Using Treasury Board terminology, in the Resource Centre Director, today. When LCol Stanley Johnstone Zimmerman summarized the issue closely linked to the CFSTG Standards became Commandant (in the summer as, “Who was the best “managing Officer. Other accords placed authority” for the school?”30 After Chaplains General in an advisory role, Over the next three some lengthy and frank discussion, leading to CFSTG recognizing the Headquarters ruled that such authority school as a distinct unit, making the years Zimmerman resided in Training Group, not the school a permanent Centre rather used team-building Chaplain Branch. than a “project”.34 The Commandant retreats, encouraged was under the authority of CFSTG, In 2002, Zimmerman became with Chaplains General consulting best practices, and Commandant. By then, it was clear and advising, rather than managing brought in more to most that the school had become the School. The School Standards bilingual instruction. a centre of excellence, yet enjoyed Officer (as CRRDO) was integrated only liminal status on the Base and in with Training and Support Group, Training circles. He knew that training which approved School courses and of 2000), he believed that the school failures attributed to the School would performance checks.35 was “poised for transition” into closer be extremely damaging to its future.31 ties to other military professions.27 Over the next three years Zimmerman Over the next decade, a succession of The school aligned chaplain used team-building retreats, Commandants and instructors made professional development with Officer encouraged best practices, and their way through new challenges General Specification in 1999. brought in more bilingual instruction. and constant change, all related to He persuaded Chaplain General The 2002 Basic course implemented one distant deployment: Afghanistan. Murray Farwell to post new the CF Enhanced Leadership Model.32 instructional staff early, giving him Student evaluations played an The Commandant was temporarily a larger cadre for transition increasing role in course revisions. planning.28 Aspects of school culture Instructors adopted adult education under the authority of as well as teaching methods as the methods and were encouraged to CFSTG, with Chaplains CF adopted the Enhanced Leadership take the role of mentors rather than General consulting and training model were changing. New authorities. The Resource Centre military regulations concerning human Director’s job became research and advising, rather than rights, and the constant pressure development, which both Zimmerman managing the School. for academic excellence, also made and Theologian Ken Melchin, St Paul Johnstone’s tenure one of the most University, stated was essential to complicated and sometimes stressful building School credibility as a centre Commandant Yvon Pichette, himself a periods of his career. He added a full- of excellence.33 The increasing need former Instructor and SME in Ethics, time Administration Officer, Captain for multi-faith ministry led to the brought the School to a new location, Shirley Beattie, from Air Command graduation of the Branch’s first Muslim in the Base Post Office building, Professional Development Training chaplain, a historic moment for what cutting back the space taken up by Centre. As Canadian Forces Support had begun as an ecumenical project. the Resource centre to one small and Training Group evolved from room, delivering courses in a variety CFRETS, it was Beattie who ensured The Commandant also addressed of classrooms borrowed from CFSAL, that the school met new fiscal and the school’s ambiguous status. the language and Medical schools. A Learning Chaplaincy 20 In compliance with the Official staffs have been reduced. In 2013, serving as consultants, authors, Language Act, French Basic serials besides the normal cycle of course religious leaders and teachers. have been delivered since 2005.36 planning, writing boards, evaluations A brainchild of entrepreneurial The five year cycle of planning and and submission of a new 5 year leadership in a time of declining course revisions, as well as integration Training Plan, staff launched the expectations, through sometimes of electronic resources and distance “Chaplain in a Pluralistic Environment” ruthless self-improvement the learning led to intense course-writing, course for ministry with both the School has become a success. re-writing, and constant checks, defence family and overseas. In time, a graduate will become emails and calls between Training The School, with 6 chaplain and Systems (CFSTG) and the school’s 4 non-chaplains, 20 chaplain CCRDO. Chaplains taking the Deployed Instructors and 25 visiting SMEs, A brainchild of Operations courses, thanks to the delivered 13 courses to 182 students. entrepreneurial video and communications work done Military officer training has been leadership in a time of by the School, were able to have real- moved to CFLRS at St. Jean, where time video links with chaplains and future chaplains train and connect declining expectations, commanders in the field.37 with future officers, just as those through sometimes taking Staff College training forge links ruthless self-improvement During the years when Commandants with other officers. The unit is on the Alain Guevremont, Pierre Bergeron move again, this time to the Language the School has become and Paul Acton have led the School, School site in the former Base High a success. instructors came with their own School, where a formal Sacred Space operational experience and often, (sacrificed in the postal building years) post-graduate degrees in pastoral will be created for understanding new Chaplain General, closing the ring counselling and theology. In the procedures for sharing worship space. between formation and ultimate second decade of its existence, Until the government and its armed leadership that completes the the School, on average, graduated forces face a world where spirituality professionalization cycle. How well about 200 students per year, trained is non-existent, the CFChSC has our chaplains cope with the in deployment operations, chaplaincy a mission. pressure to be relevant in the face of in multi-faith environments and emerging spiritual and humanitarian enhanced instruction in leadership, needs, depends on the CFChSC’s civil-military cooperation, supporting A Professional School contribution, producing skilled, serving members and families during for Canadian Chaplains effective and resilient chaplains and post-deployment, working and astute strategic leaders. through developments such as Twenty years after its conception, the same-sex marriage, public prayer, Canadian Forces School and Centre accommodating new and non- operates with the vision of supporting Christian members – and chaplains – operational capability by developing into the Canadian Forces. Bergeron, professional chaplains. Curriculum 1 Protestant candidates took a twelve- in 2012, was responsible for has been constantly revised. Student week basic officers training course at developing resources for a new success rates are high. Most Officer Candidate School (Chilliwack course, Religious Leader Engagement, importantly, the graduates take the or Borden), which included, along preparing chaplains to advise deployed field with a unique ethos and identity, with Leadership, Drill, Dress and Deportment, Nuclear and Chemical officers on the religions and adherents and a wider range of skills than those Warfare, Military Knowledge, weapons in-theatre. The Branch graduated two enjoyed by their forebears in Canadian training, Dialogue, 1989, #2, 13 1990, new Muslim imams and two rabbis, military history. School graduates are #2, p. 9, 1991, #1, 15. Roman Catholics as well as advising on new Branch members of a new military profession. followed their own parallel path through badges, insignia and identifiers. The School contributes to Canada Officer Training followed by BMOC orientation in Ottawa. through chaplains in retirement, who, Even as the Afghanistan deployment in crisis ministry, peacemaking and 2 DND, 39th (BC) Brigade Chaplain’s Records, Chaplain C. Cooley to OC, wound down, School activity has not civil-military relations, ethics and 5th Field Battery, 15 February, 1990. slowed down, though budgets and counselling, benefit the entire nation, For examples of pre-school training, A Learning Chaplaincy 21 see CFCHSC files, “On-Job Training 14 Among the course writers were 27 S.G. Johnstone Lecture, “Salute to Standards”, “Basic Military Occupations Capts B. Park and S. Merriman. CFChSC”, NAVCAN, June 2004. 59-61”, 1986. Reserve training (RESO) Park had served in the Gulf War, and 28 Ibid. prepared up to twelve theological Merriman, a former combat soldier, students a year, through a two-year as a peacekeeper. The Senior Course 29 Chaplain General Branch files, VAdm. training cycle, which included many writers included chaplains Peddle, G.E. Garnett to Assistant Deputy who entered the regular force as the Rheault, MacLellan, Bourque, Ruggle, Minister (HR-Mil), 12 October, 2000, years went by, eg. Dialogue, 1990, MacIsaac, and Reynolds, with technical and LGen C. Couture to OC CFRETS, #3, p. 10. advice from Maj S. Gaudreau and 30 Oct., 2000. 3 Fowler, Peacetime Padres, 255-258. Capt D. Brown, see Peddle Papers, 30 Chaplain General Branch files, Memorandum to SO SVS TRG 3-3. 15 June, 2000, draft Organization 4 William Fairlie interview, Ottawa, Order, Chaplain School and Centre. March, 2005. 15 MacLellan lecture, NAVCAN, June, 2005, “On staff we had a Roman 31 For a summary of Zimmerman’s 5 Peddle Papers, Peddle to Estey, Catholic padre who started out as a deductions and objectives, see 3 November, 1992. See also “Minutes of Protestant, a Protestant who started Commandant’s CFChSC Development a coordination meeting on the formation out in the Reserves as a Catholic, Plan, Draft, d. Aug, 2004. Author’s of a CF chaplaincy school at CFB a Protestant who spoke French but a collection. Borden”, Trenton, 28 June, 1993, Roman Catholic who didn’t, a Reservist Peddle Papers. with so much seniority that we joked 6 W. MacLellan, “Development and the he came with a NATO stock number, 32 CFCHSC files, G. Zimmerman, First Three Years of CFChSC”, NAVCAN instructors and staff who worked Summary paper, “Entry Level lecture, June 2004. lessons out of four cardboard boxes Formation Training for Chaplains of books, and one dedicated and of the Canadian Forces, draft 4, 7 Peddle Papers, 19-20 April, 1993. supportive Command Chaplain”. July, 2004. 8 For an example of the evolution of the 16 Dialogue, Fall, 2001, p. 3. 33 See Commandants Standard Operating expectations for Protestant Chaplains, Procedures, Canadian Forces Chaplain 17 Dialogue, Fall 1999, p. 4. see Peddle Papers, Draft Copy, “Course School, 2004, Also Kenneth Melchin, Training Standard and On-Job Training 18 Fraser Harvey to author, 13 May, 2005. “Salute to the School”, address to Chaplain 61, Basic Military Occupation”, Chaplain Retreat, NAVCAN, 19 Peddle Papers, Commandant’s April, 1993. Among those invited to June, 2004. the April, 1993 boards were future Directives, Canadian Forces School instructor Capt E. Reynolds, as well as and Centre, 1994, item 50.4. 34 This initial, perhaps watershed meeting in the new harmonization took place Maj W. MacLellan, LCDR R. Chapman, 20 Fraser Harvey to author, 13 May, at Borden, 5 June, 2003, see CFCHSC Maj. D. Kettle, and Capt L. Dawson, 4 July, 2005. see Peddle Papers, Routine Message by files, Chaplain Training Steering LtCol. G. Peddle, n.d.. 21 Ibid. Committee meeting, 5 June, 2003, and 16 January, 2004. See also 22 Peddle Papers, Routine Message regarding 9 Peddle Papers, Memorandum on Chaplain School Records, CFSTG Coordination meeting for Reserve Force Maj S.J. Gaudreau. Serial 03/09, “Service Level Training on 20-22 Sept., 1994. 10 See Peddle Papers, draft message, Arrangement between Canadian Forces Peddle to Chaplains General, on 23 For an enthusiastic description of the Training Group and Canadian Forces reorganization of chaplaincy services challenge of managing the Resource Chaplain General concerning Chaplain at CFB Borden, n.d. Centre, See Beaulieu, in Dialogue, Training”. Fall 1999, p. 3 and Spring, 2000, p. 3. 11 Peddle Papers, Inauguration sermon 35 CFSCSC Files, 17 Nov. 2004, by LCol. G. E. Peddle, 12 April, 1994, 24 Canadian Forces, Chaplain General Chaplains Training Steering Committee St. Joseph’s Chapel, Borden, see Albert Files, Canadian Forces Chaplain School Record or Decisions, 27 Sept., 2004. and Centre, Unit Annual Historical Fowler, et.al, Dialogue, 1995 #1, 36 Chaplain School Records, Annual Reports for 1998, 2000, 4-11, 35. Report to CFSTG 2003-2005, LCol RP Bourque. 12 Peddle Papers, Peddle to BGen Bazin d. March, 2005. Annex A. 25 Dialogue , Spring, 2000, p. 3. and BGen Esty, n.d. 37 Telephone interview and emails, 13 MacLellan lecture, NAVCAN 26 R.P. Bourque Lecture, “Salute to former CCRDO LCol B. Putnam, June, 2004. the Chaplain School”, NAVCAN, August 22, 2014. June, 2004. A Learning Chaplaincy 22 Understanding Religion and Violence: What Contemporary Scholarship Might Teach Us

