<p>I agree LW, but, with that said the "kids away from home for the first time" also need spiritual leadership, be it via military chaplains or civillian ones. The point is if the military cannot supply Chaplains then someone has to step up to the plate and provide the funding to have a Pastor at the Church.</p>
<p>To all,</p>
<p>It is with great honor that I send this as I depart for my next assignment. It has been an awesome tour as the Protestant Chaplain at USMMA and I have enjoyed serving our great Regiment of Midshipmen and have been honored to be a part of the Academy Staff.</p>
<p>I leave for a great and challenging assignment as the Chaplain for the 11th MEU (Marine Expeditionary Unit) based out of Camp Pendleton, CA. If any of you find yourselves out there please be sure to get in touch. </p>
<p>My address will be:</p>
<p>LCDR Perry D. Haagen / Chaplain / S-1
11th MEU
P O Box 555361
Camp Pendleton CA 92055-5361</p>
<p>While I do not have a cell phone number or email there I will keep this email until early August. If you need to reach me via email after that please try at <a href="mailto:perry.haagen@usmc.mil">perry.haagen@usmc.mil</a></p>
<p>Take Care and God Bless,
Chaplain Haagen</p>
<p>Every branch of the military pays for its Chaplains. This includes the other 4 service academies. As a current midshipman, I believe that not paying the Navy for 6 years for the chaplains was an action of very low integrity. Now the Academy wants to blame the Navy? The entire situation came up when the Academy tried to pull the Chaplains' housing on campus. Once this came to surface, it was realized that they were not being paid. The Academy prides itself on teaching the future leaders values of high integrity....
Not paying the Navy for 6 years was not such an action in my opinion. Acta non Verba.
The Academy is now facing issues of budgeting. I feel that it is on the Academy to rebudget and fix the problem. The Academy NEEDS a full time Chaplain, and it is plainly, and simply the fault of the Academy for this situation. Sadly, it seems that the students will be the ones who will suffer.</p>
<p>No, money is not the issue and the Academy is not to blame. </p>
<p>The Navy Chief of Chaplains spoke with Admiral Stewart and told him so. (I know this from not from the Academy but from the Pentagon) It is that the 111th MEU and others in harms way are a higher priority for Navy Chaplains than Midshipmen at KP. As it should be.</p>
<p>I agree with the Chief of Navy Chaplians. </p>
<p>Personally, I think that Chaplains with an understanding of Campus Ministry will serve KP well. My S was tremendously engaged in our Congregation's youth and outreach prgrams while growing up, and initially went to the Protestant worship at KP but it was made pretty clear to him that there was little room for someone raised in a Progressive Episcopal tradition. </p>
<p>So, while the Protestant Chaplain seems to have served the Fundamentalists and Evangelicals well, Progressive Christians seem to be left out. </p>
<p>So while I agree that the Academy NEEDS a full time Chaplain, I want the new Chaplain to be a female Episcopal Preist who can effectively minister to the broad range of Christians across traditions. And I don't care is she is a Navy Chaplain or not.</p>
<p>I also agree that if the Chaplains are in need elsewhere, it is in the Navy's best interest that they be in such places, such as those units actively engaged in the war efforts and peacekeeping efforts.
No doubt that the Academy is still in need of a Chaplain.</p>
<p>However, as a FEMALE midshipmen, I do not agree with hiring a female Chaplain at all. Number one, the Academy is made of of about 90% male students. And being active in the chapel program on campus, I do not feel like that is in the BEST interest of the body. I know most of the midshipmen on campus would feel more comfortable going to a male for counseling and spiritual guidance. This isn't to say, that most females would rather go to a female. This is why i feel it is so important to hire a Chaplain who is married.
Last year, the Chaplain's wife held women's Bible Studies and helped out with the women on campus, regardless of religious affiliation.
However, it is in the best interest of the Academy to hire a Chaplain which better fits the whole, not a small percentage.</p>
<p>But beyond that- THAT ISN'T THE ISSUE RIGHT NOW. The issue right now is just getting the Academy to see that it needs a FULL TIME chaplain. Once that hurdle has been crossed, I think we should look for someone with sound doctrine, who is there to serve the midshipman.</p>
<p>What's the "whole"? The small percentage of the kids who go to Chapel or the majority who don't?</p>
<p>Oh, speaking of sound doctrine, what's the difference between God and a fighter pilot?</p>
<p>God doesn't think She's a fighter pilot.</p>
<p>uh...what?</p>
<p>Well I think we have beat this around enough. Bottom line, I think you should consider writing your congressional representatives if you believe that it is not beneficial for the Navy to remove these chaplains. No matter what your thoughts, it is hard for me to see these removals in anyway being positive for USMMA.</p>
<p>Maybe the Seamans Church Institute can help here..
