December 7, 2024 • 44 mins
Welcome to the Diocese of the Rio Grande's weekly update for the second week of Advent 2024. In this episode, we provide key announcements including the upcoming open house at Bishop's Ridge and guidance on subscribing to the diocesan newsletter. The highlight is an insightful interview with Bishop Anne Ritonia, the Episcopal Bishop for the Armed Forces and Federal Ministries, and U.S. Navy Chaplain Jamal Scarlett. They discuss the role and significance of military chaplaincy, the responsibilities and challenges faced by chaplains, and how local churches can support military personnel and their families. Tune in to learn more about the profound impact of chaplaincy and community support.
00:00 Welcome and Weekly Announcements 00:39 Introduction to Military Chaplaincy 01:10 Upcoming Events and Email Updates 02:08 Interview with Bishop Anne Ritonia and Chaplain Jamal Scarlett 02:30 Bishop Anne Ritonia on Military Chaplaincy 05:37 Chaplain Jamal Scarlett's Journey and Role 10:34 Daily Life and Challenges of a Navy Chaplain 25:17 Supporting Military Personnel and Families 28:32 Connecting Local Churches with Military Communities 39:06 Gratitude and Reflections 43:59 Closing Remarks and Blessings
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:20):
Hello there, Diocese of the Rio Grande, and welcome to this, your weekly update for the second week of Advent, 2024.
.999In this weekly update, I want to offer you a couple of quick announcements, and then we're going to dive right into an interview about military chaplaincy in the Diocese of the Rio Grande.
The reason we're talking about military chaplaincy this week is because of course, our saint, the blessed Ted Howden, who was a military chaplain and gave up his food and his life serving others during the baton death march in World War II, Ted Howden.
(00:59):
Our saint, his saint's day is coming up this Wednesday.
I want to make sure you are all observing that.
And I want you to know more about what it is to be a military chaplain.
.999Before we jump into that interview, a couple of quick announcements. 8 00:01:14,114.999 --> 00:01:18,775 The first one is December 15th is our open house at Bishop's Ridge.
Bishop's Ridge, of course, is our camp just outside of Santa Fe.
(01:24):
.999And every year, uh, during the holiday time, during Advent, we have an open house.
We'd love for you to come up in the afternoon there, enjoy some food, listen to some good bluegrass music, and get to know the place. 12 00:01:37,679.999 --> 00:01:52,385 I also want to make sure that all of you know that you can get a weekly email from the diocesan office that has details of all kinds of helpful news and information that you need to know as a member of the Diocese of the Rio Grande. 13 00:01:53,44.999 --> 00:01:59,195 If you're not already on that weekly email list, just give the Diocesan office a call.
(01:59):
Ask for Annette and Annette will get you on that mailing list so you don't miss any of the important things that are happening in the Diocese of the Rio Grande.
And now on to the interview.
My friends, I give you Bishop Anne Ratonia, the Episcopal Bishop for the Armed Forces and Federal Ministries.
And chaplain from the U.
S.
Navy, Jamal Scarlett.
(02:27):
Well, good afternoon.
Diocese of the Rio Grande.
My name is Anne Rotonia and I'm the Bishop of the Armed Forces and Federal Ministries of the Episcopal Church.
So my responsibilities are to provide care and nurture to our military chaplains, our VA chaplains, our.
Bureau of prison chaplains, as well as recruit chaplain candidates, uh, chaplains from other denominations that may already be serving in the military and would like to become part of the Episcopal church, as well as I go to colleges and I talked to college students and Canterbury clubs about, uh, potential vocations to the priesthood.
(03:10):
And, um, I want to.
Also thank all of you in the Diocese of Rio Grande for the work that you do in helping form priests for the Episcopal Church.
.999Um, you're a really important partner for us and, uh, we couldn't do the work that we do without you.
You may not be aware of it, but Ken and Michael, Michael Perko, um, helps with the formation of our chaplains that are coming from other denominations and your commission on ministry Guides them through the process.
(03:41):
And the partnership that I have with Bishop Michael Han is one that is just invaluable for us.
He has been so supportive of our ministry.
And, um, he is the, uh, canonically, um, designated jurisdiction for all of our, uh, military chaplains that are coming over from other denominations.
(04:01):
So I'm just so grateful for the partnership that we share.
Some of the wonderful things about my work is I get to travel all around the world and meet with our chaplains, see what they need in regards to pastoral support, spiritual support. 34 00:04:18,349.999 --> 00:04:25,830.001 Um, and I get to meet their families and talk to commanders to get a pulse on what's going on around the world.
(04:25):
And, um, it is really a privilege, uh, to be able to do that.
Additionally, I visit our prison chaplains, and I'm able to talk to adults that are in custody about the importance of faith in their journey and how it is turning around their lives.
And then I get to work with veterans.
Both, uh, our, uh, Veterans Administration Hospital, Hospitals, the chaplains that serve there, but also I work with individually with veterans as well.
(04:53):
Um, and, uh, also serve at the National Cathedral.
Uh, when I'm in town, most of my work is done on the road and it is just a joy, um, to be able to participate in this kind of work.
Well, today I have with me, um, chaplain Jamal Scarlet, who is a Navy chaplain.
You can see he's in uniform today and he is got all of his ribbons on.
(05:15):
I see that meritorious service medal ribbon, Jamal, excellent.
Um, and I'm going to let Jamal, uh, introduce himself and then, uh, I've got some questions that I'll ask Jamal and, uh, we're going to record this so you'll be getting it.
And if you have any questions, I want you to know that you can always reach out to our office at Armed Forces and Federal Ministries.
(05:37):
So Jamal, why don't you introduce yourself? Well, wonderful.
Well, thank you so much.
Your grace.
I certainly appreciate it.
Thank you for the time on the opportunity to speak to the Diocese of the Rio Grande.
My name is Jamal Scarlett, and I have had the privilege of serving as a United States Navy chaplain, particularly an Episcopal chaplain since 2022.
(06:02):
Uh, so very grateful for the work that has been done in the Diocese of the Rio Grande.
Uh, and as Bishop, uh, said that many of us who were coming from different denominations into the Episcopal Church came through the chaplain transition process where Ken and Perko spent many hours with us.
(06:23):
And so, um, and so very grateful for the work that, um, that he does.
And then also some, some of the work that they did with the.
The commission on the ministry of the baptized and any number of people that played a significant part in, um, in bringing me into, um, the household of faith, uh, here in the Episcopal church.
(06:44):
And so, so very grateful to be with you.
Uh, just a few things about myself. 59 00:06:49,669.999 --> 00:06:55,140 Uh, I am a first generation, um, American where, where my.
father and my mother are from the country of Panama.
Uh, and so they came to, uh, to Panama by way of, uh, the United States Navy.
(07:05):
And so both of them served as, uh, as Navy enlisted sailors for six and eight years.
And we ended up in San Diego, California.
.999So, um, very, if I were going to pick a service, it was very, it was determined before, before time began that I was going to be in the Navy.
(07:26):
And so, um, you know, my, my call and vocation to the Navy really comes out of A real desire to serve my country, uh, coupled with a commitment to serve God, uh, to serve all people, and to be able to make those two things, um, work, um, just worked.
I mean, it, it was, it was a wonderful opportunity.
(07:48):
And with the help of, uh, the COMB, as well as many ministers and prayer warriors and intercessors, um, here I am today.
So very grateful for that.
I'm also the husband of one wonderful wife.
Her name is Janice Scarlett.
And so we have been married for 22 years.
(08:09):
And we have relations.
Thank you.
.999Thank you very much.
We have four kids.
Currently worship at the, um, at, sorry, St.
.001Michael's by the Sea in Carlsbad, and, uh, and so we are here in San Diego, California, uh, where I also serve, uh, active duty wise as a chaplain for, uh, for 1st Marine Division. 78 00:08:32,174.999 --> 00:08:35,955 Uh, I'm currently serving as 11th Marines Regimental Chaplain.
(08:36):
So sort of overseeing 3, 400 marine sailors and their families and providing religious ministries to them.
.999So it's a tremendous opportunity and I'm very grateful for it.
Excellent.
So what is the average age of the folks that you, um, uh, supervise and care for? It's a, it's a great question.
(08:58):
.9Uh, the average age is anywhere between 18 and 25.
The lion's share of Marines, I would say, I believe that the number is close to like 70%, are within that age. 85 00:09:12,44.999 --> 00:09:22,765 They're very young, they're just coming out of high school, they may have done a year or two, or have completed college degrees, and then they come into the Marine Corps.
(09:22):
And so, these are young folks who are hungry, they love their country, Uh, and they want to do, um, some sort of service and they found themselves in the Marine Corps.
.9And so, um, so about 18 to 25 is, is the answer to that.
So Navy chaplains don't just serve in the Navy.
So where else do they serve? Uh, besides the Marine Corps? It's a good question.