Padre Michael Peterson, PhD, Captain

I can’t imagine any chaplain embracing the idea of a holy war. Compared to the values of the Royal Canadian Chaplain Service, divinely sanctioned violence lies at the furthest extremes of militant sectarianism. While we may conclude that some wars are justified, either by the application of international law (e.g., through a UN declaration) or by religious tradition (such as Christian Just War doctrine), our theologies of violence are nuanced, even hesitant.

Religious Studies scholars wouldn’t likely let us off this easily. They would Is religious violence getting worse? giving pause to the optimists among caution us that downplaying violence The data suggests that it is. A recent us (myself included) who believe that is a relatively recent phenomenon, survey by the Pew Research Forum while the arc of enlightenment is long, which is atypical of the history found that social violence linked to it still bends toward the better.”2 and nature of religious traditions. religion had increased noticeably Last year, over forty professors of the worldwide between 2008 and 2012. Egan’s column seems to buy into a discipline contributed to The Oxford Recent headlines suggest that things core belief of atheism that religion Handbook of Religion and Violence, are only getting worse.1 breeds intolerance and violence. a scholarly tome thick enough to stun As CAF chaplains, even though an ox. As the editors note in their “God is on a rampage in 2014”, we work within a military milieu, Introduction, despite the claims of said American author Timothy Egan. our first tendency as people of faith practitioners for the pacifistic nature In “Faith-Based Fanatics”, his July is to want to refute this argument. of their faiths, the “dark attraction opinion piece in The New York Times, Any suggestion of the linkage between between religion and violence is Egan lamented the rise in religiously religion and violence makes us endemic to religious traditions”.3 inspired conflicts. “[T]he ancient profoundly uncomfortable. Some of the book’s contributors struggle of My God versus Your God are anthropologists, focusing on is at the root of dozens of atrocities, aspects of religion such as ritual, 2 http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/19/ opinion/timothy-egan-faith-based- fanatics.html?emc=edit_th_20140719& 1 Pew Research and Public Life Project, nl=todaysheadlines&nlid=55545204& 3 Mark Jurgensmeyer, Margo Kitts, “Religious Hostilities Reach Six assetType=opinion&assetType=opinion and Michael Jerryson, “Introduction”, Year High”. http://www.pewforum. &gwh=29EEFE645211B9D012A605F The Oxford Handbook of Religion and org/2014/01/14/religious-hostilities- F90EF839A&gwt=pay&assetType=opi Violence (New York: Oxford University reach-six-year-high/ nion&_r=0 Press, 2013), 1. A Learning Chaplaincy 23 myth, and sacred writing. Others are Could chaplains be sociotheologists? Religious violence is ultimately about sociologists, inspired by an interest Our roles as advisors and religious the perception of evil. It may be an in the connection between religion subject matter experts suggests that attempt to solve evil by cleansing or and politics. we are well positioned to help our eradicating it, as seen in crusade, military peers and society at large to jihad, or the longed for Armageddon Of the latter group, Mark understand the relationship between which ends cosmic war in victory and Juergensmeyer, a self-described religion and violence in particular ushers in eternal peace. Fortunately, “sociotheologist” and one of the book’s social and historical contexts. our religious traditions are broad editors, argues that acts of violence As members of mainstream religious enough to encompass other responses can be justified in theological terms groups within a multifaith organization, to evil besides violence. Vajrayana using pious language and can also be and as noncombatants within the Buddhism, for example, speaks of the motivated by political reasons such as military, we might pride ourselves vajra, the “bolt of awareness that... the desire to achieve a new society, in the belief that would be qualified cuts through even the most obdurate right historical wrongs, and vindicate in this role because we are beyond illusion of my own purity” and allows a communal identity. There are many violence ourselves. We might take one to see “the hate-spouting neo- situations where religious and political comfort in the fact that the actors Nazi [or] the Muslim suicide bomber... causes overlap, such as the current studied in the Oxford Handbook in their full human subjectivity, efforts of jihadist groups to establish of Religious Violence are primarily as persons like me: fragile, fallible, a caliphate in Syria and Iraq. isolated extremists, such as Timothy and perhaps even worthy of McVeigh, the Oklahoma City bomber forgiveness”.5 While secular scholars like with ties to the Christian Identity Juergensmeyer call on their academic militia movement, or Shoko Asahara, As religious professionals and colleagues to pay closer attention to the leader of the Buddhist cult that sociotheologists, we have the the religious elements of politics and released nerve gas in the Tokyo capability to interpret and explain conflict, theologians have long noted subway system. the connections between religion and the connection between the two. violence. Such a capability will be They include George Lindbeck Such self-congratulation should be needed in the dark decades ahead. and Reinhold Niebuhr (Christian), resisted. As pastors and priests, By digging into the best parts of our Martin Buber (Jewish), Abdullah rabbis and imams, we know to our religious traditions, we can also go An-Naim (Muslim), Rabindranath cost that bad and destructive people beyond explaining. We can strive Tagore (Hindu) and Sulak Sivaraska are often drawn to religion. The fact to decouple violence and religion, (Buddhist). Following their example, that we have “safe church” procedures resisting visions of a world brutally Juergensmeyer defines sociotheology to protect the vulnerable proves this cleansed and offering instead visions as “a two-way frame of references point. As preachers and interpreters, of a world redeemed through empathy, through which religion can account we know that our sacred texts compassion and awareness. for social phenomena and social contain scenes of violence and that factors can account for religion”.4 our religious traditions can be read Padre Peterson is currently finishing In other words, sociotheology is in ways that support ideas of cosmic his thesis on Pluralism and the Royal about the study of world views, war. Shoko Asahara justified his nerve Canadian Chaplain Service as a shared understandings of reality that gas attacks by using Buddhist and student in the Religion and Culture determine actions. In the case of Hindu writings, and Yighal Amir, who MA program, Wilfrid Laurier University, religious violence, some world views assassinated Israeli prime minister Waterloo, Ontario. see certain figures and groups as Yitzhak Rabin, was a student of moral wrongs that must be cleansed Hebrew texts. If the contributors of the in the name of an eternal cosmic Oxford Handbook of Religious Violence struggle between good and evil. are right about anything, it is that our religious traditions carry within them the seeds of violence. A certain 4 Mark Jurgensmeyer and Mona Kanwal penitential humility is called for. Sheikh, “A Sociotheological Approach to Understanding Religious Violence”, 5 James Aho, “The Religious Problem of Oxford Handbook of Religion and Evil”, Oxford Handbook of Religion and Violence, 626. Violence, 204. A Learning Chaplaincy 24 Couples Conference in Bagotville

