Presbyterian Council for Chaplains and Military Personnel

OUR MISSION IS VITAL ... TO PROVIDE MILITARY PERSONNEL WITH A VISIBLE REMINDER OF THE HOLY IN THE MIDST OF COMBAT AND CHAOS!! PCCMP supports the worldwide communities of people in which our military personnel are serving; pastor our far-flung chaplains and support them in their ministry and touch the lives of the military soldier’s family.

QUALIFICATION/ENDORSEMENT/APPLICATION

QUALIFICATION:

The following requirements are the same for the three services:
        The applicant must be:
        1. An ordained minister
        2. A citizen of the United States/Legal Resident (Army only)
        3. At time of appointment:
            Under age 38, Reserves; and 36, Active Duty; for the Navy.
            Under age 40, Reserves, 37, Active Duty for Army and Air Force.
            Adjustments may be considered for prior commissioned service, for
            immediate Active Duty in accordance with the current needs of the
            service.
        4. Able to receive a favorable National Security Agency clearance.
        5. Physically qualified. (Military branches of service may differ).
        6. A graduate with 120 semester hours of undergraduate credit and
            90 semester hours of accredited graduate or theological studies with a
            Master of Divinity degree or equivalency.

THE ECCLESIASTICAL ENDORSEMENT PROCESS

Every chaplain within the Armed Forces, the VA Service, and CAP must possess an Ecclesiastical Endorsement. It is the certification which permits the chaplain to minister in the name of the parent denomination. Furthermore, the Ecclesiastical Endorsement is the authentication by the denomination that the prospective chaplain is not only in good standing with the ordaining body, but is a person highly qualified to serve as a chaplain. For Presbyterian chaplains, it is granted by the Presbyterian Council only after an application process, very careful consideration, and a personal interview.

If application to the Armed Forces is made for a chaplain commission but the Ecclesiastical Endorsement is not granted by the Council, the military application will not be approved, and will be returned without action.

Because the chaplain is merely "on loan" to the military or Veterans Affairs, it is imperative that a close relationship be maintained with the parent presbytery and with the Presbyterian Council. The chaplain may retain membership in the presbytery to which he or she belonged at the time of entrance into Active Duty; or may transfer presbytery membership to the judicatory in whose jurisdiction he or she is presently assigned. While the Presbyterian Council will perform much of the role of ecclesiastical support and supervision, the parent presbytery remains the governing jurisdiction.
The withdrawal* of Ecclesiastical Endorsement by the denomination will disqualify the chaplain from continuing in a military, VA, or CAP ministry, and will require release from the chaplaincy.

THE APPLICATION PROCESS
Application forms to process for the Ecclesiastical Endorsement can be obtained from the Presbyterian Council Office, 4124 Van Ness Street NW., Washington DC 20016 or request one via email at info@pccmp.org or download here. Please specify the service choice and whether it is for active/reserve military service or the Chaplain Candidate Program. The form requires seven items:

A brief typewritten life sketch.
A statement of the motivations and reasons for wanting to serve as a chaplain.
A statement from the spouse of concurrence with the application for the chaplaincy (military chaplaincy only).
College, seminary and post-graduate transcripts.
Five copies of a Minister's Personal Information Form (PIF) or dossier from the appropriate office of the denomination (if available).
A current photograph.
A cassette tape of a sermon or worship leadership.

When the application has been received, the Council will gather additional information, including the concurrence of the parent presbytery and the confidential appraisals of the applicant. Approximately three months are required for the accumulation of all the necessary supporting material. The applicant is then invited to meet with the Interview Committee of the Council which is augmented by one active duty chaplain. These meetings are governed by the number of applicants. The Interview Committee will confer with the applicant to consider each individual's appropriate motivation, personal suitability, and churchmanship for this type of ministry. The applicant will be informed, within two weeks, of an Endorsement. Persons applying for the VA Chaplaincy and Chaplain Candidate Program will be interviewed at a location near the applicant's home.

The Military application for commission as a chaplain is made through the Recruiting Office of the branch of the military service desired. Offices are located in the larger cities of the United States.

PCCMP is supported by:

the Associate Reformed Presbyterian (ARP);

Cumberland Presbyterian (CP); Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America (CPCA);

Presbyterian Church USA (PCUSA)

and the generous contributions of friends and well wishers.

PRESBYTERIAN COUNCIL FOR CHAPLAINS

AND MILITARY PERSONNEL (PCCMP)

“a ministry to those who serve our Nation”