Gregory Matthews' Retirement

[Gregory Matthews]

On February 28, 2013, I retired as a chaplain with 20 years of service at the Denver VA Hospital. I will be posting information in this thread about that.

All in all, the theme of my retirement celebration was: 50 years of service for God & Country as I first began my Federal service in 1963.

[Gregory Matthews]

This document is one of two that were printed and given out to those who attended my retirement celebration.

Quote:

Fifty Years of Service.

It was a June day in 1963. T. Gregory Matthews had graduated from college the day before and today he was in the local office of his Draft Board waiving his to exemption from the Draft due to his enrollment in a Seminary and requesting immediate induction into the U.S. Army. Matthews believed that as a future congregational pastor he would be dealing with families who had sons and daughters in active military service and he felt that he could best relate to those families if he had spent time in the Army as an enlisted person.

One month after graduating from college he was wearing an Army uniform and on his way to Ft. Sam Huston for training as an enlisted medic.

Matthews twenty years of active military service, with additional time in the Reserves, was unique in that for that entire period of time, both as an enlisted person and as a Commissioned Officer, he was formally registered as a Conscientious Objector, but one who was willing to serve his country. This commitment to service was in the spirit of Desmond T. Doss, who as a conscientious objector, in 1945 was the first CO to receive the Medal of Honor.

After training as a medic, Matthews was assigned to Ft. Benning and the 11th Air Assault Division (Test). Its function was to develop the Air Mobility concept and in 1965 it became the 1st Air Cavalry Division in Viet Nam.

The next few years, after his release from enlisted service, were spent as a Seminary student, becoming a congregational pastor in Virginia and being commissioned as a Staff Specialist in the U.S. Army. Later he transferred to the Chaplain Corps and became the first Seventh-day Adventist to serve as a chaplain in any National Guard unit.

During this period of time he served with the Washington D.C. Army National Guard and with the 359th Transportation Battalion, a Reserve unit at Ft. Eustis, Virginia. In 1975 he was given the opportunity to re-enter the Army as a Chaplain which he accepted.

His service as a chaplain has included: service in Korea (35 months), Panama and the invasion of Grenada in 1983. His most enjoyable unit assignment was as the Brigade Chaplain for the 16th Military Police Brigade at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina. Other unit assignments included the Artillery (3 times), Infantry, and Engineers. He also had a chapel in Seoul, Korea.

His most rewarding assignment was as a member of the teaching faculty of the U.S. Army Chaplain School, where he mentored hundreds of students as to how to remain faithful to denominational tenants within the pluralistic organization of the Army Chaplaincy. Prior to this assignment he was a graduate student at Chapman University where he earned a Master of Arts degree in Counseling Psychology.

By the end of his active service in the Army he had been awarded the Legion of Merit and the Meritorious Service Medal twice. Upon retirement he became employed as a V.A. Chaplain. He feels especially rewarded for his service to surgical families and to employees under the auspices of the American Federation of Government Employees.

[Gregory Matthews]

This document explains what Federal (in the United States) chaplains do.

Quote:

Federal Chaplaincies and the First Amendment:

Federal Chaplains have a unique relationship to the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution which in one clause prohibits the establishment of religion and in another clause guaranties the free exercise of religion. The establishment clause prohibits the government from setting into effect a religious organization which would provide clergy to the government. Thus, the government is dependent upon the various religious denominations to supply it with needed clergy. The free exercise clause requires that a government which takes its citizens into environments where they cannot receive religious nurture and counseling must make some effort to provide for their free exercise. IOW, there is, contrary to the understanding of some, a Constitutional requirement for government chaplains provided by the various denominations.

The consequences of these two parts to the First Amendment are that: 1)The government cannot hire Federal chaplains without the permission of their respective denominations. 2) Federal chaplains can only remain employed with the permission of their respective denominations. 3) Individual chaplains must operate in a pluralistic environment while maintaining the tenets of their denomination. In order to perform this function, the various denominations have established Endorsing Agencies which certify chaplains for employment and, when required, withdraw endorsement which terminates the employment of the chaplain. This is true for all Federal chaplains.