(09:47):
Yes.
So the Navy chaplains serve.
Yes.
As we said, the Marine Corps with the Marine Corps, but also with the Coast Guard as well. 94 00:09:55,364.999 --> 00:09:59,355 Uh, and so, uh, I had the privilege of serving, uh, U.
S.
Coast Guard District 8 in St.
.999Louis, Missouri from, uh, 2019 to 2022, uh, where we did a lot of hurricane response.
(10:08):
And, um, and so it was a wonderful opportunity, um, if you are thinking about Navy chaplaincy, please come and talk to me.
It's a great, great place to be.
Um, but we pretty much, uh, oversee the ministry for all three sea services.
Uh, and so it's a tremendous obligation, tremendous responsibility, um, and one that I'm very proud to be a part of.
(10:33):
So what? Um, I'm curious.
What's the, uh, an average day look like for a chaplain? Well, that I tell you what that varies. 104 00:10:42,254.999 --> 00:10:46,365 Um, I can tell you, uh, it's not static.
There is there is always something to do. 106 00:10:49,964.999 --> 00:10:52,154.999 I can sort of I can give you an example. 107 00:10:52,154.999 --> 00:10:52,864.999 Yesterday.
Um, I was in the office, um, doing some admin work.
(10:57):
So I probably do about maybe 11 hour, 1 to 2 hours worth of admin, but very quickly, um, We had an accident at one of the ranges and, um, sadly, one of our, uh, our Marines, um, passed away, uh, and so went into emergency sort of first responder mode, uh, responding to both the death, but also to those who witnessed it, um, and doing some counseling on the ground.
(11:28):
Um, the same time that the later that afternoon, uh, attended a celebration of life, a memorial service for an eight year old child, uh, who had passed away, um, after an accident right down the street.
Um, and so with 200 other, um, Marines and their families, uh, just, um, paying tribute and saying, um, Thanking God for his life.
(11:55):
And I'm just really saddened by what would have transpired there.
.999Um, and follow that by a regimental run in, you know, in honor of, of the Marine Corps birthday, which is happening on Monday.
Right.
And so there's so it's so it's things are constantly moving.
(12:16):
And there's, there's, um, I suppose there's a wealth of opportunity to be able to minister in the hard places.
Right.
The places, um, where it matters, um, when it matters.
And most importantly, with what matters.
.999And so, um, so that could be that's that was just yesterday, but it's it could be anything on any given day.
(12:42):
.999Really? It's it's an opportunity to, like I said, minister in the hard places.
Jamal, I'm so grateful that you were there for your Marines and for their families yesterday.
Yeah.
.9995It's just remarkable the impact that, um, a chaplain can have, uh, not only in a unit, but for the community at large. 125 00:13:01,64.9995 --> 00:13:02,704.999 So thank you.
(13:02):
.999Um, I know those days are challenging.
Yeah.
So where do you find joy in your ministry? Oh, there is, there is joy.
You know, it's, it's, and this is a good question because I think, you know, somebody asked me the other day, um, you know, like you've been doing this for about a decade, you know, um, do you, you get tired of it and what are you, you know, what do you like about your job? And, and very easily I just, my response every time I get asked that question is one, I wake up every morning saying, Thank God I get to do this.
(13:40):
.999Um, and so there is a, there is, there is just this fire because I'm meeting new people.
Uh, we're engaging, um, in, in issues, um, of real life.
Um, Marines are not, uh, passive. 133 00:13:56,159.999 --> 00:13:59,660 Uh, they will tell you exactly how they feel right there.
(14:01):
I know that well.
So we, we, uh, you know, you really have a chance to really get to the heart of something very quickly, um, which, which is also a blessing.
Um, but at the same time, um, there are a couple other things, you know, the joys for me, especially as meeting new people, of course, um, but also say traveling and living in different parts of the world, right, experiencing different cultures. 137 00:14:31,55.1 --> 00:14:32,875 Here is, um, my last tour.
(14:32):
It took me to Italy.
Spain, France, Bahrain, Japan, Costa Rica, Colombia, and then all parts of the contiguous and non contiguous United States. 140 00:14:47,439.999 --> 00:15:00,510 Right, so all, so everywhere, um, and I know I'm, I'm missing a few, but being able to travel, um, and to experience, uh, other, other people's cultures, um, and then at the same time.
(15:01):
.999You know, being able to see the church in those places in its beauty, uh, in its diversity, uh, and then also being able to play a part sometimes or oftentimes as a visiting priest in parishes where, uh, where, where sometimes the rector is the only person that's there.
And, May need a respite.
And so to be able to supply for that person, um, and, uh, to be able to be a place of support for a fellow priest or deacon.
(15:29):
.999And so that's, I think that's really the joys.
Um, of, of the job.
This weekly update is brought to you by Bishop's Ridge.
Bishop's Ridge is the camp of the Diocese of the Rio Grande, located just 15 minutes from the plaza in beautiful Santa Fe, New Mexico.
If you've never been to Bishop's Ridge, advent and Christmas.
.999And the new year, our wonderful time to join us at Bishop's Ridge, where there's often snow falling on the ground, a fire in the fireplace, good food for your belly, and a wonderful time to experience Santa Fe in the wintertime.
(16:04):
Bishop's Ridge is the low cost alternative in Santa Fe. 151 00:16:08,379.999 --> 00:16:13,407.5 I'd also love to welcome you, your group, or your family to book a retreat at bishopsridge. 152 00:16:13,407.5 --> 00:16:13,414.9 org.
a vacation or a time of quiet prayer at Bishop's Ridge where you can rent a five bedroom family home, an A frame for a larger group, or I'd be happy to welcome you to the Bishop's Hermitage for a private, silent, prayerful retreat or art vacation at Bishop's Ridge.
(16:33):
You can Google Bishop's Ridge and or find us on VRBO or I look forward to seeing you at Bishop's Ridge very soon.
So tell me, um, chaplains are non combatants.
So what does that mean for you as a chaplain ministering with Marines? What does that mean? Yeah.
(16:57):
It's a, it's a great question.
Um, I think, so the, the, the policy says that chaplains are not to seek out a weapon.
Uh, and so, so, you know, part of our responsibility is to minister to those, those Marines and sailors who are called to defend, um, uh, and so I can be on patrol, uh, with Marines in, say, Djibouti or Navy personnel in Djibouti, um, but I am not carrying a weapon.
(17:28):
Um, my RP or, uh, religious personnel, um, you know, professional is going to be my bodyguard, essentially, so he or she, uh, will be able to, to protect me in the event that, um, things get more kinetic, but, um, but on principle and on, and based on policy, uh, we are not To be seeking out weapons.
(17:53):
We do not carry weapons.
We do not, um, take them out of the armory.
And so, so that's that is both sort of the gift.
It's also one of those challenging situations where people are like, Hey, absolutely, you can, you can.
.999Well, no, no, actually, there are certain things that we cannot do. 166 00:18:13,674.999 --> 00:18:23,975 Um, and I, I think that's a, you know, it's on the whole it's positive in that, um, And then I bring something very different to the table than everybody else.
(18:24):
Right.
We have a number of our, our staff officers who are, you know, their, their medics, their dentists, their, their docs, and they all in their judges, and they all can can carry weapons, but the chaplain does not.
.999Um, and so, um, so it's an opportunity, I think, to be able to speak to, um, maybe some of the ways in which, you know, um, we can help in other ways, other than, uh, militarily in that way. 170 00:18:53,899.999 --> 00:18:54,269.999 So.
(18:54):
So when I think of the role of a chaplain, um, what, what exactly are you charged to do? Yes. 172 00:19:03,609.999 --> 00:19:05,180 So it's a great, it's a great question.
I think that's, you know, it really gets to the heart of, of, of chaplaincy. 174 00:19:10,439.999 --> 00:19:19,470 So I will say just sort of speaking for the Navy, the Marine Corps, and the Coast Guard, I would say the four core responsibilities of any chaplain are to do four things.
(19:19):
The first thing is to provide, and that is to provide for your own faith group.
And so I am a Christian chaplain, an Episcopal chaplain, and so that means services, um, as needed or services on Sunday mornings, uh, or Wednesdays.
It could be, um, morning prayer. 178 00:19:39,84.999 --> 00:19:41,494.999 It could be spiritual care and counseling. 179 00:19:41,794.999 --> 00:19:42,944.999 It could be confession. 180 00:19:43,384.999 --> 00:19:55,89.999 Um, Being able to provide that for that 1st amendment right to many of our sailors and Marines in Coast Guardsmen who desire, um, to practice their faith.
(19:55):
And to be heard from a spiritual point of view, that's that's the 1st thing. 182 00:20:00,809.999 --> 00:20:05,304.9 I think the 2nd thing is to facilitate the free exercise of religion for others.