Padre David Dytynyshyn, Captain 3 Wing Bagotville

and in our region, I realized that we could not produce the number of attendees required to justify the Kraemer’s 5-hour drive here. We therefore decided to offer the conference in French as well.

So on Friday evening April 11, a 2-hour mini-conference was offered in English free of charge at the Officers’ Mess. Nine people were present, including two couples with no previous contact with the chapel. The next day, on April 12, the main “It would be great to have this been sharing their amazing story event took place in French. Thirty-six couple come to Bagotville”, I said and the principles that restored and participants enjoyed three 90-minute to myself as I sat with my wife at a transformed their marriage. sessions and a dinner, all held at the Couples’ Conference being held in Officers’ Mess. Four military couples the Laurentian Mountains north of In response, Gerry wrote that they were present. The events were Montreal in October 2013. Called would be delighted to come and do a financed through the sale of tickets for a “Weekend to Remember”, it was conference. However, they would the Saturday event and the generous organized by Family Life Ministries. not be free until the fall of 2014. contributions of Emmanuel Chapel and We were attending with our two married This was a little disappointing since, the Christian Development Fund. daughters and their husbands as well as chaplains, we never know where as a couple from CFB Bagotville. we will be in fall until the posting Was it worth it? One of the English season passes in the spring. couples present on the Friday evening About a month after the conference, But unexpectedly, in late November, found the session “amazing”. They are I sent out an exploratory e-mail asking Gerry wrote back saying that the now stirring up interest in the English Gerry and Kathy Kraemer if they would weekend of April 11–13 had opened community with the possibility of consider speaking at a Marriage event up for them. The planning began! hosting another conference in English yet to be planned in the Saguenay in the future! area in 2014. Gerry and Kathy I knew that English couples on Kraemer are from western Canada base, the young and the not so and moved to Quebec to learn French young, would benefit from a session nearly thirty years ago. They have on strengthening their marriage worked with university students and relationship. In fact, Gary Chapman, pastored churches. Gerry also served a well-known Christian author and as chaplain to the Montreal Alouettes speaker, has stated that every couple football team from 1996 to 2002. should attend some sort of marriage In 2007-2008, the Kraemers walked enrichment session once a year! a road that took them to the brink But because of the small number of of divorce. Since then, they have English-speaking couples on the base A Learning Chaplaincy 25 “Proclaims a Divine Presence” Examining the Chaplain’s Role in Harold Ristau’s At Peace with War

Padre David Clark, Captain 7th Toronto Regiment (RCA)

