Military Chaplains Assn. now has a group: Open a discussion on
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In Memoriam
Cecil B. Currey
CH (COL) USA (Ret)
Lutz, FL
Congregational
Joined MCA 1968
March 12, 2013
Eugene T. Curtis
LT (CHC) USN
Durham, NC
Christian
Joined MCA 1991; Life 1995
March 17, 2013
This past week, we have heard of two USAF Chapel Managers who have died. May their souls rest in peace.
Charles S. Mahedy III
SSGT, USAF
Avenel, NJ
LDS (Mormon)
March 11, 2013
Ernie Davis
CMSgt, USAF (Ret)
Sharpsburg, GA
United Methodist
March 16, 2013 |
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Accomplish both online by clicking on the highlighted words above or on this link
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MCA: Mentor - Connect - Advocate
March 20, 2013 |
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Greetings! Today is the Vernal (Spring) Equinox, one of two days in the year when day and night are of equal length, and the first day of spring. In Western Christianity, it is also a day for calculating the date for Easter ... the first Sunday following the first full moon following the Vernal Equinox. The next full moon will be a week from today, setting Easter on the 31st. The earliest possible date for Easter (in Western Christianity) is March 22. In recent history, Easter was March 23, 2008 and won't be that early again until sometime after 2089. In Orthodox Christianity, Easter 2013 is this coming Sunday. For Jews, Passover begins on the 26th. During the next two weeks, Christians, Jews, Baha'i, Zoroastrians, Buddhists, and Hindus will be observing and celebrating holy days. While each of us have different liturgies, rituals, and traditions, we all live in a country where it is possible to have our celebrations without fear. Chaplains are charged with insuring the First Amendment rights of all sorts of religious people, providing time and space for military members and their families to hold onto their faith and to worship as they choose. At times, we have personal concerns about other faiths. At time, we may even have personal concerns about our own faith community. Even so, we must continue to work for the opportunity of all citizens to enjoy freedom of religion - or none of us will have that freedom. Personally, I thank God that men and women are called to exercise their ministry in the Armed Forces and the Department of Veterans Affairs. Working with those who have and who continue to defend the Constitution of the United States is a high privilege. However you plan to observe the Holy Days ahead, may you find blessing for yourself and those you love, and may you be a blessing to those you serve. |
Chaplain Stories at Gettysburg
The Library of Congress has asked us to continue our Project 213 of collecting Veteran Chaplains Stories. Chaplain Juliana Lesher and our former President, Chaplain Mike McCoy, have agreed to assist us in recording the stories during our National Institute. Every chaplain who has served or is serving in the military should be included in this project. Let's make it happen. Contact Mike at [email protected] if you want to get on the schedule now. |
OIF Tenth Anniversary
Yesterday, March 19, was the tenth anniversary of the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom. We extend our thanks to all the soldiers, Marines, sailors, and airmen who were deployed during those years, and to the chaplains who were there with them. You helped topple a genocidal dictator and provided a chance for a brighter today and tomorrow to the people of the homeland of Abraham and Sarah.
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 Extending Ministry
Just because some of us are now out of uniform, it doesn't mean we've lost our love and concern for military members, veterans and their families. We can continue to serve by establishing ministries with and for veterans and their families in the congregations where we now live and work. |
D.MIN. DEGREE WITH MILITARY CONCENTRATION
The DMIN degree for military chaplains, active and reserve, established at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, 2005, is offered to all qualifying chaplains, of all denominations serving on active or reserve duty, including Veteran Administration and Civil Air Patrol chaplains. 48 academic credits in residence are necessary to complete the degree plus a Major Applied Project (DMin dissertation). Please contact Dr. David Peter, Director, DMIN directly for an application: 314-505-7101 or email to: [email protected].