Right, so very cognizant of the fact that we work in a very pluralistic environment, and that not everyone comes from a Christian tradition or a Christian background.
.999And so being able to facilitate them for others, um, in the way that, you know, say, um, Ramadan is upon us, making sure that we have all of the materials, um, to, to ensure that they, that our Muslim sailors and Marines can practice faithfully, um, their faith.
(20:35):
Um, and then also communicating that to the command, saying, Hey, these Marines, um, they're not going to be eating from sunup to sundown.
We need to make sure that that, um, whatever they're doing is sort of, um, is in line with that and that we don't potentially have them, um, Um, you know, uh, you know, completely they're on limb do when they go to the hospital because they're not eating or and all the rest.
(21:02):
.999Right? So so just being able to facilitate that for others, uh, um, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot for a lot of our Jewish sailors and Marines.
Um, just being able to facilitate for them.
So you don't lead those services though, do you? I do not lead those services.
Nope.
So we have our lay leaders, so if there is a need, um, the need is there, we usually, um, we will work with Jewish lay leaders, we'll work with Muslim lay leaders, um, Pagan lay leaders, you name it.
(21:36):
and ensure that there is someone who can lead it.
But then also, if there is no one there on the ship or on base, we can, we can connect them to some of our, our imams or rabbis who are chaplains or connect them with folks outside of the community to help foster some, some facilitation for them as well.
(21:59):
Right.
.999So provide, facilitate second, third part is care, and that's the care for all.
Right, so regardless of whether or not that person has a faith background or not.
.999Um, that's my sailor, that's my marine, and I'm going to do everything I can for that person, um, so sometimes that looks like doing, um, what's called applied suicide intervention skills training for folks, whether that, that looks like, um, providing financial counseling classes.
(22:28):
.999Whether that looks like, um, premarital counseling or, or counseling, uh, with, with relationships, um, any number of things to make sure that my sailor, my Marine knows that I'm there to care for them, right? Regardless of their faith background.
.999Uh, and then, and then finally it's, it's advised and that's to advise the command on all things as it relates to ethics.
(22:52):
And morale.
And so oftentimes the command will say, Hey, chaps, I know you've been walking spaces.
I know you've been talking to my people.
.999What's the sense on the ground right? And without breaking confidentiality, just being able to speak into maybe some of the blind spots.
Uh, that, um, that may be other that they haven't have not seen before or people have not talked about, uh, and so being that fourth part of the triad who, um, who is looking out for the health and welfare of their Marines and their sailors. 205 00:23:25,639.999 --> 00:23:29,230 So, yeah, so provide facilitate care in advice.
(23:30):
So tell me about this confidentiality thing.
What, what's that like? Um, because in the, in the, uh, in church world, uh, we're mandatory reporters for, um, certain things.
.999So how is that different in the military? Well, it's different in the military because we are not, we're non mandated reporters. 209 00:23:51,909.999 --> 00:23:53,759.999 We are not mandated to report. 210 00:23:53,899.999 --> 00:23:58,220 Um, and that makes it, that makes it very challenging for some.
(23:58):
Um, to be very clear.
Um, people come to me and I will say to them, you can tell me anything you want.
Um, and anything you say will not go back to your command.
Uh, and so they can talk about literally anything they want.
.9Um, and whatever is said there stays there.
(24:19):
It's, it's, it's like the old adage, whatever happened in Vegas stays in Vegas, whatever is said there stays there.
I promise it's not going anywhere.
It is staying right there.
.999Um, and so we, you know, I think sometimes that's a, that's a gift because folks can really express and freely express what's on their heart and they can really name that thing without any recourse.
(24:44):
Um, and so it creates a safe space for a lot of our Marines and sailors to unload, um, and really to, um, to leave that place a little freer than they did when they walked in.
And so it's a real great, great opportunity there. 222 00:25:01,244.999 --> 00:25:05,745 That sounds sacramental in nature, almost the sanctity of the confessional.
(25:06):
That's right.
And what a gift that is for our Marines and sailors and Coast Guardsmen to have that kind of place, um, Wow.
So, um, you know, as I think about the work of our folks in the military, what do you think the local church can do to support our active duty military? And why is that important? So, you know, it used to be the case that on every base or every post you had a chapel from which, you know, families and active duty personnel attended services and Bible studies and Al Anon classes and other kinds of ministry, but nowadays, uh, ministry across the services are shifting, and they're moving from what's what we called a chapel centric ministry.
(25:54):
.899Into what we're calling a cat campus centric model, which is sort of mobilizing the chaplain to be incarnational. 227 00:26:03,644.999 --> 00:26:12,345 That is to say, to be in the places where the people are where the people work and not in a specific chapel, waiting for people to come to them.
Right? And so, you know, that said, if if service personnel and their families do attend church, They go to church offsite, right? And your church.
(26:24):
Um, it's, it's important to you because these soldiers, these sailors, Marines, Coast Guardsmen are looking for places of worship where their families, I would say, number one, feel safe to where the gospel is being preached and three where the sacraments are rightly being administered.
Full stop.
Those, those three things I would say, um, is, is.
(26:48):
What many Marines and sailors have communicated to me that this is what I'm looking for.
I want to make sure that the place is safe.
I want to hear a message of hope, and I want to make sure that whatever we're doing, sacramentally or otherwise, is being is done well and orderly. 235 00:27:07,574.999 --> 00:27:10,854.999 Um, that's a great place for the Episcopal church to be.
(27:11):
That is our church, right? And so I think it's an opportunity, you know, for for them to engage with people off base, both as a reminder of who they're fighting for.
Right.
Um, but also an opportunity to be with people that don't always think or act or look like them.
Right.
.999Um, I think isolation oftentimes leads to siloed thinking.
(27:36):
And so I think it's a really great opportunity that can easily be squandered if we don't focus on the main things.
Um, I think You know, if we're talking about military personnel, right, there is an expectation and you hear this in the Navy all the time to be brilliant on the basics, right? We just be brilliant on the basics. 243 00:27:58,274.999 --> 00:28:02,335 The people will come love our folks.
(28:02):
.999Anybody who walks in that door.
Make sure that the community is a, is a safe place that there is a, there is a gospel message of hope in that we are rightly administering the sacrament people will will come.
And I think that's important to us because we are, as I believe, William Temple said, we are the only organization that exists for those who are not members.
(28:27):
And so, so, um.
.9That's what I'd say, that's what I'd say.
.9So how can local churches reach out to military communities? What types of things can they do to let them know that, um, they're there and they want to support our military? Hmm.
.999Well, I would say a couple of things.
(28:48):
One, um, sometimes there is this, I don't want to, I don't want to make, um, any presumptions, but I do want to say military members are not, are dynamic.
They're not static.
They're not a monolith is what I, what I mean to say is that there's so many different kinds of people who, who, um, they're complex, just as, as human beings are and so to try and pigeonhole, um, military members into, well, these are, there are certain values that they hold that I hold.
(29:25):
Um, I think that can, that can be.
A place where members or service personnel may not necessarily feel safe in if that's if if that's the way that we're going to approach the service personnel.
All right.
.999So, so just making sure that, um, that you're curious, right? Be curious.
(29:48):
.999Sometimes people don't want to talk about about their work. 259 00:29:51,889.999 --> 00:29:55,269.999 Sometimes people don't want to talk about their, you know, what they've done in the past, but.
But to be a student of every person that walks in that, in that, in that church.
I would say start there.
That is so important.
.999And I think not just for military members, but for anybody who walks, uh, in the, in the doors of our church and, um, yeah.
(30:12):
And I think our chaplains have a lot to, um, teach our clergy about what it means to, Be with that incarnational kind of ministry.
Uh, I know at least from my own perspective, it was often very difficult to get outside of the office because there were so many competing demands for time, but that it's so important to be able to go out and be with your people and be available.
(30:40):
Yeah.
And that's certainly not easy.
So, um, you know, when we think about, um, what you do, um, how does chaplaincy then connect to the work of the wider church? So it's a, it's a great question.
I think Um, so part of this is, uh, the church, so the church has an opportunity, um, chaplains are constantly moving every two and three years at a time.
(31:09):
And so to, we are, are very much a plug and play community where, so you, you, you get in there and here we are, we're, you know, it's.
I, I've just been here for three weeks, but I know the liturgy and we have a common language.
There's a common, there, there are things that might be a little different, but on the whole, um, can, can plug in very quickly and execute.
(31:37):
And so I think there's a, there's a real gift there and sometimes there's a challenge because you don't know this person.
You don't know me.
And, um, and that, uh, in a sense requires risk and trust.
.999Um, but I think there are many chaplains who are out there that are looking for opportunities, um, to whether it's to preach.
(32:01):
Sometimes we're not in, in places we're preaching or, you know, Or services are being, um, regularly instituted.
I think there's, there's a real great opportunity there.