Presence is frequently described as is to use his or her own presence to Yet, despite the uncertainties that the currency of military chaplaincy. bear witness visibly to the invisible Ristau evokes regarding the role of the As the late Padre Lyman Coleman presence of God. chaplain, a clear theme nonetheless expressed in the preface to his novel, begins to emerge as he repeatedly Called to Serve, “The chaplain’s most To begin, Ristau acknowledges that describes the chaplain’s role using the effective role is that of ‘being there’, defining the chaplain’s role is somewhat language of presence and visibility. or as we call it in the military, providing problematic. The chaplain’s role is both Ristau finds his own purpose as a a Ministry of Presence.” This article “awkward”1 and “complex”2 since, chaplain in the act of providing a examines questions that arise from he notes, “[u]nlike other trades, presence: “I am there to be close to this role of providing presence, ours is not clearly defined.”3 Ristau the troops [...],” he writes, and especially the matter of what it observes that this difficulty in defining “[m]y presence is a support to them.”6 is that the chaplain’s presence in the chaplain’s role has increased At the very least, he maintains his fact accomplishes. That is, what are with the rise of certain specialized own visibility among soldiers: “on the chaplains actually doing when trades: “Even when I am surrounded slow days,” he writes, “I just make offering presence? The lens through by crisis,” he writes, “it is not always my face visible.”7 Indeed, when he which I examine this question is evident what my role is,” in that helps soldiers in their day-to-day Padre Harold Ristau’s At Peace with “responsibilities that were once a tasks, Ristau acknowledges that his War: A Chaplain’s Meditations from chaplain’s have been shifted to other “motive is not purely to be helpful, Afghanistan, a first-hand account of mental health care professions: but to be visible.”8 Thus, in Ristau’s one Canadian chaplain’s experience social workers, deployment support understanding, the chaplain offers in war. At Peace with War is not a centres, etc.”4 Thus, as functions what could be described simply as systematic discussion of military formerly performed by chaplains have a visible presence. chaplaincy, but rather consists of been arrogated to separate military journal entries regarding various topics trades, the question of the chaplain’s At the same time that he underscores and events, all penned during Ristau’s role has been rendered all the more the chaplain’s visible presence, Ristau deployment to Afghanistan. Yet, by pressing–and all the more uncertain. also emphasizes God’s own presence, closely examining reflections scattered At one point, Ristau asks, “What is my celebrating the “daily promise of God’s throughout this remarkable work, it is role?” and offers the notably tentative patient presence.”9 For instance, when possible to piece together a cogent answer: “God knows.”5 Ristau accompanies soldiers on foot, account of Ristau’s own understanding he remains certain of God’s presence of the chaplain’s role. Specifically, with him through Christ. In one striking I submit that the chaplain’s role, 1 Lyman Coleman, Called to Serve: image of God’s presence, Ristau An Historical Novel (Victoria: Trafford, as presented in At Peace with War, 2010), xiv. writes, “I trust that Christ walks with is to provide a personal presence me on patrol. And even when the mine 2 Harold Ristau, At Peace with War: that bears witness to the presence A Chaplain’s Meditations from Afghanistan of God even when God’s presence (Eugene: Wipf & Stock, 2012), 54. 6 Ibid., 28. seems improbable. Or, to formulate 3 Ibid., 6. 7 Ibid., 6. it another way, I argue that Ristau’s 4 Ibid., 13. 8 Ibid. understanding of the chaplain’s role 5 Ibid., 6. 9 Ibid., 23. A Learning Chaplaincy 26 does explode in my path and under To Ristau, believing that the chaplain God, a divine presence which brings my feet, it explodes with Christ right somehow brings God to the scene is hope even to the dismal scenes of war. there beside me.”10 Moreover, a theme symptomatic of being “superstitious and That presence, however, is invisible in Ristau’s approach to theodicy – that ‘spiritually immature.’”15 Accordingly, and, perhaps – to many struggling is, his theological engagement with rather than depicting the chaplain as with the horrors of war – not merely the problem of evil – is likewise God’s one who brings God’s presence, invisible but implausible. Nevertheless, presence. He affirms, for instance: Ristau presents the chaplain as a between the conviction of God’s “We can say with certainty that if God witness to a divine presence which is presence and the appearance of wasn’t with us, things would be a lot already there. Significantly, in an insight God’s absence stands the chaplain, worse.”11 Even amid the evil of war, that I believe is key to understanding who bridges that divide by his or her where God might seem utterly absent Ristau’s concept of the chaplain’s own visible and credible presence: in an “apparently God-forsaken land,” role, he declares: “chaplain presence it is in this way, that the visible Ristau reaffirms God’s presence, proclaims a divine presence.”16 presence of the chaplain bears for he maintains that God is “shockingly The chaplain, by his or her own witness to the invisible presence familiar with abiding in the evil places presence, is a visible testimony to of God. The chaplain’s presence is of the universe.”12 Thus, though war the invisible presence of God. thus derivative and ancillary, a visible may give reason to wonder whether presence called to bear witness to an God is in fact absent, Ristau remains Furthermore, as Ristau conceives of immeasurably more significant divine all the more certain that God indeed military chaplaincy in terms of witness presence. And, as it seems, this role remains present. to God’s presence, he accordingly of communicating God’s presence locates the chaplain’s function in can be successful: “A good chaplain,” Accordingly, preserving his conviction of following after God’s presence, going declared an American soldier on God’s presence even in an environment where God is already. Accordingly, deployment, “makes us feel like where God might seem tragically the chaplain’s ministry takes place God is with us.”21 absent, Ristau discovers the chaplain’s “in the corners of others’ work role in communicating and conveying spaces,” he says, “for that is With its piercing honesty, At Peace this unseen reality of God’s presence. where God is also.”17 In Ristau’s with War provides a vision of what the For instance, when leading a memorial understanding, it is a Christological chaplain’s role can be within the real service at a Forward Operating Base necessity that chaplaincy follows a mud and muck of wartime. Ristau’s (FOB), Ristau’s meditation consisted movement away from “centre stage.”18 starting point is the sure presence simply in the words: “We don’t know “Jesus’ ministry of presence was of God, an invisible presence which why things like this happen, but God deliberately off to the sides,”19 is rendered seemingly improbable promises that He is with us.”13 Even if Ristau observes, concluding that, by the pains of war. Yet, as Ristau very little is to be said in a time of crisis, in this way, “God Himself offers makes clear, it is for this reason that Ristau considers the promised presence the model of the most effective the chaplain’s role as witness is not of God to be the crucial content to ministry.”20 Thus, the role of the to bring God’s presence but rather convey. It must be noted, however, chaplain as witness to God’s presence to convey and communicate God’s that Ristau at no point suggests that necessitates a particular form and presence. The more God seems chaplains are themselves bearers or practice of chaplaincy, moving toward absent, the more the chaplain’s bringers of God’s presence. Indeed, the edges where God’s presence presence becomes a vital witness to this distinction is important to Ristau, assuredly awaits. God’s presence. Ristau’s perspective as he recounts his initial discomfort on military chaplaincy furnishes a with soldiers’ perception that, as he As we have seen, Ristau’s theological valuable contribution to the discussion, memorably expresses it, “when the vision emphasizes the presence of as we in the Royal Canadian Chaplain priest leaves, so does God.”14 Service continue to wrestle with 15 Ibid., 21. questions surrounding our role as 10 Ibid., 15. 16 Ibid., 13. those called to offer our presence. 11 Ibid., 17. 17 Ibid., 53. 12 Ibid., 37. 18 Ibid. 21 Stephen Manfield, The Faith of the 13 Ibid., 9 (emphasis added). 19 Ibid., 53-54. American Soldier (New York: Tarcher/ 14 Ibid., 20. 20 Ibid., 54. Penguin, 2005), 72 (emphasis added). A Learning Chaplaincy 27 Legacy of Courage and Sacrifice

Padre James Lee, Captain 4th Canadian Division Support Group Garrison Petawawa

I am currently serving as a military defenceless. I thought of those activity of my US Army life. It is pure chaplain posted to a Garrison in Marines’ wives, children, parents, pleasure to be running again and Petawawa, Ontario. I joined the siblings and close friends in the doing physical training with troops. Canadian Armed Forces as a part-time United States who had to face It is a privilege. I love the troops as Reserve Chaplain in August 2011 immense emotional pain and loss for I know they are deeply loved by God. and transferred to a full- time Regular many years. I went on to see a nearby Force chaplain position in August plaque at the Korean War Veterans In October, I participated in 1 Canadian 2013. Before my full-time service, Memorial. It was inscribed: “Our nation Field Hospital’s field training for three I had served as an Urban Missionary honors her sons and daughters who weeks. This exercise was to enhance among underprivileged children, youth answered the call to defend a country the troops’ readiness for deployed and families in East Vancouver for they never knew and a people they humanitarian operations. We were about 18 years. never met.” God laid the desire on God laid the desire on my heart to What I saw was a priceless picture of serve as a military chaplain a number sacrifice and courage painted by the my heart to serve as of years ago. A part of the history of men and women in uniform. I shed a military chaplain a the Korean War (1950-1953) inspired tears that day. That picture and those number of years ago. my military service in a significant words have echoed in my heart ever way. Years ago, I had a chance to visit since, especially in times of hardship, A part of the history a Korean War Museum and Veterans leading me to serve the nation and of the Korean War Memorial in Washington, DC. There, God years later. (1950-1953) inspired I saw a picture of US Marines frozen to death in the front line trenches. In the summer of 2013, I answered my military service in The winter of 1950 in Korea was the call to serve within the Canadian a significant way. exceptionally cold, and nearly 1 million Armed Forces and was posted to Chinese troops were mobilized to aid Garrison Petawawa. On the first day communist North Korea, which was of duty, I was assigned to a major preparing for situations where the trying to take over a free South Korea medical services unit. This unit has Armed Forces would be rapidly through military aggression. about 350 troops who are medics, deployed internationally, with 48-hours The communist troops were even doctors, nurses, dentists, health-care notice, to a vulnerable region and using civilians, North Korean refugees, administrators, specialists and other population. This is a highly intensive as human shields for their military military medical professionals. and demanding operation, as the objectives. Those US Marines were One of the things I am doing with my troops would have to move massive there to protect the freedom of unit members is morning physical field hospital structures & equipment defenceless refugees who were training. Once, I served as a combat to the designated region within a fleeing from oppressive communist infantry rifleman in a hard-core limited time frame. I was sleeping, rule. The Marines were not equipped infantry unit of the US Army in the late eating and hanging out with troops in for extreme cold weather and paid 1980s, and running with troops in the the bush somewhere in Ontario. the ultimate price to protect the early morning had been the fondest A Learning Chaplaincy 28 A real disaster occurred in early young lady with a kind heart, and buildings. It will take years to November as Typhoon Haiyan who attends a Baptist church in clean everything.” devastated the central region of the Montreal. I could see that she would Philippines. The Canadian Armed give the best care possible to injured Padre Bob Lay was the DART Forces were called upon to respond or needy locals. It is physically and Chaplain, and he accompanied DART to this crisis. They were commanded mentally exhausting work, especially members on deployment. He went to execute medical relief work in the in a different time zone with tropical through the same intense experiences typhoon-ravaged city of Iloilo, the temperatures. But I knew she would as the other deployed member on the home base of Canadian medical teams do much more than her duty called pre-deployment stage and he also and engineers in the Philippines. her to do. I had conducted screening provided pastoral care for all I was involved in the process of interviews with about 50 CAF DART members on deployment. pre-screening selected CAF members members on standby. They were He reported that: who were placed on standby for all highly motivated for altruistic deployment to the Philippines. reasons. When asked why he wanted “Overall it is important to state About 50 members of my medical to be deployed, one young medical that the DART team accomplished units were part of the Disaster technician replied to me, “Sir, this is it’s objectives with distinction. Assistance Response Team (DART), what I signed up to do, help others.” The Filipino people were so very and another 50 members from my units appreciative. The governor of were on standby as of November 15th. I served as a rear-party team for the province to the elementary the deployed troops. I remained in school student expressed great Petawawa and assisted the troops in appreciation. To have seen 7,000 Government disaster a rear party support role, supporting patients at our clinics and provide management officials their family members as needed. over 500,000 litres of clean water placed the number of I regularly received update reports on and miles of road clearing along the Philippines mission. With the death with many other repair projects on deaths at 5,959, while toll from the super typhoon, called schools, hospitals and community the injured and missing “Yolanda” by the population, inching centers. To be a ministry of remained at 27,022 and closer to 6,000, the Filipino people presence while deployed with have had little to be cheery about. the DART was an honor.” 1,779, respectively as Government disaster management of December 13th. officials placed the number of deaths Our men and women in uniform at 5,959, while the injured and missing and Padre Lay made a difference remained at 27,022 and 1,779, in many lives in the Philippines. One of the nurses, who participated in respectively as of December 13th. We have reason to be proud of a field exercise with me a month ago, One medical officer reported: our troops. Our deployed troops received a call from her supervisor in demonstrated their dedication to the morning on Remembrance Day. “We have Mobile Medical Teams help those they did not know. She was instructed to report to CFB (MMTs) out every day. A MMT These stories of sacrifice, duty, Petawawa within the next couple of consists of a medical doctor, courage and compassion continue to hours. It is a 4-hour drive from her physician assistant and two medical unfold. I am grateful for opportunities home to CFB Petawawa. This means technicians. They average about to be part of these stories, serving that she had to drop everything, 110 patients each day per team. among troops that desire to make a pack her personal items & essentials The public is so happy to see us. difference for the better. and hit the road in just two hours. People stop us on the street to She was very tired by the time she shake our hands and say thank you. saw me. She also had to complete The work is exhausting in the heat the readiness check-list, to go through and many of the communities we the screening process and to pack are serving are remote and are up her personal & military kits before 2-3 hours transport ride away. boarding the aircraft headed to the The devastation is all around. Philippines. She is a conscientious Tonnes of debris, broken homes A Learning Chaplaincy 29 Protestant Development Day 2014