As the U.S. Military is one of the oldest of the government agencies, it has the most developed chaplaincy. In the early days of the Army chaplaincy, their chaplains were often used as education officers to teach basic educational skills to soldiers who needed that type of training. They were also commonly used to provide recreational services to the soldiers. That became an area of concern to the denominations and some were adamant that Federal chaplaincies should not exist and that they would not provide such. This issue became more settled as Congress became involved. Chaplain duties were more clearly restricted to pastoral care, within the context that the various denominations have some differing ideas as to what is appropriate pastoral care and the Army came to require that chaplains be supervised by other chaplains, in a dual relationship with the Commander. This is just common sense as a person not endorsed by a religious denomination should not be telling a clergyperson how to perform their pastoral services. So, while we chaplains are protected by this and cannot be required to violate denominational and personal tenets, we can be required to support others in their practices by coordinating them with pastoral care providers who can meet their sincere needs.

This pastoral role for Federal chaplains has another aspect. We exist to protect vulnerable people from unwanted attempts to convert to other faiths and beliefs. People have a right not only to choose to believe and practice a set of religious beliefs, but they also have a right not to believe and practice. Federal chaplains also serve as the guardian of the rights of those people.

Speaking personally, I, Gregory Matthews, am very thankful for the opportunity to have served for 50 years both the United States of America, my Seventh-day Adventist denomination and those who have served in combat as well as times of peace. I have been blessed by this service and by those within and outside my denomination as well as those with whom I have worked

[Gregory Matthews]

This space is reserved for posting a photo that was printed on the cover of the document given to people at my retirement celebration. If I cannot post it here, Gail may be able to do so.

I do not seem to be able to post the photo here. Gail has a copy, perhaps she can post it.

[Kevin H]

Thank you for your service. What years were you at USACH? I studied there to be a chaplain assistant in 1985.

[Gregory Matthews]

As I remember, I came to the Chaplain School in 1987. So, I must have come after you were there.

I never taught any of the Chaplain Assistant courses. But, I did write some of them for others to teach.

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

On February 28, 2013, I retired as a chaplain with 20 years of service at the Denver VA Hospital. I will be posting information in this thread about that.

All in all, the theme of my retirement celebration was: 50 years of service for God & Country as I first began my Federal service in 1963.

so, what sorts of mischief have you been up to since your retirement??

[Kevin H]

Probably gone for more than a month without a hair cut, maybe even a day of not shaving or actually shaving the night before instead of first thing in the morning. Once we are free from the restraints of government service we go wild!!!

[Gregory Matthews]

What have I been doing?

1) I have a lot to do in transferring my office stuff to our home. Getting it all organized in our home. Throwing away stuff that I no longer need. Etc.

2) Preparing for probable eye surgery, today--the third on that eye since January 2012--retina, cataract and probably today, laser.

3) Getting used to a new vehicle, factory built to our specifications, that we purchased a week before I retired. We decided that I needed a vehicle with the new (2014) safety features that are available--blind spot, forward collision, lane change, etc.

4) More, but this is a start.

By the way, for your interest: The Federal government does much of its retirement calculations by hand and does not have the computer programs needed to calculate retirement pay. So, retires are informed that if they make it easy by retiring on the last day of the month, they will have to wait 6 - 8 weeks before they begin to receive their retirement pay.

NOTE: If they do not make it easy for the government by retiring on the last day of the month, they will only begin to earn retirement pay beginning on the 1st day of the month following their retirement. So, in the end, it is the same.

We shall see when I begin to receive my retirement pay. I am not 100 % confident about the 6 - 8 week wait.

[Gregory Matthews]

Quote:

. . . maybe even a day of not shaving . . .

I worked a flexible schedule. So, I often did that.

However, the problem was: Often, my wife would be the only one who noticed. :)

[Naomi]

It does sound as though you have been busy since your retirement. To keep busy moving forward is, as you know, a very good thing. Enjoy your new vehicle ... did you manage to have it equipped with an auto pilot?