I think also, you know, the, the chaplain has a unique opportunity into a sort of a unique purview into.
(32:22):
.999Service personnel in the military in general, and if you are in a town that has service personnel, like San Diego, like anywhere in Virginia, anywhere in Texas, you know, New York, North Carolina, Florida. 281 00:32:39,709.999 --> 00:32:46,280 There is the value of the chaplain increases incrementally because there is there in lies.
(32:46):
An opportunity for us to really engage in meaningful ways, uh, with, with people in the service person or in the military communities. 283 00:32:55,209.999 --> 00:33:17,100 Uh, and so, so use if they're in, in your churches, I would encourage you to use your people, um, talk to them, um, and, and chaplains are, are more than happy to be able to be used, um, in, in that way, um, really for, for the greater good of the church, um, and for the sake of the gospel.
(33:20):
I can't agree with you more on that.
So I, uh, you know, and I, when I think about when, um, uh, military units deploying, they leave their families behind for the local church to be able to step in and kind of be that family and support them while their spouse or father, um, uh, is, is gone.
(33:42):
I think our mother, it's, um, uh, So vital.
Um, we do that kind of work as well.
.999Well, and I would also say, because, you know, here at the in the Marine Corps, um, at Camp Pendleton, essentially, every, every unit has a sponsoring, has a sponsor, and some of those sponsors across Camp Pendleton are churches.
(34:05):
Um, and so 11th Regiment, our sponsor is South Shores Church in Laguna Niguel, and they come out and they do service projects on base, uh, with our military service members.
Uh, and, you know, a lot of the work that needs to be done in these facilities are not, are not being done and, uh, and therein lies an opportunity for, for a ministry, and they've essentially created, um, this ministry where they're, they're, um, as Jesus was, they're carpenters, uh, they're out there.
(34:42):
Doing some, some significant work there.
Um, also have a, have a very robust furniture ministry for, for many of our service personnel who don't have furniture.
What do you do when you're 18 years old and you don't, you've never lived on your own? What bed do I use? Do I have to buy a TV, um, a couch, um, food, all the rest? Uh, South Shores Church has, has answered the mail for us at 11th Marines and, uh, and they've provided tremendous ministry, uh, so much so that, you know, in their, in their service, they're not, They're not evangelizing, but in their service, people are asking the question, why are you doing this? And what is what is the hope and the joy that lies in you that that that causes you to leave your comfy Laguna Niguel home minutes away to come here on a Saturday and help, you know, put up drywall in the barracks. 294 00:35:44,234.999 --> 00:35:44,844.999 Wow.
(35:45):
Yeah. 296 00:35:45,724.999 --> 00:35:49,015 And so so there's there's tremendous opportunity that's there.
.999So how does the Episcopal Church make that connection then to be able to sponsor a unit? Yeah, so I would say, at least within the Marine Corps and the Navy, um, there are, the Marine Corps has what's called installation chaplains, and so the installation chaplains are responsible for essentially the whole installation, Camp Pendleton in and of itself.
(36:13):
And, uh, and the Navy has, has very, very similar, um, ways of doing that.
.999There's always a base chaplain or command chaplain that's there.
Being able to, to talk with that person and say to him or her, Hey, um, uh, we'd like to get involved, how can we help to support what's happening on the ground? Uh, so instead of, of, of bringing a program saying, Hey, we would like to do this.
(36:41):
It's saying, where do you need help? Where are the holes and how can we help to fill them that that's a great perspective.
Um, that's fantastic.
.999Now, our other barriers sometimes that maybe installation chaplains don't want the Episcopal church on base.
(37:01):
There are well, when it comes to when it comes to work, I will, I will say.
Um, maybe there are, there are fewer boundaries when it's free.
Um, so there's that, but I will say, I think there are, are, um, different parts of the chaplain core that, um, how do I, how do I say this? Diplomatically? Um, they are, they pose.
(37:30):
Sort of a challenge to those who are not especially conservative.
Um, and, uh, those who do not like.
Whether it's our communities, LGBTQ communities, um, communities of color, uh, identity communities, and that can be a challenge.
(37:51):
Um, the, the gift of the Episcopal Church, and we've always been a part of, of the Navy and the Marine Corps as chaplains as long as time, as long as time has been, you know, we've had a Marine Corps.
Uh, and so talk to your Episcopal chaplains.
That's my encouragement to you.
Talk to your Episcopal chaplains.
(38:12):
If you find any, um, if there's any, any sort of consternation with a person because they don't like your institution or they don't like what you stand for, um, Please do not allow that to be a barrier.
Um, allow that to be an opportunity to educate, um, really an opportunity to really unveil the fact that there is, I don't know if it's injustice, I, we want to make sure to name that thing and get past it so that we can actually help the Marines and Sailors that were actually meant to.
(38:48):
meant to help.
And so that person, uh, I'm hoping that that person gets out of the way.
Yeah.
.999And makes, makes room at the table because there's plenty of good room at the table here.
So that's great.
Thank you.
Thank you for those insights.
.999Finally, my last question to you is, um, tell me how the Diocese of the Rio Grande has supported you in your journey. 324 00:39:15,74.999 --> 00:39:24,474.999 Oh my, oh, so I'm going to tell you a story and I, I'm sorry, I'm not, this is not going to be, this is going to be short. 325 00:39:24,474.999 --> 00:39:25,704.9 I'm going to try and make it very short.
(39:26):
We have time.
Okay.
Okay.
Well, um, in June of 2022, I'll start there.
I was on my way from Newport, Rhode Island to Albuquerque, New Mexico to be ordained to the deaconate.
Um, in the diocese of Rio Grande, and, um, as Murphy would have it, nothing went according to plan.
(39:49):
.9995Uh, my flight from New York to D. 333 00:39:51,789.9995 --> 00:39:52,89.999 C.
.999was delayed for five hours.
Um, I, once I arrived, uh, at three in the morning, I received word that my flight, um, to New Mexico was delayed for an additional five hours.
Uh, by the time I got to Albuquerque, I, I had missed the silent retreat that they were having, um, but I had gotten there.
(40:13):
And, uh, and so I was grateful and saying, Thank you, God.
I'm here.
You know, I miss some things, but I'm here.
.999No more than five seconds after saying that, um, I received word that my luggage had accidentally been sent to Los Angeles. 341 00:40:30,19.999 --> 00:40:30,979.999 Oh, goodness.
Yes. 343 00:40:32,169.999 --> 00:40:36,600 My military uniforms, my vestments, my toothbrush.
(40:37):
Right, all lost, right? And so, uh, 1st call, I notified Ken in Perco and then I contacted the bishop and the bishop assured me saying that everything was going to be well, all is well, and all is going to be well. 345 00:40:51,939.999 --> 00:40:56,690 Um, and he had also said that I could use his clergy color, which I still have to this day.
Sorry about that in your grace.
(40:58):
Uh, it was wonderful.
Um, but I had arrived at the church the next morning and the dean of the cathedral, uh, led me to the vesting room where placed, uh, an album, be a censured, um, and then place in my hand, the can still, um, my fellow candidates, um, told me, Hey, we were praying for you all night.
(41:21):
Uh, not knowing whether or not you were going to make it, uh, and, and, you know, in, in very real terms, um, the church clothed me and made me a deacon.
.999And so that is, that is the, the ministry, um, of the diocese of the Rio Grande, um, to me and to my family, um, you know, they've opened their doors wide and, and really allowed me the opportunity to learn, uh, to train.
(41:50):
To be formed in the Anglican tradition, unlike I had been before, um, Ken and Michael Perko in particular, uh, made sure that coming to the Episcopal Church would be, um, that those who are coming to the Episcopal Church would be priests for the whole church, not simply a small, um, pocket of people, but for the whole church.
(42:12):
Um, but Bishop Hahn took time to meet with me on a few different occasions, ensuring that I was clear on the process and, you know, that I knew the way forward.
Ken and Leslie Stevenson Nunez and her team worked with the diocese to put together a commission on the ministry of the baptized for me on a few separate occasions. 354 00:42:31,369.999 --> 00:42:39,210 There have been so many people that have encouraged me across or along the way to continue on.
(42:39):
Um, we're gonna we're gonna get through this.
Um, my, my work was incredibly demanding.
Um, but, um, but their prayers and, um, and, and all of the hands, all of the work that's been done by the diocese.
I could not have, um, I could not have made it without without their prayers.
And so I'm incredibly grateful.
(43:01):
And so it's a sad thing that I was not able to make it out there this this past year.
But I do look forward in the coming years to come in to say thank you, to shake hands to hug and to be there with with the family.
So it's it's a it's a great place to be.
And I'm again, grateful for every every moment of it.
(43:24):
Wow.
.999Well, thank you so much for spending some time, um, with talking to me about chaplaincy and just know how grateful I am for all that you're doing and the lives that you're touching.