Padre Michael Macintyre, Lieutenant(N) Canadian Forces Base Halifax

One of the highlights of the Annual Sermon for Friday 30 May 2014 A pretty hefty workload for a warship, Chaplain Seminar is worship. While Feast of the Ascension high stress, high competition. I was we celebrate in our denomination Texts: Acts 1:1-11; Eph 1:15-23; lucky enough to sail on a ship that groups throughout the week, we take Luke 24:44-53 had great esprit de corps – the higher one opportunity to worship corporately the pressure, the more fun the crew and ecumenically as Protestants. This Grace to you, and peace to from God seemed to have. is a meaningful tradition wherein one who is Creator of all, and from the of our six Protestant denominations Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. I still remained busy, though. leads the service, which includes Holy There’s always work for a chaplain to Communion, in accordance with their Jesus asks a good question: do. And I learned a lot. I learned, for own rites and traditions. In this way, “Why are you standing there, example, that aboard ship, the Padre we experience the richness of the looking up to heaven?” is never, ever, piped. No matter where diversity we have among us. In 2014, I was, if someone needed me, Rev. Hans Borch and the Lutheran Instead of looking up to heaven, I want someone could find me. And, they did. chaplains lead us in worship in their you to look at your hands. tradition. To a standing-room only I was sitting in the hanger chatting congregation, we sang, prayed, read Have you ever stopped and looked with a group of sailors when I felt a tap scripture and celebrated the Last at them? on my shoulder. Could I come and see a member...quickly? Supper. Padre Michael Macintyre I looked at mine, and I’ll tell you brought the homily, which is included what I saw. here in Dialogue. Two decks down, I met the sailor I I saw the scar from a barb-wire fence needed to see. His body language Padre Barbara Putnam, LCol when I was six years old. told me part of what I could expect... Principle Chaplain (Protestant) I saw the crooked finger that I broke hunched over...hands clenched. badly when I was 14. Every muscle in his body fighting for control. I saw callouses and cracks, from life and living. I asked him to tell me his story, and I saw my wedding ring. Take that off, he began to. Former combat arms. and I see still the mark it leaves from Two tours. Transferred to the Navy – over a decade of wear. Atlantic Canada was home, and the Navy was not, after all, the Army. Your hands tell a story. He told me that he couldn’t stop They tell your story. watching people’s hands. No matter Our hands tell our stories. where he was. He was always watching. Looking. Someone I had the privilege, very recently, of was carrying a satchel? Worrying. spending a month at sea. Workups. A backpack? Frightening. A Learning Chaplaincy 30 But the problem had finally reached of the nails from the tree of the and look, then you have time to do his attention when he’d found himself cross. Hands that had been broken. something productive.” – his words – bullying his eldest son. That had seen and tasted death. 13 years old. Loves his dad. The body of Christ that stands to There is a time to be looking up to Dad doesn’t like that he puts his bless the disciples is one that is still heaven. You need to see Jesus, hands in pockets. Doesn’t like that profoundly broken, and yet is perfect, so that you may be the guideposts he’s always holding a cell phone. and whole. for others. Sometime those glimpses Dad knows that his son poses no are infuriatingly fleeting; but they threat to him – but can’t convince his Beloved of God, you are called to serve are enough. brain of that. Guilt, shame, and fear. the body of Christ. The body that you serve, like that of the Saviour, is at the In Luke’s gospel, having seen the I sat with him for a long time, as there same time broken, yet made whole, risen Christ ascend into heaven, the was nothing else to do. And we talked. frail, yet possessing great strength. disciples know what to do: they go to We talked about his hands. You are that same body. In the the temple, Luke writes, and joyfully language of my Lutheran theological praise God. The story picks up in Acts, Hands that held his wife. tradition, we are simul iustus et and chronicles the whole beginning of peccator – at the same time justified, the church. That story plays out, again That held his children. and sinners. In your own brokenness, and again. You are always being made Built and repaired their home. Christ makes you whole. Bear that new. There is always another part witness to the people you serve. being written. Hands, that had been trained to hold a weapon. What you have to give as your offering The end is written, as well. You know Hands, whose bearer understood is simply, and only, your hands. how the story turns out. In the cross, all too well the implications of Nothing more noble a sacrifice than there is redemption. In pain, there is ‘unlimited liability.’ that, even as it was the hands of healing. In Christ, all things are made Joseph of Arimathea who cut down new. Never doubt that you make a In the end, I asked if he wanted to the broken body of the Saviour from difference, in everything you do. pray. To pray for his hands. So we the tree, the hands of those who Yours may be the only hands that did. I prayed that his hands would tell dressed his body; the hands of those reach out to help, or to hold, or lead. a story of life and love, not fear and who reached out in worship, and in joy. And that is enough. You reach out pain; that they would work for building because that is what you are called up and not breaking down. That he It is your hands that reach out to the to do; it is who you are. Get up, would see in them – and others – broken, bind up the brokenhearted, and go - reach, strive, and encourage their own stories, not the ones that take up the lame, and guide the blind. – and keep the faith. The end is the broken part of him wanted to see. It is God’s work, but it is your hands. everlasting life.

So what stories do your hands tell? “Men of Galillee, why do you stand One last thing, about that sailor. What wounds do they show? there, looking up to heaven?” I saw him, with his family, on the jetty Physical ones? Or from years, as they picked him up. I shook his decades, of holding others hands, I have almost this...dream, a recurring hand before he crossed the brow. holding hearts, binding the wounds nightmare, really. It involves me He hugged his son. of others through pain of you own? standing in an introspective moment, deep in thought, and then It was enough. Imagine the hands of Christ. the Warrant Officer from my basic Jesus stands before the disciples, training comes up behind me and Amen. immediately before his Ascension. says, “why are you standing there?” One thing catches my attention: It doesn’t matter what tone of voice “Lifting up his hands, Jesus blessed that question is asked in. I hear it as them.” Jesus lifted up his hands. an inherent instruction...almost like, The hands that still bore the marks “if you have time to stand there A Learning Chaplaincy 31 Haiti Milk Bag Project

Emily Chastkiewicz and Nancy Dytynyshyn Ladies Guild, Emmanuel Chapel 3 Wing Bagotville

On behalf of the Guild, we would like to thank all of those who have donated bags and who continue to do so.