The purpose of the degree program is to sharpen your creative thinking skills in military ministry by focusing on a particular area in the chaplaincy in order to create successful strategies to penetrate the military culture with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. All courses are offered as two week intensives taught by the experienced and professional faculty members of Concordia Seminary as well as distinguished adjunct instructors in a Christ-centered environment. The mandatory core course of 6 hours credit is taught by Rev. Dr. Mark J. Schreiber, (Endorsing Agent, The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod) entitled, "Counselors of Conscience" and is offered every other summer. Next class offering will be June 3-14, 2013. All classes are taught in residence at the beautiful, historic Concordia Seminary campus located in the heart of St. Louis, Missouri. Registration deadline is April 15, 2013.
If you have been searching for a challenging, refreshing and Christ-centered alternative to enhance your military ministry, then this degree program has been designed with you in mind. Call or email Dr. David Peter today! |
Iliff School of Theology offers:
Spiritual Care Praxis for Gays and Lesbians in the Military
Description: This spiritual and pastoral praxis is designed to help students, clergy, military chaplains, lay pastoral caregivers and mental health practitioners to better understand the current legal and socio-cultural situation of gays and lesbians in the military, and to respond to their pastoral and spiritual needs. Attention will be paid to the special opportunities and challenges now that sexual orientation is no longer a factor in personnel matters within the U. S. military. The Praxis will promote practical skills for responding to coming out, partner and family needs, moral distress, depression and suicide, discrimination, and economic and social challenges arising in the current political and legal discourse.
The praxis will be held on their Denver campus on April 12-13. Click on the link above to learn more and to register. |
26TH ANNUAL JOINT WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP SYMPOSIUM
Washington, D.C. (February 6, 2013) - The Sea Service Leadership Association (SSLA) announces a new date for its 26th annual Joint Women's Leadership Symposium, the largest gathering of military women in the nation. The two day symposium will now be held June 6-7, 2013, at the Gaylord National Hotel & Convention Center in National Harbor, Md. Attendees may continue to register at www.sealeader.org.
Women from each of the five service branches are encouraged to register. With the theme, "Stronger Self, Stronger Service," the symposium will provide participating servicewomen with tools for both their personal and professional lives, to make them better leaders. |
 3rd ID Reunion The Society of the 3rd Infantry Division and attached units in wars and in peacetime will hold their 94th annual reunion September 12-15, 2013 at the Westin Lombard Yorktown Center Hotel in Lombard/Chicago, IL. For additional reunion information, contact: Trish Blanton 1-360-663-2521 |
MCA Bookstore
Thanks to NEC member, Chaplain Brian Bohlman, we have a new online bookstore dedicated to books of interest to chaplains. Click HERE to see what we have.
CHAPLAIN MALL
Thanks to former Executive Director Gary Pollitt and Webmaster Dan DeBlock, aided by the constant prodding of Chaplain Brian Bohlman, we now have a new site for our books by and about chaplains. CLICK HERE to go to the mall. |
 Voices of Chaplaincy Volume I of our Voices of Chaplaincy eBook is ready for purchase. These booksellers have them available (click on the hotlink to order) |
PUBLISH YOUR ARTICLES
The MCA provides two opportunities for members to publish their articles and books, and we seriously desire your writing! Submit your articles for publication on these issues:
Voices of Chaplaincy
Submissions should focus on these three core ministry functions: Nurturing the living; Caring for the wounded; Honoring the fallen. We need up to 30 articles each month to build our books.
CLICK HERE for more information about your submission.
Submit articles about your experience of chaplaincy to NEC member Brian Bohlman
The Military Chaplain magazine
Submissions should be limited to no more than 1000 words and should address one of these themes: Mentoring, Connecting, or Advocating
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Chaplains serving - tell us how and tell us now
Take five minutes and let us know what you are doing and when you do it. We now have a new link on our website for active duty, retired, and former chaplains to report your activities, services, speeches and other noteworthy acts. The online report is found under "Membership" on the top of our web page. |
 MCA Brocure Available Again
The MCA trifold brochure introduces the Association to prospective new members and donors. You may order a supply from the Executive Director or pick them up at the National Institute. |
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