Um, and I know that, um, God has got great things planned for you both in the military, but I think even I know even after, uh, you know, that, that part of your life is over, so just keep up the good work.
(43:51):
And, uh, I look forward to hearing more great things from you.
Thank you, Grace. 369 00:43:56,9.999 --> 00:43:56,139.999 Yeah. 370 00:43:56,139.999 --> 00:43:56,609.999 Thank you. 371 00:43:56,610.099 --> 00:44:02,289.999 That's your weekly update for this second week of Advent 2024. 372 00:44:02,839.999 --> 00:44:08,790 May you prepare the way for Jesus coming into your heart this holy season.
Hello there, Diocese of the Rio Grande, and welcome to this, your weekly update for the second week of Advent, 2024.
.999In this weekly update, I want to offer you a couple of quick announcements, and then we're going to dive right into an interview about military chaplaincy in the Diocese of the Rio Grande.
The reason we're talking about military chaplaincy this week is because of course, our saint, the blessed Ted Howden, who was a military chaplain and gave up his food and his life serving others during the baton death march in World War II, Ted Howden.
(00:59):
Our saint, his saint's day is coming up this Wednesday.
I want to make sure you are all observing that.
And I want you to know more about what it is to be a military chaplain.
.999Before we jump into that interview, a couple of quick announcements. 8 00:01:14,114.999 --> 00:01:18,775 The first one is December 15th is our open house at Bishop's Ridge.
Bishop's Ridge, of course, is our camp just outside of Santa Fe.
(01:24):
.999And every year, uh, during the holiday time, during Advent, we have an open house.
We'd love for you to come up in the afternoon there, enjoy some food, listen to some good bluegrass music, and get to know the place. 12 00:01:37,679.999 --> 00:01:52,385 I also want to make sure that all of you know that you can get a weekly email from the diocesan office that has details of all kinds of helpful news and information that you need to know as a member of the Diocese of the Rio Grande. 13 00:01:53,44.999 --> 00:01:59,195 If you're not already on that weekly email list, just give the Diocesan office a call.
(01:59):
Ask for Annette and Annette will get you on that mailing list so you don't miss any of the important things that are happening in the Diocese of the Rio Grande.
And now on to the interview.
My friends, I give you Bishop Anne Ratonia, the Episcopal Bishop for the Armed Forces and Federal Ministries.
And chaplain from the U.
S.
Navy, Jamal Scarlett.
(02:27):
Well, good afternoon.
Diocese of the Rio Grande.
My name is Anne Rotonia and I'm the Bishop of the Armed Forces and Federal Ministries of the Episcopal Church.
So my responsibilities are to provide care and nurture to our military chaplains, our VA chaplains, our.
Bureau of prison chaplains, as well as recruit chaplain candidates, uh, chaplains from other denominations that may already be serving in the military and would like to become part of the Episcopal church, as well as I go to colleges and I talked to college students and Canterbury clubs about, uh, potential vocations to the priesthood.
(03:10):
And, um, I want to.
Also thank all of you in the Diocese of Rio Grande for the work that you do in helping form priests for the Episcopal Church.
.999Um, you're a really important partner for us and, uh, we couldn't do the work that we do without you.
You may not be aware of it, but Ken and Michael, Michael Perko, um, helps with the formation of our chaplains that are coming from other denominations and your commission on ministry Guides them through the process.
(03:41):
And the partnership that I have with Bishop Michael Han is one that is just invaluable for us.
He has been so supportive of our ministry.
And, um, he is the, uh, canonically, um, designated jurisdiction for all of our, uh, military chaplains that are coming over from other denominations.
(04:01):
So I'm just so grateful for the partnership that we share.
Some of the wonderful things about my work is I get to travel all around the world and meet with our chaplains, see what they need in regards to pastoral support, spiritual support. 34 00:04:18,349.999 --> 00:04:25,830.001 Um, and I get to meet their families and talk to commanders to get a pulse on what's going on around the world.
(04:25):
And, um, it is really a privilege, uh, to be able to do that.
Additionally, I visit our prison chaplains, and I'm able to talk to adults that are in custody about the importance of faith in their journey and how it is turning around their lives.
And then I get to work with veterans.
Both, uh, our, uh, Veterans Administration Hospital, Hospitals, the chaplains that serve there, but also I work with individually with veterans as well.
(04:53):
Um, and, uh, also serve at the National Cathedral.
Uh, when I'm in town, most of my work is done on the road and it is just a joy, um, to be able to participate in this kind of work.
Well, today I have with me, um, chaplain Jamal Scarlet, who is a Navy chaplain.
You can see he's in uniform today and he is got all of his ribbons on.
(05:15):
I see that meritorious service medal ribbon, Jamal, excellent.
Um, and I'm going to let Jamal, uh, introduce himself and then, uh, I've got some questions that I'll ask Jamal and, uh, we're going to record this so you'll be getting it.
And if you have any questions, I want you to know that you can always reach out to our office at Armed Forces and Federal Ministries.
(05:37):
So Jamal, why don't you introduce yourself? Well, wonderful.
Well, thank you so much.
Your grace.
I certainly appreciate it.
Thank you for the time on the opportunity to speak to the Diocese of the Rio Grande.
My name is Jamal Scarlett, and I have had the privilege of serving as a United States Navy chaplain, particularly an Episcopal chaplain since 2022.
(06:02):
Uh, so very grateful for the work that has been done in the Diocese of the Rio Grande.
Uh, and as Bishop, uh, said that many of us who were coming from different denominations into the Episcopal Church came through the chaplain transition process where Ken and Perko spent many hours with us.
(06:23):
And so, um, and so very grateful for the work that, um, that he does.
And then also some, some of the work that they did with the.
The commission on the ministry of the baptized and any number of people that played a significant part in, um, in bringing me into, um, the household of faith, uh, here in the Episcopal church.
(06:44):
And so, so very grateful to be with you.
Uh, just a few things about myself. 59 00:06:49,669.999 --> 00:06:55,140 Uh, I am a first generation, um, American where, where my.
father and my mother are from the country of Panama.
Uh, and so they came to, uh, to Panama by way of, uh, the United States Navy.
(07:05):
And so both of them served as, uh, as Navy enlisted sailors for six and eight years.
And we ended up in San Diego, California.
.999So, um, very, if I were going to pick a service, it was very, it was determined before, before time began that I was going to be in the Navy.
(07:26):
And so, um, you know, my, my call and vocation to the Navy really comes out of A real desire to serve my country, uh, coupled with a commitment to serve God, uh, to serve all people, and to be able to make those two things, um, work, um, just worked.
I mean, it, it was, it was a wonderful opportunity.
(07:48):
And with the help of, uh, the COMB, as well as many ministers and prayer warriors and intercessors, um, here I am today.
So very grateful for that.
I'm also the husband of one wonderful wife.
Her name is Janice Scarlett.
And so we have been married for 22 years.
(08:09):
And we have relations.
Thank you.
.999Thank you very much.
We have four kids.
Currently worship at the, um, at, sorry, St.
.001Michael's by the Sea in Carlsbad, and, uh, and so we are here in San Diego, California, uh, where I also serve, uh, active duty wise as a chaplain for, uh, for 1st Marine Division. 78 00:08:32,174.999 --> 00:08:35,955 Uh, I'm currently serving as 11th Marines Regimental Chaplain.
(08:36):
So sort of overseeing 3, 400 marine sailors and their families and providing religious ministries to them.
.999So it's a tremendous opportunity and I'm very grateful for it.
Excellent.
So what is the average age of the folks that you, um, uh, supervise and care for? It's a, it's a great question.
(08:58):
.9Uh, the average age is anywhere between 18 and 25.
The lion's share of Marines, I would say, I believe that the number is close to like 70%, are within that age. 85 00:09:12,44.999 --> 00:09:22,765 They're very young, they're just coming out of high school, they may have done a year or two, or have completed college degrees, and then they come into the Marine Corps.
(09:22):
And so, these are young folks who are hungry, they love their country, Uh, and they want to do, um, some sort of service and they found themselves in the Marine Corps.
.9And so, um, so about 18 to 25 is, is the answer to that.
So Navy chaplains don't just serve in the Navy.
So where else do they serve? Uh, besides the Marine Corps? It's a good question.
(09:47):
Yes.
So the Navy chaplains serve.
Yes.
As we said, the Marine Corps with the Marine Corps, but also with the Coast Guard as well. 94 00:09:55,364.999 --> 00:09:59,355 Uh, and so, uh, I had the privilege of serving, uh, U.
S.
Coast Guard District 8 in St.
.999Louis, Missouri from, uh, 2019 to 2022, uh, where we did a lot of hurricane response.
(10:08):
And, um, and so it was a wonderful opportunity, um, if you are thinking about Navy chaplaincy, please come and talk to me.
It's a great, great place to be.