We wouldn’t be able to accomplish our goals without them.

Left to Right: Cindy Couture-Finlay, Jaylene Lubrick, Padre Barb Putnam, Rhéa Kirkup, Laura Dytynyshyn, Susan Croussette, Nancy Dytynyshyn, Kathy Penner-Warnica, Jacqueline Jorgensen. Missing: Emily Chastkiewicz

Over the past year at Emmanuel In early December Emmanuel Chapel Chapel in Bagotville, Québec, the welcomed Padre Barb Putnam for a Protestant Chapel Ladies Guild has weekend visit. The ladies of the Guild been collecting milk bags from military were delighted to show her a finished personnel and families on the base mat and get a photo of it with her. for a collaborative enterprise called About a month later, the Guild was the Haiti Milk Bag Project. The ladies overjoyed when they received a photo have been pleasantly surprised with from a volunteer who went to Haiti the abundance of donated milk bags. and gave a family in need this very Once to twice a week, the ladies get mat. The photo is a reminder that together and turn simple, plastic milk their hard work is much appreciated, bags into crocheted mats for Haitians and it serves as a motivation to keep in need. Not only is this a great way for the project going. The ladies have the ladies to volunteer their time and completed another mat and are give back to the world, but it is also working on three more, with the hope an excellent way to get to know one of sending all four to Haiti this year. another and to form a stronger chapel On behalf of the Guild, we would like and military community. to thank all of those who have donated bags and who continue to do so. We wouldn’t be able to accomplish our goals without them. A Learning Chaplaincy 32 Section Operationally Relevant Chaplaincy THREEPAGE 34 USS Arleigh Burke Sailors Receive Blessings from Canadian Chaplain MC2 Carlos Vasquez

36 NATO Air Force Chaplains Gather in Quebec City Padre Barbara Putnam, LCol

38 Ministry in the North Padre Charles Irish, Lt(N)

40 International Chaplain Symposium: RIMPAC 2014 Padre Jeannine Friesen, Lt(N)

42 Team Building on a North American Scale: RAW 2014 Padre Mike Adamczyk, Maj

44 Nijmegen 2014: A Padre’s Perspective Padre Stephen Morris, Capt

46 In Memoriam USS Arleigh Burke Sailors Receive Blessings from Canadian Chaplain

Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Carlos M. Vazquez II USS Arleigh Burke Public Affairs

ARABIAN GULF (NNS) – A Canadian This exchange has started a new Armed Forces army chaplain is chapter for the chaplain’s career, currently serving aboard guided- offering him a new environment missile destroyer USS Arleigh Burke and experiences. (DDG 51) delivering religious services as part of the Personnel Exchange “This is my first ship ever,” said Program (PEP). Leclerc. “I’ve never even been on a Canadian ship.” Canadian Armed Forces army Chaplain Maj Bastien Leclerc embarked upon While adjusting to his new setting Arleigh Burke when the ship departed and with his first steps aboard, Norfolk as part of PEP to provide he encountered some minor religious services, spiritual guidance differences and some eye-opening and to boost crew morale as it is similarities. underway on a regularly scheduled deployment.

The PEP allows selected service members to make a one-for-one exchange with personnel from another military service or foreign service. The program’s objective is to integrate participants into the host organization as though they belonged to the service to which they become assigned.

“Canada and the United States have an exchange program,” said Leclerc. “So right now there is a U.S. Navy chaplain in Halifax, Canada doing the job that I’m doing here.” Operationally Relevant Chaplaincy 34 “The way we do paperwork, formats and templates is not the same, so it’s like I’m going back to school and I’m a young chaplain again,” said Leclerc. “But these are little differences; the main core that is very similar is we’re here to take care of the men and women.”

Multiple services, including Sunday services and specialty religious holiday services, have been held aboard while underway. Leclerc also helped coordinate a visit from U.S. chaplains April 15, from different religious denominations to lead services during Holy Week, giving the crew an opportunity to participate in a specialty service from their individual religious practice.

“Receiving blessings from the Canadian chaplain who has joined us for deployment and from chaplains from other religions is wonderful,” said Navy Counselor 1st Class Mona Wells. “Being on smaller ships, it is rare for us to get the opportunity to have a chaplain while out to sea, so it’s great to be able to reflect in the services they led for us, especially during Holy Week. It meant a lot to me, and I think it did the same for “It’s a pleasure to have Chaplain and theater security cooperation the crew.” Leclerc aboard with us,” said Wells. efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area “He is our open door to staying in of responsibility. Catholic, Protestant and Jewish touch with our spirituality while out to religious ceremonies were held sea, as well as being able to share in For more news from USS Arleigh by the chaplains, and the Sailors one another’s cultures and having him Burke (DDG 51), visit who participated seemed to have be a part of our Arleigh Burke family.” http://www.navy.mil/local/ddg51/. appreciated the services, as well as having the Canadian chaplain aboard Arleigh Burke is currently underway with them for their deployment. on a scheduled deployment in support of maritime security operations Operationally Relevant Chaplaincy 35 NATO Air Force Chaplains Gather In Québec City

Padre Barbara Putnam, Lieutenant-Colonel RCAF Command Chaplain

The NATO Air Force Chaplain and II. The participants found it quite Consultative Committee is the oldest interesting to hear the chaplain story international chaplain gathering in woven through the events of the the world, and one which Canada war, especially during this time of has been privileged to host twice in worldwide commemoration. We are the past, 1968 (Ottawa) and 1979 grateful to Dr. Richard Goette and (Montreal). In June of 2014, we Maj Mathias Joost for their were privileged to host this annual contribution to the programme. conference once again, in beautiful Quebec City at La Citadelle. Chaplaincy around the world is quite different from the Canadian model, Air Force chaplains from The and Bishop Peter Coffin, a member of Netherlands, Czech Republic, the the Interfaith Committee on Canadian United Kingdom, Germany, Denmark, Military Chaplaincy (ICCMC) brought France, Spain, Poland and Lithuania a very interesting presentation on took part in the three day conference how Canadian chaplains work in a designed to provide a forum for the multifaith context, across all three exchange of information and ideas services. This reality was illustrated on matters pertinent to chaplains by the fact that the conference host, working in the Air Force environment. Padre Fletcher, wears the Canadian Chaplains were exposed to lectures Army uniform as does the event on the history of the RCAF, which OPI, RCAF Command Chaplain, is celebrating its 90th Anniversary Padre Putnam, as well as Director in 2014, as well as an historical of Chaplain Operations, Padre presentation on chaplaincy initiatives Guèvremont. and ministry from World War I Operationally Relevant Chaplaincy 36 A social component to the programme A formal mess dinner, hosted by the helped to build relationships and Chaplain General in the dining room A social component to the networks for our work together as of the Officers’ Mess, brought an programme helped to build Air Force Chaplains. Tours of official end to the conference. Each La Citadelle and the newly opened of the Air Force chaplains expressed relationships and networks R22eR Museum, and a walking tour their appreciation for the opportunity for our work together as of the city helped to share a bit of to engage in dialogue throughout the Air Force Chaplains. Canada`s history to our first-time week, and to work together to provide guests. Since no Air Force visit is the highest quality of chaplaincy to complete without a look at current those whom we serve. The group operations, we were honoured to expressed their appreciation to the have the Commanding Officer of RCAF Commander, LGen Yvan Blondin 430 ETAH and his Chief join us for for supporting the conference, and an afternoon where they described to BGen John Fletcher for being a not only how Canada deploys its consummate host. Air Force, citing examples from Libya and the Philippines, but they also took Next year, in Prague! the opportunity to highlight from their own experience the added value which a chaplain brings to the squadrons, the wings, and to operations. In showing their appreciation for Air Force Chaplaincy, 430 ETAF landed a CH-146 Griffon on the parade square of La Citadelle, and gave everyone an experience that they will treasure for years to come. Operationally Relevant Chaplaincy 37 Ministry in the North

Padre Charles Irish, Lieutenant(N) 2nd Canadian Division Support Group Garrison Saint-Jean

In January and June 2014 – the two of the north, their skills and knowledge. poles of the calendar! – I had the Characteristic is their apparent An under-performing opportunity to accompany members ability to fix anything, anywhere. snowmobile was pulled of the Second Canadian Ranger Patrol On patrol, a broken sled, which Group (2 CRPG), as well as Junior I thought would have to be abandoned, apart and reassembled by Rangers, in their training. As 2 CRPG was quickly repaired by means of some freezing fingers, with the chaplain, I wanted not only to support discarded plywood scavenged from aid of a kettle of boiling the staff of the headquarters, located under the snow. An under-performing water to thaw the parts. in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, but to gain snowmobile was pulled apart and first-hand an understanding of the reassembled by freezing fingers, with Rangers’ role, and explore the potential the aid of a kettle of boiling water to for the chaplain’s role within such a thaw the parts. At every stop, a hole geographically challenging unit; 2 CRPG was drilled in the ice and a fishing-line conducts search-and-rescue operations quickly lowered (why live on IMPs?). throughout northern Quebec. On the land, Rangers are at home. This familiarity with their environment For two weeks in January, is the Rangers’ unique contribution to I accompanied 2 CRPG instructors the Canadian Armed Forces. It enables to Kangirsuk for the patrol’s annual their search and rescue capability, training. The plan included First Aid and provides irreplaceable local and search-and-rescue exercises. knowledge to assist CAF operations Through the example of the patrol, in remote areas. I gained a respect for the inhabitants Operationally Relevant Chaplaincy 38 chapel. Months later, a 2 CRPG instructor told me how important this moment of worship had been for some.