<a href="http://www.seamenschurch.org/474.asp%5B/url%5D">http://www.seamenschurch.org/474.asp</a>
Just a thought..</p>
<p>or maybe even the Apostleship of the Sea (Stella Maris)
<a href="http://www.stellamaris.net/viewport.php?portid=180%5B/url%5D">http://www.stellamaris.net/viewport.php?portid=180</a></p>
<p>Let's get organized and put some pressure on the decision-makers regarding this issue. I bet you can get a significant number of SA parents on this forum (Army, Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard and Merchant Marine) to write letters and/or call the right people. In fact, we could probably make up a significant constituency and put some pressure on the administration to provide chaplains to the midshipmen at USMMA. We could make their lives pretty miserable. We could talk about the critical role the chaplains fill at our respective institutions too. However, we also need support from the alumni association if possible. Who can help organize this campaign? The following is needed:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>An individual (alumna?) to organize this grass-roots effort to maintain a spiritual community at USMMA that includes bona fide chaplains. </p></li>
<li><p>A brief template of a letter and verbal script for supporters to use. </p></li>
<li><p>Names, addresses, and telephone numbers of people to write and call to express our support of chaplains at USMMA.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>I am more than willing to write a letter and call in support of the spiritual community at USMMA, and I don't think I'm alone.</p>
<p>Here is my position. I agree they need Chaplains at KP. I do not agree that they necessarily need to be Military (Navy, Army, AF) Chaplains. While there have been good Navy Chaplains at KP -- ones who get ministering to young people -- there have been others who's skill set has tended to be more geared toward ministry to the warfighter and haven't served the Midshipmen as well. I would favor Chaplains with a skill set and understanding of campus Ministry rather than Navy or other Military Chaplains.</p>
<p>Finally, I am tremendously concerned when I read code-words like "sound doctrine" or "bona fide" with regard to Chaplains.</p>
<p>My son has been part of a progressive (yes, some might say liberal) Episcopal community growing up and he was virtually excluded from the Protestant community at KP.</p>
<p>KP needs Chaplains who are open and understand the breadth of faith that is out there, not one's who simply cater to the fundamentalist and evangelicals.</p>
<p>Finnally, if it is a choice between my kid at KP having a Chaplain and a family who's father is in harms way having a Chaplain, I say that family needs the Chaplain more than my son.</p>
<p>why would having a chaplain with "sound doctrine" disturb you?
that makes no sense...
"if you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything."</p>
<p>Bravo LFBW Dad. I agree with your concerns as to what "sound doctrine" or "bona fide" means. Are we including Catholic and Jewish chaplains in this discussion or is the concern only for those with a certain view of redemption. Ahh, thus our Founding Fathers' wisdom comes to light. I too wish that there was a spirtual director for all of our midshipman no matter what their call to salvation. But I agree that if there are choices to be made as to where these Chaplains are to minister let them go to those who are making the greater sacrifice. I am sure those parents who attended parochial school in the 50's, 60's and 70's will remember the saying "Offer it up". It's that time. Let's move along</p>
<p>
[quote]
why would having a chaplain with "sound doctrine" disturb you?
that makes no sense...
"if you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything."
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I would find a Chaplain who wasn't constantly searching and had settled upon a single doctrine as completely unacceptable for KP or any other educational institution.</p>
<p>Growing up Roman Catholic and being educated by Jesuits and having chosen to become an Episcopalian because of how the Jesuits taught me to think critically has led me to believe that doctrine should be constantly and faithfully challenged, to find the best understanding of a way for one to find salvation.</p>
<p>If there weren't people who were willing to challenge "sound doctrine" we would ALL still be Roman Catholics and pledge fidelity to the Pope and be going to Latin Mass today!</p>
<p>LFWB dad,
Can you honestly say that losing Navy Chaplains from KP is a good thing???
I don't see ANY way that this can be looked at as positive for KP...period!!!
Do you think that we should let this pass without at least trying to save that program???</p>
<p>I think there is more to this than the Navy is desperate for more chaplains in Iraq, etc. </p>
<p>I think we should at least address the issue with our political leaders and then, if a decision is still made to remove them, move on to the next step of finding other ways of addressing this void. </p>
<p>I have already spoken with my representatives. I hope most of you will.</p>
<p>Granted there is a shortage of chaplains, and this is probably historically true in times of war. Does anyone know the ratio of cadets/midshipmen to chaplains at the other service academies?</p>
<p>Good question usna09mom. Anyone know?</p>
<p>Oledad, I didn't read into LFWBDad's comments perhaps in the same way. Would it serve our kids better that a replacement come from one who is skilled in campus Ministry? I would have no objection as I agree with LFWBDad's view. "Void" was a well chosen word in your comments. Thats scary & what I feel I personally would like to see addressed. Let us know if you should hear news. Maybe we can keep the discussion flowing on this topic for those of us that need more information before acting.</p>
<p>Looking through old catalogs, USNA varies between 5 and 6. Probably with Individual Augmentation now to support the Middle East, there may be some TADs.</p>
<p>Someone mentioned earlier that the budget of 55 million only covers about 1/3 of the costs of the Academy. If this were true, the cost to educate one midshipman would be in the vicinity of $650,000. GAO would be rolling. I googled and the federal budget for 2007 is around 65 million. This ties in nearly perfectly on a per midshipman basis with USNA's 280 million which includes Alumni Assn support of 50 million annually.</p>
<p>There must be two sides to the story here in that, if it is true, trying to take away their housing and not paying the Navy for them over the past several years does not paint a pretty picture for the academy.</p>
<p>Sure, the soldiers overseas deserve first choice and the Navy is supplying a lot for the Army, but there are enough chaplains in the Navy for a little wiggle room not to completely decimate a billet where there is pretty much a captive audience. And I do know chaplains are getting hit relatively heavy with IAF duty while on shore duty.</p>
<p>LFWB, i see your point now that it was explained, and i agree that there should always be a search to deepen your knowledge and always question what you see and hear. i was in no way advocating having a sheep for a chaplain.</p>
<p>and in regards to the other question about which chaps we're talking about, i think (and i might not be fully correct, so forgive me if this is off base) that the other chaplains aren't really an issue at this point, it seems like where we're getting the most resistance is the protestant chaplain. while i agree the other chaps are involved because they all need housing ON CAMPUS, it seems as though the other chaplains aren't being fought as hard.</p>