Um, but we pretty much, uh, oversee the ministry for all three sea services.
Uh, and so it's a tremendous obligation, tremendous responsibility, um, and one that I'm very proud to be a part of.
(10:33):
So what? Um, I'm curious.
What's the, uh, an average day look like for a chaplain? Well, that I tell you what that varies. 104 00:10:42,254.999 --> 00:10:46,365 Um, I can tell you, uh, it's not static.
There is there is always something to do. 106 00:10:49,964.999 --> 00:10:52,154.999 I can sort of I can give you an example. 107 00:10:52,154.999 --> 00:10:52,864.999 Yesterday.
Um, I was in the office, um, doing some admin work.
(10:57):
So I probably do about maybe 11 hour, 1 to 2 hours worth of admin, but very quickly, um, We had an accident at one of the ranges and, um, sadly, one of our, uh, our Marines, um, passed away, uh, and so went into emergency sort of first responder mode, uh, responding to both the death, but also to those who witnessed it, um, and doing some counseling on the ground.
(11:28):
Um, the same time that the later that afternoon, uh, attended a celebration of life, a memorial service for an eight year old child, uh, who had passed away, um, after an accident right down the street.
Um, and so with 200 other, um, Marines and their families, uh, just, um, paying tribute and saying, um, Thanking God for his life.
(11:55):
And I'm just really saddened by what would have transpired there.
.999Um, and follow that by a regimental run in, you know, in honor of, of the Marine Corps birthday, which is happening on Monday.
Right.
And so there's so it's so it's things are constantly moving.
(12:16):
And there's, there's, um, I suppose there's a wealth of opportunity to be able to minister in the hard places.
Right.
The places, um, where it matters, um, when it matters.
And most importantly, with what matters.
.999And so, um, so that could be that's that was just yesterday, but it's it could be anything on any given day.
(12:42):
.999Really? It's it's an opportunity to, like I said, minister in the hard places.
Jamal, I'm so grateful that you were there for your Marines and for their families yesterday.
Yeah.
.9995It's just remarkable the impact that, um, a chaplain can have, uh, not only in a unit, but for the community at large. 125 00:13:01,64.9995 --> 00:13:02,704.999 So thank you.
(13:02):
.999Um, I know those days are challenging.
Yeah.
So where do you find joy in your ministry? Oh, there is, there is joy.
You know, it's, it's, and this is a good question because I think, you know, somebody asked me the other day, um, you know, like you've been doing this for about a decade, you know, um, do you, you get tired of it and what are you, you know, what do you like about your job? And, and very easily I just, my response every time I get asked that question is one, I wake up every morning saying, Thank God I get to do this.
(13:40):
.999Um, and so there is a, there is, there is just this fire because I'm meeting new people.
Uh, we're engaging, um, in, in issues, um, of real life.
Um, Marines are not, uh, passive. 133 00:13:56,159.999 --> 00:13:59,660 Uh, they will tell you exactly how they feel right there.
(14:01):
I know that well.
So we, we, uh, you know, you really have a chance to really get to the heart of something very quickly, um, which, which is also a blessing.
Um, but at the same time, um, there are a couple other things, you know, the joys for me, especially as meeting new people, of course, um, but also say traveling and living in different parts of the world, right, experiencing different cultures. 137 00:14:31,55.1 --> 00:14:32,875 Here is, um, my last tour.
(14:32):
It took me to Italy.
Spain, France, Bahrain, Japan, Costa Rica, Colombia, and then all parts of the contiguous and non contiguous United States. 140 00:14:47,439.999 --> 00:15:00,510 Right, so all, so everywhere, um, and I know I'm, I'm missing a few, but being able to travel, um, and to experience, uh, other, other people's cultures, um, and then at the same time.
(15:01):
.999You know, being able to see the church in those places in its beauty, uh, in its diversity, uh, and then also being able to play a part sometimes or oftentimes as a visiting priest in parishes where, uh, where, where sometimes the rector is the only person that's there.
And, May need a respite.
And so to be able to supply for that person, um, and, uh, to be able to be a place of support for a fellow priest or deacon.
(15:29):
.999And so that's, I think that's really the joys.
Um, of, of the job.
This weekly update is brought to you by Bishop's Ridge.
Bishop's Ridge is the camp of the Diocese of the Rio Grande, located just 15 minutes from the plaza in beautiful Santa Fe, New Mexico.
If you've never been to Bishop's Ridge, advent and Christmas.
.999And the new year, our wonderful time to join us at Bishop's Ridge, where there's often snow falling on the ground, a fire in the fireplace, good food for your belly, and a wonderful time to experience Santa Fe in the wintertime.
(16:04):
Bishop's Ridge is the low cost alternative in Santa Fe. 151 00:16:08,379.999 --> 00:16:13,407.5 I'd also love to welcome you, your group, or your family to book a retreat at bishopsridge. 152 00:16:13,407.5 --> 00:16:13,414.9 org.
a vacation or a time of quiet prayer at Bishop's Ridge where you can rent a five bedroom family home, an A frame for a larger group, or I'd be happy to welcome you to the Bishop's Hermitage for a private, silent, prayerful retreat or art vacation at Bishop's Ridge.
(16:33):
You can Google Bishop's Ridge and or find us on VRBO or I look forward to seeing you at Bishop's Ridge very soon.
So tell me, um, chaplains are non combatants.
So what does that mean for you as a chaplain ministering with Marines? What does that mean? Yeah.
(16:57):
It's a, it's a great question.
Um, I think, so the, the, the policy says that chaplains are not to seek out a weapon.
Uh, and so, so, you know, part of our responsibility is to minister to those, those Marines and sailors who are called to defend, um, uh, and so I can be on patrol, uh, with Marines in, say, Djibouti or Navy personnel in Djibouti, um, but I am not carrying a weapon.
(17:28):
Um, my RP or, uh, religious personnel, um, you know, professional is going to be my bodyguard, essentially, so he or she, uh, will be able to, to protect me in the event that, um, things get more kinetic, but, um, but on principle and on, and based on policy, uh, we are not To be seeking out weapons.
(17:53):
We do not carry weapons.
We do not, um, take them out of the armory.
And so, so that's that is both sort of the gift.
It's also one of those challenging situations where people are like, Hey, absolutely, you can, you can.
.999Well, no, no, actually, there are certain things that we cannot do. 166 00:18:13,674.999 --> 00:18:23,975 Um, and I, I think that's a, you know, it's on the whole it's positive in that, um, And then I bring something very different to the table than everybody else.
(18:24):
Right.
We have a number of our, our staff officers who are, you know, their, their medics, their dentists, their, their docs, and they all in their judges, and they all can can carry weapons, but the chaplain does not.
.999Um, and so, um, so it's an opportunity, I think, to be able to speak to, um, maybe some of the ways in which, you know, um, we can help in other ways, other than, uh, militarily in that way. 170 00:18:53,899.999 --> 00:18:54,269.999 So.
(18:54):
So when I think of the role of a chaplain, um, what, what exactly are you charged to do? Yes. 172 00:19:03,609.999 --> 00:19:05,180 So it's a great, it's a great question.
I think that's, you know, it really gets to the heart of, of, of chaplaincy. 174 00:19:10,439.999 --> 00:19:19,470 So I will say just sort of speaking for the Navy, the Marine Corps, and the Coast Guard, I would say the four core responsibilities of any chaplain are to do four things.
(19:19):
The first thing is to provide, and that is to provide for your own faith group.
And so I am a Christian chaplain, an Episcopal chaplain, and so that means services, um, as needed or services on Sunday mornings, uh, or Wednesdays.
It could be, um, morning prayer. 178 00:19:39,84.999 --> 00:19:41,494.999 It could be spiritual care and counseling. 179 00:19:41,794.999 --> 00:19:42,944.999 It could be confession. 180 00:19:43,384.999 --> 00:19:55,89.999 Um, Being able to provide that for that 1st amendment right to many of our sailors and Marines in Coast Guardsmen who desire, um, to practice their faith.
(19:55):
And to be heard from a spiritual point of view, that's that's the 1st thing. 182 00:20:00,809.999 --> 00:20:05,304.9 I think the 2nd thing is to facilitate the free exercise of religion for others.
Right, so very cognizant of the fact that we work in a very pluralistic environment, and that not everyone comes from a Christian tradition or a Christian background.
.999And so being able to facilitate them for others, um, in the way that, you know, say, um, Ramadan is upon us, making sure that we have all of the materials, um, to, to ensure that they, that our Muslim sailors and Marines can practice faithfully, um, their faith.
(20:35):
Um, and then also communicating that to the command, saying, Hey, these Marines, um, they're not going to be eating from sunup to sundown.
We need to make sure that that, um, whatever they're doing is sort of, um, is in line with that and that we don't potentially have them, um, Um, you know, uh, you know, completely they're on limb do when they go to the hospital because they're not eating or and all the rest.