For a chaplain assigned to 2 CRPG, the challenge is planning travel for maximum impact, without eclipsing other unit and team responsibilities. Within these windows of opportunity, however, the chaplain can support the Ranger mission not only by being present to members in a counselling role, but also explore means of responding to spiritual needs, and foster community support for the patrol I also gained a perspective on the In June, I spent 8 days at CFB Valcartier, by liaising with local clergy or church potential for a chaplain to contribute participating at the Junior Rangers’ communities. I look forward to future to a community’s spiritual welfare. Camp Okpiapik. In some communities, ministry with the Rangers, getting to In contrast to my usual experience – the Junior Rangers is the only structured know better the people of the north, in which the padre is primarily a first- program for youth, and many are learning how a padre can serve in this line resource in crisis intervention, eventually enrolled as Canadian Rangers context, and growing in my appreciation problem-solving, and emotional support, to continue their proud role in their for what the Rangers can offer the available to all military members communities. Camp Okpiapik offered Canadian Armed Forces. and their families without necessary adventure training, leadership, and reference to spiritual or religious needs sports, and attracted Junior Rangers – my role as a religious representative from all over Quebec’s north. For some I spent 8 days at CFB was also readily acknowledged and it was their first time away from their Valcartier, participating welcomed. Since one of Kangirsuk’s isolated communities, but the Junior at the Junior Rangers’ two churches is Anglican – with no Rangers enjoyed significant support to resident priest – I was able to assist at their wellbeing, of which the presence Camp Okpiapik. In services, with the help of a translator of a chaplain was only one aspect. some communities, the who spoke Innuktituk. I hoped this In addition to 2 CRPG training staff, Junior Rangers is the would benefit not only the Anglican who closely supervised morale and congregation (some of whom were welfare issues in their platoons, only structured program Rangers), but also reinforce ties the Juniors were accompanied by for youth, and many are between the patrol and the community. Rangers from their communities, eventually enrolled as Spirituality was also expressed in other and also had access to “cultural ways. One member told me that he counsellors,” a network of elders Canadian Rangers to couldn’t wait to go “on the land”; when representing the Juniors’ various continue their proud role he is there, he said, he feels “closer to cultural communities. This placed in their communities. God.” This statement resonated with chaplain services within a team me, although I am from a very different context. Again, I found an openness place – BC’s lower mainland, where it to spirituality, and was taken by surprise rains rather than snows – and I reflected by the attendance at my Sunday that, whether we come from below or morning worship. In the few minutes to above the treeline, and whereas there spare before lining up for the buses to are real cultural differences, we still attend their day’s activities, there was a share common experiences. small stampede to attend my makeshift Operationally Relevant Chaplaincy 39 International Chaplain Symposium: RIMPAC 2014

Padre Jeannine Friesen, Lieutenant(N) Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt

It was a sunny July 3rd in Pearl Harbor The motto for RIMPAC is “Capable, He encouraged us to wear this yes face Hawaii, when the RIMPAC (Rim of the Adaptive, Partners”. The symposium but, in the taking care of others, to also Pacific) 2014 Chaplaincy team, some gave the chaplains an opportunity to take care of ourselves. Finally, he left 48 Chaplains and Religious Programming explore our interoperability and to build us with the question; “who is helping Specialists from South Korea, Australia, connections and networks. the helpers?” the USA, and Canada, gathered for a one day Chaplain Symposium focused on Canadian Rear Admiral Gilles Couturier, One of the group asked BGen (Ret) Hirai Religious Area Analysis of the Pacific Rim. Commander Combined Forces Maritime if he could describe a chaplain who Component Command, very graciously was particularly effective. The chaplain RIMPAC is the world’s largest maritime brought greetings to the assembled described was one who did everything exercise, involving twenty-two countries. group as did VAdm Floyd, USN, the troops did, and who spent a lot RIMPAC has been held since 1971 Combined Task Force Commander. of time talking with the soldiers. and Canada has been represented We were also joined by BGen (Ret) This chaplain was someone who looked at every one of the twenty-four Hirai, USA, who spoke to the chaplains at the training and looked at the long bi-annual exercises. Canada sent three about a Commander’s Perspective term health of the organization and Chaplains: LCol Michelle Staples (Royal on Advisement. He talked about the infused into the program the kinds of Canadian Navy Command Chaplain), importance of a chaplain wearing a advice needed to make the training Lt(N) Elisabeth Duggan (supporting the “Yes” face. richer and the members more resilient. Royal Canadian Air Force and Canadian Army assets) and Lt(N) Jeannine Friesen A Yes face is one that stands out in a The table top exercise for the day (supporting Canadian Fleet assets from crowd and is identifiable as the face revolved around a scenario in which aboard HMCS CALGARY). of someone who is willing to help. a multinational force was forming a Operationally Relevant Chaplaincy 40 Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief At the end of the day, the chaplains left mission in response to a natural disaster. having been inspired about what we do, The site of this disaster was in Southeast energized with new ideas and skills to Asia. Three speakers from The Asia- enrich our ministries and having made Pacific Center for Security Studies valuable connections with chaplains spoke to us about the religious make-up from other countries. The RIMPAC of the area. We received an overview Chaplaincy Symposium definitely of the religious landscape in Asia, a assisted us in becoming “Capable, presentation on Islam and Islam in Adaptive, Partners.” South Asia and a discussion on Buddhism in Asia.

The case study involved the highly RIMPAC is the world’s largest maritime exercise, complex situation in Myanmar involving twenty-two countries. RIMPAC has been (Burma) involving conflict between the “Rohingya,” a Muslim group in Burma, held since 1971 and Canada has been represented and the majority Buddhists. Our task at every one of the twenty-four bi-annual was to begin to analyze any religious exercises. Canada sent three Chaplains: influences involved in the conflict, the key contributing factors for the LCol Michelle Staples (Royal Canadian Navy tension between the two groups, and Command Chaplain), Lt(N) Elisabeth Duggan some possible approaches to reduce the tensions between the two through (supporting the Royal Canadian Air Force and Religious Leader engagement. Canadian Army assets) and Lt(N) Jeannine The goal was to help us to build Friesen (supporting Canadian Fleet assets from skills to ask relevant questions when analyzing the religious dynamics within aboard HMCS CALGARY). an area of operations. By engaging in this process we will be better equipped to advise Command. Operationally Relevant Chaplaincy 41 Team Building on a North American Scale: RAW 2014

Padre Mike Adamczyk, Major NORAD/CNOS HQ (North American Aerospace Defense Command/Canadian NORAD Outcan Staff) Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA

