Continuity of Spiritual Care: Military Chapels "What the What?"

CONTINUITY OF SPIRITUAL CARE: MILITARY CHAPELS

The Six Part Series

I am so excited to share with you this vision and mission that has been cultivated from experience as a military family, ministry, and a cooperative group of friendships. The next several posts will be the rough ideology and template of what I feel God has laid upon my heart and called me to share. Enjoy.

INTRO: What the What?

Part 1: PCS Permanent Change of Station

Part 2: Arrival

Part 3: What’s Life Teen got to do with it?

Part 4: Mission and Miracles

Part 5: Many Parts, Many Hats

Part 6: Bid Farewell, Not Goodbye

CONCLUSION: Don’t let the sun set

A message for widespread awareness of service member and military family needs from Military Chapels called:

“Continuity of Spiritual Care”

What the What?

What is Continuity of Spiritual Care? How does it relate to Military Chapel Communities? What are the essential parts of effective spiritual care?

“Change is the only constant in life”- Hericletus. As a military community, we are very familiar with change. Good leaders are insistent on empowering our service members and their families with tools and training to enhance characteristics of resiliency, adaptability, flexibility, and we encourage those in leadership positions to consider the inevitability of their own transition from their station by keeping a mind on continuity. Continuity binder anyone?

With transitions happening every so often with health care in the military, and indeed in our nation at the moment, one major concern among many military families especially for those in transition is what we term “continuity of care”.  We are afforded a primary care physician who is generally overworked and also on rotation like us, therefore, to see the same doctor for the same condition or just general wellness can be very challenging. Most of us know that we are to do two things as it pertains to our health. When we are sick, we go to the doctor and when we are well we make sure to check in at least once a year to ensure we are healthy.

We should be able to see some patterns and certainly some parallels in our Military Chapel care as well. A healthy Church must have leaders who embody the characteristics we mentioned and also be steadfast in her dedication to being a home away from home. As the years accumulate in our military service, I am growing more passionate about the need for continuity in our health care system but more so, in our spiritual communities. Although the Chapel is not typically on the in-process sheet, it is integral for the overall spiritual health to have a standard that is predictable, replicable and supports every member of the military family. These standards, the how to, and the impact of having all of the above is what we call Continuity of Spiritual Care.

It was said to me by Michelle Nash, military spouse of a retired Soldier, leader, and devout Catholic, “Our Diocese is the ONLY diocese in the world in which the sun NEVER sets.” We are all one BIG family under one diocese. It would be easy to identify the problem areas and stark lacking in Continuity of Spiritual Care. If you have been a part of any church community we could likely sit over several cups of coffee and share in lamentation. Instead, I am excited to share why it is important and what is incredibly good when this focus and support is given. This message will be given in the light of my personal experience as a 16 year, and counting, Military Spouse and of course as a youth minister... There are some main critical elements for Continuity of Spiritual Care for persons who are spiritually sick, for when we are spiritually healthy, and especially with regard to our many transitions. This series will identify 6 parts: Permanent Change of Station (PCS), arrival, the many roles we fill as varied individuals, training and support, what Life Teen has to do with any of it, all the way through the inevitable farewell.