Unusual Military Chaplain

[Gregory Matthews]

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/nri/c...ow/29666605.cms

[Gregory Matthews]

Most SDAs will probably not realize that the legal principle that placed her in a military chaplain position is the same principle that palaces SDAs into military chaplain positions.

There was a time when SDAs either were not accepted or would not have been accepted if they had applied into Federal chaplaincies.

Three SDAs set the standard for the entry Adventists into the active military forces.

One, Bob Mole then set the standard for the entry of SDAs into the VA.

I was the first SDA chaplain in any National Guard unit. That was a very short period of time.

I was probably the 1st SDA to serve on the teaching faculty of the U. S. Army Chaplain School.

[Gregory Matthews]

Quote:

Three SDAs set the standard for the entry Adventists into the active military forces.

There is a story behind this which cannot be told in this short space. But, I will make a couple of short statements.

At the time that those three became active duty military chaplains, the SDA Church had a firmly written policy that prohibited its clergy from becoming Federal chaplains.

A group of three senior chaplains requested a meeting with denominational leadership. They informed the church that in the interests of diversity, they wanted to have SDA Chaplains serving on active duty. They also mentioned that they believed that if the church had previously sent its clergy into the military there would not have been so many SDAs serving prison sentences for issues that arose from their conscientious beliefs. This was at the end of WWII.

As a result, the denomination changed its policy to read that while it would not recommend that its clergy become military chaplains, it would allow them to do so. This was due to the fact that the military would not accept any clergy person as a chaplain unless that person was "endorsed" by their denomination.

Bob Mole requested to become a U.S. Navy chaplain. In the endorsement packet that the denomination sent to the Navy, was a statement to the effect that the denomination did not want him to stay beyond his first 3 years and to effect this the church requested that Mole be given such assignments that would result in his leaving the Navy at the end of his 3-year period.

Mole stayed to retirement and then became a VA Chaplain.

As a point of interest, Mole had at one time been a missionary in Lebanon.

[Kevin H]

Thank you Gregory. Where can I learn more about this history?

[Kevin H]

I just read the original post here and that was also a very impressive article about an impressive person. Prayers for her and her ministry.

[Gregory Matthews]

 The history of the Adventist military chaplaincy is not readily available.

Bob Mole wrote a three volume set entitled: HE CALLED SOME TO BE CHAPLAINS: A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHRUCH AND ITS CHAPLAINCIES IN THE MILITARY, VETERANS ADMINISTRATION, CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES AND IN NON-ADVENTIST OPERATED INSTITUTIONS.

Volume I was published by the General Conference in 1982 and consists of 372 pages. Its subtitle is: The genesis of the Adventist chaplaincy.

Volume II was subtitled: AN EXPANDING VISION, consists of 184 pages and was published in 1982 by the General Conference.

Volume III is subtitled: REACHING TOWARD A BRIGHTER TOMORROW. It consists of 210 pages and was published by the General Conference in 1990.

These three books are based on an earlier book, also by Bob Mole and published in in 1977 titled: GOD ALSO LOVES MILITARY PEOPOLE.

Prior to 1977, both Bob Mole and I wrote some short works in an academic setting. and are probably not available.