RAW! Sounds like a football cheer Through Preparation For Disaster He spoke about the dangers associated in a packed stadium at a BC Lions Response. The objectives were to with being a caregiver. “I don’t worry football game! Not quite but close. build and strengthen relationships that you don’t care enough, I care that RAW is the acronym for Religious across borders (US/Canada/Bahamas), you worry too much,” he said, focusing Affairs Workshop. The NORAD and Commands, Governmental and on the importance of chaplains and USNORTHCOM Command Chaplain’s Nongovernmental Agencies and Civilian chaplain assistants taking care of office (N-NC/HC) holds an annual Faith Based Organizations. To attain themselves as well as the people they training workshop that includes unity of effort through awareness and are helping. “It’s not the amount of Religious Support Teams (RSTs) from understanding of desired end states darkness in the world that matters; NORAD and USNORTHCOM (N-NC) and the operational approach, it’s how you stand in the dark that Components, Regions, Joint Task so that we could tear down the silos matters.” To stand effectively in the Forces (JTFs) and the National Guard. of expertise and blend a bit more darkness you need a plan (we are all Canada has always had a presence and achieve NORAD’s Mission. about plans down here). The plan needs at this workshop, but this year the to include being faithful to mission; Command Chaplain invited a chaplain Conventional thoughts and perspectives faithful to self; faithful to something from the Bahamas. In addition, were challenged through the dynamic greater – God. national, state and local leaders of guest speaker Dr. Robert Wicks, faith-based organizations active in once a Marine Corps officer and now On the second day, a panel of military disaster response were in attendance. a professor at Loyola University in chaplains discussed Resilience Lessons Maryland and author of the books since 9/11. The panel was made up of The theme for this year’s three-day Bounce: Living the Resilient Life and five chaplains (see picture). Chaplain workshop was: Advancing Resilience Perspective: the Calm Within the Storm. COL Graetz from the Army National Operationally Relevant Chaplaincy 42 Guard; Chaplain Col Ofsdahl from border or outside of the borders of and how we provide assistance during the US Air Force; Chaplain CAPT(N) North America! disasters like ice storms and floods. Dunn from the US Navy; Chaplain Maj Both chaplains were well received. Prince Bodie from the Royal Bahamian On the third day of the conference both For the many American National Guard Defense Force (RBDF) and our very Padre Christopher Ryan and Padre chaplains in attendance, it was a own Padre (LCol) Christopher Ryan, Andre Gauthier presented. Padre Ryan unique experience to see, hear (eh?) 1 Canadian Air Division (1CAD). spoke about the RCAF involvement in and talk to real live Canadian chaplains! DSCA, which is an America acronym As each member shared from their for Defense Support of Civil Authorities. Next year’s Religious Affairs Workshop particular silo of expertise about He also spoke to the extent of Canada’s is planned for 13-17 April 2015 in resiliency, we all were able to take away involvement in NORAD Operations. Colorado Springs Colorado with the new and fresh ideas that we could Padre Gauthier was part of a DSCA intent of having Wing Chaplains from use and try in our specific element of Panel and he explained the difference Canada and the US attend. This intent Land, Sea or Air, north or south of the between Canada and the United States will fulfil the NORAD-USNORTHCOM Commander’s top two priorities: First, to expand and strengthen our trusted partnership and second, to advance and sustain the Binational Military Command.

See “y’all” next year!

Left to right: Padre Gauthier, Padre Adamczyk, and Padre Ryan. Operationally Relevant Chaplaincy 43 Nijmegen 2014: A Padre’s Perspective

Padre Stephen Morris, Captain 22 Wing North Bay

This year I had the honour of being it is today; and that the meaning Padre to the CAF Nijmegen contingent, of this sacrifice may not be lost on consisting of approximately 200 a new generation. At Langemark, members from across the country. the German war cemetery, we were It is an annual march held in the graced by the presence of the German Netherlands covering 160km over Nijmegen contingent. In an extremely 4 days, carrying a pack of 20lbs. moving yet unassuming fashion, their You can imagine how physically and commanding officer spoke from the even emotionally intense this would heart about what it meant to have a be, but I would like to focus on why it grandfather in the Nazi army, and how was intense from the perspective of a if anything these services must force Padre; why it was spiritually intense, us reflect on the immense human if you will. cost of war.

I sincerely mean it when I said that it In preparing for Nijmegen, I held close was an honour to be selected; given to my heart a special prayer by the the anniversary of WWI we began our great pastor and civil rights activist Stir in us Lord a spirit trip with a visit to Vimy Ridge, where William Coffin Jr. It served as my I presided at a commemorative service inspiration, and became a motif that of reconciliation and at the foot of that majestic monument. would weave its way into reflections peacemaking... This was followed by subsequent and prayers throughout the march: commemorative services at For now more than ever Langemark (a German war cemetery), Stir in us Lord a spirit of reconciliation Essex Farm (where Flanders Fields and peacemaking... the world is too dangerous was written), Menin Gate, Groesbeek For now more than ever for anything but truth, (Canadian war cemetery), and a small the world is too dangerous for memorial service for a fellow CAF anything but truth, and too small for anything member who lost his great uncle, and too small for anything but love. but love. a RAF member shot down at the end of WWI, which was held at a cemetery This, I felt, captured what became the in Tournai, Belgium. spiritual meaning of these services; honoring the dead and taking from it a The spiritual challenge was always thirst for a peace and justice that will twofold: lifting up in prayer all those give us deep pause before ever going who faced unimaginable horror and down the path to total war. made the ultimate sacrifice that our great country could become what And then it happened. Operationally Relevant Chaplaincy 44 Every morning - sometimes as early as 2 AM to beat the scorching heat of the afternoons - the entire contingent would muster for prayer and begin marching for the day. Here we were at day four, the final day of the march. We were beat up but not broken. Our feet were blistered messes and our bodies ached beyond belief, but we were here to finish. I prepared my morning blessing the night before; Asking the Lord to strengthen our bodies and our resolve; for humidity to be low and morale to be high, that we may finish the march unified in spirit and physically whole. Padre Morris receives the Outstanding Support Award from BGen Pelletier. Then in the middle of ablutions, around 1:45 AM, I heard BGen Rather than scrambling to create a in the International Beer Tent – had Pelletier shout out “PADRE!” I ran prayer in a moment of panic, I knew their ablutions interrupted by the same over to his mod and received a hasty the Spirit had already given us the little sad news, as they prepared to march briefing: A passenger jet carrying prayer that would continue to guide out with us for the day in a spirit of 154 Dutch nationals had been shot and sustain us. The world was indeed fellowship and solidarity. As it is said, down overnight. Security was on high too dangerous for anything but truth, the moral arc of the universe is long, alert, as the meaning and scope of and too small for anything but love. but bends towards justice indeed. this event was undetermined but it The tragedy of Malaysia Air MH-17, was clear that Russia was somehow with 298 lost souls from 10 countries involved. For us, it meant finishing the attested to this. march amidst a nation in mourning. No songs were to be sung. No flags Our only consolation was barely were to be flown. Padre,“ I want you intelligible but in the long view of to capture this in your prayers this history quite profound; for in the next morning.” And at this point we had tent over the German contingent — about half an hour before mustering– just as groggy from sharing beers and and I had yet to get ready myself. stories with us from the night before

I knew the Spirit had already given us the little prayer that would continue to guide and sustain us. The world was indeed too dangerous for anything but truth, and too small for anything but love. Operationally Relevant Chaplaincy 45 InMemorium_Layout 1 2014-10-28 1:03 PM Page 1

IN MEMORIAM THE CHAPLAIN GENERAL REGRETS TO ANNOUNCE THE DEATH OF THE FOLLOWING CHAPLAINS: Padre [Maj (Ret’d)] Earle G. Leslie Died 17 January 2014 PadrePadre (Ret’d)[Maj (R Paulet'd)] Norman Earle G. ScruttonLeslie DieDiedd 17 12Jan Apriluary 20142014 PadrePadre [Maj(Ret’ d(Ret’d)]) Paul N Robertorman (Bob) Scru tGagnonton DDiedied 1 282 A Junepril 20142014 PadrePadre [BGen[Maj (R (Ret’d)]et'd)] R oMurraybert (B oFarwellb) Gagnon DiDieded 2 8 7 JJulyune 20142014 PadrePadre (Ret’d)[BGen (WilliamRet’d)] M (Bill)urra Nugenty Farwell DiedD 23ie dAugust7 July 20142014 PadrePadre [Maj(Ret' d(Ret’d)]) Willia mWilliam (Bill) NGaryuge nDobinsont DiedD i 16ed September23 August 20142014 PadrePadre [Maj[Maj (Ret’d)](Ret'd)] WWayneilliam Maddock. Gary Dobinson DDiedied 1 176 SSeptembereptember 20142014 Padre [Maj (Ret'd)] Wayne Maddock. Died 17 September 2014