Thank you for your many years of service to our country and to the men and women who served in so many varied arenas. Your performance was on the front line of "Being our brother's keeper"

Blessings

[phkrause]

Sounds like your doing what my wife and I had planned when we retired. We were hoping to traveling in an RV around the Country. Maybe even go on a few missionary trips. But God had new plans for us. We are now raising our grandchildren, at least for the moment.

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

cool about the vehicle with the new safety features! I've seen some videos showing the specializations. Do they really work as well as the manufacturers have indicated?

[Gregory Matthews]

There are some differences among the various makes. But, they do pretty well.

I had the eye surgery today and I am doing fine. The expectation is that there will be some improvement, but probably not a lot. I will be examined next month. The expectation is that they will make some minor changes in my glasses.

[Aliensanctuary]

I wonder if chaplains have more impact on lives than preachers. I don't think I've ever seen a wild-eyed chaplain foaming at the mouth, gesticulating erratically, and smashing pulpits into kindling wood.

[Gregory Matthews]

Naomi said:

Quote:

. . . did you manage to have it equipped with an auto pilot? :)

This is the direction that it is going.

The new safety features that are on some of the 2014s are all required for self driving cars.

The next step, which is being tested now, if cars that talk to each other. IOW, if I am approaching another vehicle in an unsafe manner, my car communicates that to the other vehicle. Then, each vehicle takes a coordinated evasive action.

Also being tested are vehicles that take you from point A to point B by programed GPS instructions.

[M. T. Cross]

Congrats Mr. Matthews. Thank you for providing your services to the brave men and women of the Armed Forces. Sometime - when you have time- I have some questions for you about your Chaplain duties.

[Gregory Matthews]

I expected that you would have some questions.

Feel free to send me an e-mail.

On an assumption of what you might have as questions, let me make a public response for the benefit of everyone:

1) Federal chaplains exist to facilate the free exercise of sincere beliefs. They are not required to provide.

IOW, I am not required to hear the confession of a Roman Catholic. I am required to arrange, if possible, for a RC priest to visit that person. Once that visit has been made, it is between the priest and the person.

2) A Federal chaplain will likely be named as the coordinator who assists a congregation that has been given permission t provide services. That chaplain is the coordinator, but is not in charge of the service.

Some years back a Wiccan group was given permission to hold services at Ft. Hood, Texas. A SDA Army chaplain became the coordinator for that group. It was his responsibility to assist them in their needs, but he was not in charge of their service. NOTE: Yes, as their coordinator, he made certain that the agreement was carried out by both sides.

3) The purpose of allowing an outside group to provide a service is to meet the sincere needs of people already established in that faith. It is not to convert people to that faith. The Wiccan group at Ft. Hood showed that there was a group of people present at Ft. Hood who desired that service. If they had not been able to demonstrate that there was already a group present, they would have been denied permission.

4) In order for a group to be given permission to hold a service, they will likely be required to demonstrate that they are authorized to represent that group.

I have been involved with those who were not willing to demonstrate that they had a group of people who wanted their service. In such cases I informed them that they should obtain a meeting place off the property.

For several years I had a man who requested to provide services to Latter-day Saints (Mormans). He was refused every time due to the fact that the LDS Church clearly told us that he did not have their permission to represent them. Instead they provided us with authorized representatives.

NOTE: The Federal government has a formal listing of religious group who have asked to register as being the approving authority of people who want to represent them. For the SDA Church, it is Adventist Chaplaincy Ministries. There are non-Christian groups on that list.

MT, this should likely be a start.

[Gregory Matthews]

Yes, MT, while the above post is as it should be, it is not always as it is.

When I was on the teaching faculty of the U.S. Army Chaplain School I would sometimes respond to student questions by saying: You have a right to your desire to practice chaplaincy in that manner. But, that is not how it is. If that is what you want to do, you need to reconsider whether or not you should be an Army chaplain. This is not the place for you to be if you want to practice in that manner.

I still maintain contacts within the Chaplaincy--both military and Federal civilian. The individual chaplaincies are having to deal with people who seek to enter with the goal to convert.

The goal is to allow sincere people to practice their beliefs. It is not to convert.

