Hearing the Call Afresh: A Guide for Military Chaplains Facing Retirement (original) (raw)

Hearing the Call Afresh: A Guide for Military Chaplains Facing Retirement Douglas J. Vrieland Doctor of Ministry School of Theology, Fuller Theological Seminary 2018 Military chaplains are both clergy persons and officers in the armed services who minister to the members of the military and their families. The military is a unique subculture with its own geography, customs, traditions, and even clothing and hairstyles. Chaplains become a part of this subculture, serve under the same requirements and limitations as any other service member, and enjoy the same benefits, which include a very generous retirement package. When the time comes to transition out of this subculture, retiring chaplains face unique challenges. This dissertation will identify and examine the challenges facing retiring chaplains, the unique gifts and abilities these chaplains have to offer the church, and some of the negative stereotypes they will have to overcome. This study will look at the underlying biblical...