(21:02):
.999Right? So so just being able to facilitate that for others, uh, um, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot for a lot of our Jewish sailors and Marines.
Um, just being able to facilitate for them.
So you don't lead those services though, do you? I do not lead those services.
Nope.
So we have our lay leaders, so if there is a need, um, the need is there, we usually, um, we will work with Jewish lay leaders, we'll work with Muslim lay leaders, um, Pagan lay leaders, you name it.
(21:36):
and ensure that there is someone who can lead it.
But then also, if there is no one there on the ship or on base, we can, we can connect them to some of our, our imams or rabbis who are chaplains or connect them with folks outside of the community to help foster some, some facilitation for them as well.
(21:59):
Right.
.999So provide, facilitate second, third part is care, and that's the care for all.
Right, so regardless of whether or not that person has a faith background or not.
.999Um, that's my sailor, that's my marine, and I'm going to do everything I can for that person, um, so sometimes that looks like doing, um, what's called applied suicide intervention skills training for folks, whether that, that looks like, um, providing financial counseling classes.
(22:28):
.999Whether that looks like, um, premarital counseling or, or counseling, uh, with, with relationships, um, any number of things to make sure that my sailor, my Marine knows that I'm there to care for them, right? Regardless of their faith background.
.999Uh, and then, and then finally it's, it's advised and that's to advise the command on all things as it relates to ethics.
(22:52):
And morale.
And so oftentimes the command will say, Hey, chaps, I know you've been walking spaces.
I know you've been talking to my people.
.999What's the sense on the ground right? And without breaking confidentiality, just being able to speak into maybe some of the blind spots.
Uh, that, um, that may be other that they haven't have not seen before or people have not talked about, uh, and so being that fourth part of the triad who, um, who is looking out for the health and welfare of their Marines and their sailors. 205 00:23:25,639.999 --> 00:23:29,230 So, yeah, so provide facilitate care in advice.
(23:30):
So tell me about this confidentiality thing.
What, what's that like? Um, because in the, in the, uh, in church world, uh, we're mandatory reporters for, um, certain things.
.999So how is that different in the military? Well, it's different in the military because we are not, we're non mandated reporters. 209 00:23:51,909.999 --> 00:23:53,759.999 We are not mandated to report. 210 00:23:53,899.999 --> 00:23:58,220 Um, and that makes it, that makes it very challenging for some.
(23:58):
Um, to be very clear.
Um, people come to me and I will say to them, you can tell me anything you want.
Um, and anything you say will not go back to your command.
Uh, and so they can talk about literally anything they want.
.9Um, and whatever is said there stays there.
(24:19):
It's, it's, it's like the old adage, whatever happened in Vegas stays in Vegas, whatever is said there stays there.
I promise it's not going anywhere.
It is staying right there.
.999Um, and so we, you know, I think sometimes that's a, that's a gift because folks can really express and freely express what's on their heart and they can really name that thing without any recourse.
(24:44):
Um, and so it creates a safe space for a lot of our Marines and sailors to unload, um, and really to, um, to leave that place a little freer than they did when they walked in.
And so it's a real great, great opportunity there. 222 00:25:01,244.999 --> 00:25:05,745 That sounds sacramental in nature, almost the sanctity of the confessional.
(25:06):
That's right.
And what a gift that is for our Marines and sailors and Coast Guardsmen to have that kind of place, um, Wow.
So, um, you know, as I think about the work of our folks in the military, what do you think the local church can do to support our active duty military? And why is that important? So, you know, it used to be the case that on every base or every post you had a chapel from which, you know, families and active duty personnel attended services and Bible studies and Al Anon classes and other kinds of ministry, but nowadays, uh, ministry across the services are shifting, and they're moving from what's what we called a chapel centric ministry.
(25:54):
.899Into what we're calling a cat campus centric model, which is sort of mobilizing the chaplain to be incarnational. 227 00:26:03,644.999 --> 00:26:12,345 That is to say, to be in the places where the people are where the people work and not in a specific chapel, waiting for people to come to them.
Right? And so, you know, that said, if if service personnel and their families do attend church, They go to church offsite, right? And your church.
(26:24):
Um, it's, it's important to you because these soldiers, these sailors, Marines, Coast Guardsmen are looking for places of worship where their families, I would say, number one, feel safe to where the gospel is being preached and three where the sacraments are rightly being administered.
Full stop.
Those, those three things I would say, um, is, is.
(26:48):
What many Marines and sailors have communicated to me that this is what I'm looking for.
I want to make sure that the place is safe.
I want to hear a message of hope, and I want to make sure that whatever we're doing, sacramentally or otherwise, is being is done well and orderly. 235 00:27:07,574.999 --> 00:27:10,854.999 Um, that's a great place for the Episcopal church to be.
(27:11):
That is our church, right? And so I think it's an opportunity, you know, for for them to engage with people off base, both as a reminder of who they're fighting for.
Right.
Um, but also an opportunity to be with people that don't always think or act or look like them.
Right.
.999Um, I think isolation oftentimes leads to siloed thinking.
(27:36):
And so I think it's a really great opportunity that can easily be squandered if we don't focus on the main things.
Um, I think You know, if we're talking about military personnel, right, there is an expectation and you hear this in the Navy all the time to be brilliant on the basics, right? We just be brilliant on the basics. 243 00:27:58,274.999 --> 00:28:02,335 The people will come love our folks.
(28:02):
.999Anybody who walks in that door.
Make sure that the community is a, is a safe place that there is a, there is a gospel message of hope in that we are rightly administering the sacrament people will will come.
And I think that's important to us because we are, as I believe, William Temple said, we are the only organization that exists for those who are not members.
(28:27):
And so, so, um.
.9That's what I'd say, that's what I'd say.
.9So how can local churches reach out to military communities? What types of things can they do to let them know that, um, they're there and they want to support our military? Hmm.
.999Well, I would say a couple of things.
(28:48):
One, um, sometimes there is this, I don't want to, I don't want to make, um, any presumptions, but I do want to say military members are not, are dynamic.
They're not static.
They're not a monolith is what I, what I mean to say is that there's so many different kinds of people who, who, um, they're complex, just as, as human beings are and so to try and pigeonhole, um, military members into, well, these are, there are certain values that they hold that I hold.
(29:25):
Um, I think that can, that can be.
A place where members or service personnel may not necessarily feel safe in if that's if if that's the way that we're going to approach the service personnel.
All right.
.999So, so just making sure that, um, that you're curious, right? Be curious.
(29:48):
.999Sometimes people don't want to talk about about their work. 259 00:29:51,889.999 --> 00:29:55,269.999 Sometimes people don't want to talk about their, you know, what they've done in the past, but.
But to be a student of every person that walks in that, in that, in that church.
I would say start there.
That is so important.
.999And I think not just for military members, but for anybody who walks, uh, in the, in the doors of our church and, um, yeah.
(30:12):
And I think our chaplains have a lot to, um, teach our clergy about what it means to, Be with that incarnational kind of ministry.
Uh, I know at least from my own perspective, it was often very difficult to get outside of the office because there were so many competing demands for time, but that it's so important to be able to go out and be with your people and be available.
(30:40):
Yeah.
And that's certainly not easy.
So, um, you know, when we think about, um, what you do, um, how does chaplaincy then connect to the work of the wider church? So it's a, it's a great question.
I think Um, so part of this is, uh, the church, so the church has an opportunity, um, chaplains are constantly moving every two and three years at a time.
(31:09):
And so to, we are, are very much a plug and play community where, so you, you, you get in there and here we are, we're, you know, it's.
I, I've just been here for three weeks, but I know the liturgy and we have a common language.
There's a common, there, there are things that might be a little different, but on the whole, um, can, can plug in very quickly and execute.
(31:37):
And so I think there's a, there's a real gift there and sometimes there's a challenge because you don't know this person.
You don't know me.
And, um, and that, uh, in a sense requires risk and trust.
.999Um, but I think there are many chaplains who are out there that are looking for opportunities, um, to whether it's to preach.
(32:01):
Sometimes we're not in, in places we're preaching or, you know, Or services are being, um, regularly instituted.
I think there's, there's a real great opportunity there.
I think also, you know, the, the chaplain has a unique opportunity into a sort of a unique purview into.
(32:22):
.999Service personnel in the military in general, and if you are in a town that has service personnel, like San Diego, like anywhere in Virginia, anywhere in Texas, you know, New York, North Carolina, Florida. 281 00:32:39,709.999 --> 00:32:46,280 There is the value of the chaplain increases incrementally because there is there in lies.
(32:46):
An opportunity for us to really engage in meaningful ways, uh, with, with people in the service person or in the military communities. 283 00:32:55,209.999 --> 00:33:17,100 Uh, and so, so use if they're in, in your churches, I would encourage you to use your people, um, talk to them, um, and, and chaplains are, are more than happy to be able to be used, um, in, in that way, um, really for, for the greater good of the church, um, and for the sake of the gospel.