[Gregory Matthews]

MT, let me continue this:

Let me say that you were to come to me as an Army chaplain and ask to do a service for Satanists. That is the "red herring" that people often ask. You would tell me that you were a member of the First Church of Satan, founded by Anton LaVey and you followed the teachings of THE SATANIC BIBLE and you had a group of fellow member who wanted a service.

I would immediately know that you were not being truthful to me. I would deny your request on the basis that you did not meet the requirements.

NOTE: I have been in this position.

[Gail]

Fascinating!

[M. T. Cross]

You actually have answered a great deal of my questions.

I ask mostly because I know of a number of Asatru members of the Armed Forces in the States that have had trouble with getting what they needed. It chafes them a fair bit because Wiccans have managed to get their needs met.

Curious though about the Satanist thing - The Church of Satan was founded by Anton LaVey, is based on the teachings of the Satanic Bible. It has members, so why would you know the person was lying?

[Gregory Matthews]

1) I can excuse your question about Satanists due to the fact that you are a pagan and pagans may not be Satanists. :0

The First Church of Satan believes that it should not reveal membership to others. Therefore, it would refuse to document that there was a group of people who needed such services.

If you claimed to represent them, and agreed to document, I would know that you were not authorized to do so.

The Wiccans at Ft. Hood were willing to provide that documentation.

2) One of the rules requires that a group requesting services on a military base will have such services open to anyone who wants to attend. Of course, they cannot disrupt such services. People such as Wiccans are willing to agree. Satanists are not so willing.

Case in point: On the Sundays that I worked (here at the VA hospital), I was responsible for supporting the Roman Catholic priest who came to celebrate the Mass. I sometimes attended his services. He could not tell me not to attend. Yes, he could refuse to give me the consecrated elements as that was his right. No, I did not seek to receive them. But, while he could have refused me those, I had a right to attend.

[Gregory Matthews]

MT, here is the bottom line: As a Federal Chaplain, I was expected to know something about the beliefs and practices of other religious groups.

Certainly, I spent more time learning about those groups which whom I had to deal with on a regular basis.

So, as to the Roman Catholic Church:

1) I kept in my library the Priests Manual that governed the practices of Roman Catholic Federal Chaplains and I kept an updated version. How did I get it? Easy. The division of the RC Church that governs the practices of priests authorized to work as Federal Chaplains maintains a current, updated Priests Manual on the Internet.

2) I have in my library a book of Canon Law for Roman Catholic priests which governs how they do their ministry.

3) I maintained a relationship with our contract clergy whereby I could contact them and ask them for clarification as to a point of belief or practice.

As to the Roman Catholics, that came to the point where the priest would ask me what I thought, because as he said, I was typically asking him questions on which I already knew the answer. My response was that yes, I thought I knew the answer, but I wanted him to verify it. Sometimes he would modify my understanding.

4) I would often read a RC publication, St. Anthoney's Messenger. It had a priest who would respond to questions from church members about their faith. I learned from reading his responses that some of what I considered to be RC Doctrine was not obligatory.

[M. T. Cross]

1) I can excuse your question about Satanists due to the fact that you are a pagan and pagans may not be Satanists. :0

The First Church of Satan believes that it should not reveal membership to others. Therefore, it would refuse to document that there was a group of people who needed such services.

If you claimed to represent them, and agreed to document, I would know that you were not authorized to do so.

The Wiccans at Ft. Hood were willing to provide that documentation.

2) One of the rules requires that a group requesting services on a military base will have such services open to anyone who wants to attend. Of course, they cannot disrupt such services. People such as Wiccans are willing to agree. Satanists are not so willing.

Case in point: On the Sundays that I worked (here at the VA hospital), I was responsible for supporting the Roman Catholic priest who came to celebrate the Mass. I sometimes attended his services. He could not tell me not to attend. Yes, he could refuse to give me the consecrated elements as that was his right. No, I did not seek to receive them. But, while he could have refused me those, I had a right to attend.

That makes sense, and thank you, I really know very little about Satanic worship other than the basic surface stuff one can really easily find. It has certainly never been in the top one million things I was interested in delving into and becoming a part of.