3 Reasons I Promote Reserve Military Chaplaincy

There are people who are full-time military chaplains in the regular forces and I’m so thankful for my colleagues in that role. But I must admit that I have a soft spot for the reserves, for those who have full-time jobs in the church or elsewhere and who support a unit weekly and monthly.

I am heavily involved in recruiting, especially when it comes to the reserves. I am a pastor at a church and I am a chaplain in the army reserves. I recruit, not just because I’m expected to, but because I believe in it.

When I talk to pastors and those with pastoral training about considering the reserves, it comes naturally to me because I truly believe it is best for all involved.

As I share why I promote military chaplaincy, please note that my context is the Canadian Armed Forces and I am not familiar with how military chaplaincy works in other countries.

It is Good For the Military

One of the main reasons I promote reserve military chaplaincy is because the men and women in the military, especially in the reserves, need it. People from the Commanding Officer (CO) to the newly recruited private can benefit from a chaplain.

It should be noted that our value is not so much as religious leaders but as trusted professionals who can help people through difficult times. That is not to say that there is no place for religious duties, as there is, but mental health is our focus.

This might surprise people because many clergy are not trained specialists in mental health and definitely not psychotherapists. That is part of the value of the chaplain. We are more approachable than some other professions and we can be the connection that might lead to those other services. Or we might be enough.

It is Good For the Church

How can reserve military chaplaincy be good for the church? Isn’t it a distraction from other congregational duties? That’s a good question.

One way that reserve chaplaincy is good for the church is that some pastors are naturally drawn to military chaplaincy. Doing this in the context of the reserves rather than the regular force allows an option for the interested pastor to remain in their congregation.

Another way it is good for the church is that the military provides extensive training, much of it directly applicable to pastoral ministry and leadership. I tell churches that allowing their pastors to join the reserves will result in better trained pastors that they will be blessed by.

One more benefit, especially for smaller churches, is that reserve military chaplaincy provides financially for pastors who might be at churches that struggle to provide a full-time salary. Offering time to serve in the military to their pastor can relieve some of the financial pressure they feel.

It is Good For the Pastor

I have already mentioned that military chaplaincy includes extensive training in a wide range of topics. This benefits the church but it also benefits the pastor. The military promotes and even insists on lifelong learning.

There is also a physical element to the military that the pastor might be missing in the congregational ministry. You get to do things that you would not normally do, things that are fun, but also promote fitness. Military chaplaincy may lead to better health.

There is also a special bond among chaplains. It creates a community and adds an extra level of emotional spiritual support that the pastor might not normally experience.

I enjoy military chaplaincy and there are parts that I would do even if I wasn’t paid. But chaplains are paid! Of course ministry isn’t (or shouldn’t be) about the money but raising a family and surviving in this economy takes money. The extra money that chaplaincy brings can be a welcome blessing.

I think that reserve military chaplaincy is a good thing. It is good for the military, it is good for the church, and it is good for the pastor.