(33:20):
I can't agree with you more on that.
So I, uh, you know, and I, when I think about when, um, uh, military units deploying, they leave their families behind for the local church to be able to step in and kind of be that family and support them while their spouse or father, um, uh, is, is gone.
(33:42):
I think our mother, it's, um, uh, So vital.
Um, we do that kind of work as well.
.999Well, and I would also say, because, you know, here at the in the Marine Corps, um, at Camp Pendleton, essentially, every, every unit has a sponsoring, has a sponsor, and some of those sponsors across Camp Pendleton are churches.
(34:05):
Um, and so 11th Regiment, our sponsor is South Shores Church in Laguna Niguel, and they come out and they do service projects on base, uh, with our military service members.
Uh, and, you know, a lot of the work that needs to be done in these facilities are not, are not being done and, uh, and therein lies an opportunity for, for a ministry, and they've essentially created, um, this ministry where they're, they're, um, as Jesus was, they're carpenters, uh, they're out there.
(34:42):
Doing some, some significant work there.
Um, also have a, have a very robust furniture ministry for, for many of our service personnel who don't have furniture.
What do you do when you're 18 years old and you don't, you've never lived on your own? What bed do I use? Do I have to buy a TV, um, a couch, um, food, all the rest? Uh, South Shores Church has, has answered the mail for us at 11th Marines and, uh, and they've provided tremendous ministry, uh, so much so that, you know, in their, in their service, they're not, They're not evangelizing, but in their service, people are asking the question, why are you doing this? And what is what is the hope and the joy that lies in you that that that causes you to leave your comfy Laguna Niguel home minutes away to come here on a Saturday and help, you know, put up drywall in the barracks. 294 00:35:44,234.999 --> 00:35:44,844.999 Wow.
(35:45):
Yeah. 296 00:35:45,724.999 --> 00:35:49,015 And so so there's there's tremendous opportunity that's there.
.999So how does the Episcopal Church make that connection then to be able to sponsor a unit? Yeah, so I would say, at least within the Marine Corps and the Navy, um, there are, the Marine Corps has what's called installation chaplains, and so the installation chaplains are responsible for essentially the whole installation, Camp Pendleton in and of itself.
(36:13):
And, uh, and the Navy has, has very, very similar, um, ways of doing that.
.999There's always a base chaplain or command chaplain that's there.
Being able to, to talk with that person and say to him or her, Hey, um, uh, we'd like to get involved, how can we help to support what's happening on the ground? Uh, so instead of, of, of bringing a program saying, Hey, we would like to do this.
(36:41):
It's saying, where do you need help? Where are the holes and how can we help to fill them that that's a great perspective.
Um, that's fantastic.
.999Now, our other barriers sometimes that maybe installation chaplains don't want the Episcopal church on base.
(37:01):
There are well, when it comes to when it comes to work, I will, I will say.
Um, maybe there are, there are fewer boundaries when it's free.
Um, so there's that, but I will say, I think there are, are, um, different parts of the chaplain core that, um, how do I, how do I say this? Diplomatically? Um, they are, they pose.
(37:30):
Sort of a challenge to those who are not especially conservative.
Um, and, uh, those who do not like.
Whether it's our communities, LGBTQ communities, um, communities of color, uh, identity communities, and that can be a challenge.
(37:51):
Um, the, the gift of the Episcopal Church, and we've always been a part of, of the Navy and the Marine Corps as chaplains as long as time, as long as time has been, you know, we've had a Marine Corps.
Uh, and so talk to your Episcopal chaplains.
That's my encouragement to you.
Talk to your Episcopal chaplains.
(38:12):
If you find any, um, if there's any, any sort of consternation with a person because they don't like your institution or they don't like what you stand for, um, Please do not allow that to be a barrier.
Um, allow that to be an opportunity to educate, um, really an opportunity to really unveil the fact that there is, I don't know if it's injustice, I, we want to make sure to name that thing and get past it so that we can actually help the Marines and Sailors that were actually meant to.
(38:48):
meant to help.
And so that person, uh, I'm hoping that that person gets out of the way.
Yeah.
.999And makes, makes room at the table because there's plenty of good room at the table here.
So that's great.
Thank you.
Thank you for those insights.
.999Finally, my last question to you is, um, tell me how the Diocese of the Rio Grande has supported you in your journey. 324 00:39:15,74.999 --> 00:39:24,474.999 Oh my, oh, so I'm going to tell you a story and I, I'm sorry, I'm not, this is not going to be, this is going to be short. 325 00:39:24,474.999 --> 00:39:25,704.9 I'm going to try and make it very short.
(39:26):
We have time.
Okay.
Okay.
Well, um, in June of 2022, I'll start there.
I was on my way from Newport, Rhode Island to Albuquerque, New Mexico to be ordained to the deaconate.
Um, in the diocese of Rio Grande, and, um, as Murphy would have it, nothing went according to plan.
(39:49):
.9995Uh, my flight from New York to D. 333 00:39:51,789.9995 --> 00:39:52,89.999 C.
.999was delayed for five hours.
Um, I, once I arrived, uh, at three in the morning, I received word that my flight, um, to New Mexico was delayed for an additional five hours.
Uh, by the time I got to Albuquerque, I, I had missed the silent retreat that they were having, um, but I had gotten there.
(40:13):
And, uh, and so I was grateful and saying, Thank you, God.
I'm here.
You know, I miss some things, but I'm here.
.999No more than five seconds after saying that, um, I received word that my luggage had accidentally been sent to Los Angeles. 341 00:40:30,19.999 --> 00:40:30,979.999 Oh, goodness.
Yes. 343 00:40:32,169.999 --> 00:40:36,600 My military uniforms, my vestments, my toothbrush.
(40:37):
Right, all lost, right? And so, uh, 1st call, I notified Ken in Perco and then I contacted the bishop and the bishop assured me saying that everything was going to be well, all is well, and all is going to be well. 345 00:40:51,939.999 --> 00:40:56,690 Um, and he had also said that I could use his clergy color, which I still have to this day.
Sorry about that in your grace.
(40:58):
Uh, it was wonderful.
Um, but I had arrived at the church the next morning and the dean of the cathedral, uh, led me to the vesting room where placed, uh, an album, be a censured, um, and then place in my hand, the can still, um, my fellow candidates, um, told me, Hey, we were praying for you all night.
(41:21):
Uh, not knowing whether or not you were going to make it, uh, and, and, you know, in, in very real terms, um, the church clothed me and made me a deacon.
.999And so that is, that is the, the ministry, um, of the diocese of the Rio Grande, um, to me and to my family, um, you know, they've opened their doors wide and, and really allowed me the opportunity to learn, uh, to train.
(41:50):
To be formed in the Anglican tradition, unlike I had been before, um, Ken and Michael Perko in particular, uh, made sure that coming to the Episcopal Church would be, um, that those who are coming to the Episcopal Church would be priests for the whole church, not simply a small, um, pocket of people, but for the whole church.
(42:12):
Um, but Bishop Hahn took time to meet with me on a few different occasions, ensuring that I was clear on the process and, you know, that I knew the way forward.
Ken and Leslie Stevenson Nunez and her team worked with the diocese to put together a commission on the ministry of the baptized for me on a few separate occasions. 354 00:42:31,369.999 --> 00:42:39,210 There have been so many people that have encouraged me across or along the way to continue on.
(42:39):
Um, we're gonna we're gonna get through this.
Um, my, my work was incredibly demanding.
Um, but, um, but their prayers and, um, and, and all of the hands, all of the work that's been done by the diocese.
I could not have, um, I could not have made it without without their prayers.
And so I'm incredibly grateful.
(43:01):
And so it's a sad thing that I was not able to make it out there this this past year.
But I do look forward in the coming years to come in to say thank you, to shake hands to hug and to be there with with the family.
So it's it's a it's a great place to be.
And I'm again, grateful for every every moment of it.
(43:24):
Wow.
.999Well, thank you so much for spending some time, um, with talking to me about chaplaincy and just know how grateful I am for all that you're doing and the lives that you're touching.
Um, and I know that, um, God has got great things planned for you both in the military, but I think even I know even after, uh, you know, that, that part of your life is over, so just keep up the good work.
(43:51):
And, uh, I look forward to hearing more great things from you.
Thank you, Grace. 369 00:43:56,9.999 --> 00:43:56,139.999 Yeah. 370 00:43:56,139.999 --> 00:43:56,609.999 Thank you. 371 00:43:56,610.099 --> 00:44:02,289.999 That's your weekly update for this second week of Advent 2024. 372 00:44:02,839.999 --> 00:44:08,790 May you prepare the way for Jesus coming into your heart this holy season.
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