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CHAPLAIN GLOVER’S REPORT
I would begin my description of my ministry with the
following general statement. As a
chaplain in the Air Force, in accordance with the Chief of Chaplain’s
vision statement, my main responsibilities are for pastoral care of the
active duty airmen, their families, and others who work or participate in
the Air Force community. As well, I
am responsible for modeling and enabling ethical leadership within the Air
Force, at the level in which I am able to participate. Pastoral care of the airmen involves
worship, visitation, counseling, crisis intervention, education
opportunities, fellowship, and other avenues of ministry. Modeling ethical leadership involves
working with supervisors, first sergeants (who take care of each
squadron’s troops), and commanders as they deal with personnel, unit,
and/or personal issues. In the Air
Force Chaplain Service, we describe our ministry as “a reminder of
the holy”. In a large
governmental organization which values technology and production, this
concept is vital as we seek to minister in God’s name, proclaiming
the hope and life we have through Jesus Christ, the Lord.
As a
chaplain, I am responsible directly to my supervisor, the Wing Chaplain,
and his supervisor, the Wing Commander.
I maintain close relationships with the Presbyterian Council on
Chaplains and Military Personnel, the church agency which endorses and
supports chaplains in our various ministries. Officially, I regularly submit reports to
them and I ask them to send a copy of this report to the Presbytery. I have included my most recent report in
this mailing. As well, I recognize
and respect that I am under the discipline and authority of the Presbytery
of the Inland Northwest. As a
Presbytery member, I have attempted to be active in attending meetings of
Presbytery. I have maintained close
relationships with ministers within Presbytery by participating in a
minister’s support group which meets monthly. When possible, our family has
participated in local congregations both for worship and youth
programming. Whenever possible, our
daughters participate in Northwood Presbyterian’s youth ministries,
including
In order to
answer the questions regarding the nature of my ministry, as well as how my
ministry conforms with scripture and our
tradition, allow me to describe my work this fall. The events of September 11th
dictated my ministry which occupied much of the fall. For the first two weeks, I was in the
role of the wing chaplain fully responsible for managing the chapel’s
ministry during the base’s response.
On several occasions during this initial period I was privileged to
pray with base leadership, seeking God’s strength, peace, and comfort
for Fairchild, the victims of terrorism, and our nation. Within the first couple of days I, along
with the chapel staff, organized an ecumenical prayer service for the
entire base community. Attended by a couple hundred people, the service was
a demonstrable expression of our dependence upon God as a community and
nation. On Friday following the
terrorist attacks, a day of prayer designated by President Bush, I
orchestrated a prayer service held in conjunction with retreat (the
ceremonial conclusion to the duty week).
Over 1,000 airmen and family members participated as together we
praised God and sought God’s bless for our country. These two large and visible events,
affirmed our faith in a God who is intimately involve with humanity. In addition, they gave us the opportunity
to affirm publicly that the Lord is sovereign, compassionate, merciful, the
source of our hope and strength.
This year I
have been blessed with two opportunities for leadership and ministry:
serving as Senior Protestant Chaplain at Fairchild and deploying to Prince
Sultan Air Base,
Central to
our work as Protestant chaplains is the worship of God. Upholding the primacy of God’s word
in worship as well as Bible study, I have the joyous privilege of
communicating God’s love and hope to the young men, women, and families
of the Air Force. Preaching and
teaching among such a young community (most being under 30) is
an opportunity that most
Presbyterian churches would not provide.
Also through my counseling contacts I have many opportunities to
share the compassion and hope of Jesus Christ. Most of the people with whom I visit and
counsel are non-Christian, so daily I consider myself on the frontlines of
evangelism.
Ministering
among the troops in
I am hoping, praying, and diligently working to make
that so for myself as well as the thousands of service men and women with
whom I am serving.
Upon my
return from PSAB, I would enjoy the opportunity to talk about the military
chaplaincy with the Committee on Ministry.
Many within the Presbyterian Church are unaware of the needs and
opportunities for ministry among the Armed Forces, and I would be pleased
to tell our story. I am proud to
represent the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) as a minister of the Gospel as I
serve our country and the United States Air Force.
In
Christ’s service,
// signed //
BRUCE
R. GLOVER
Chaplain,
Major, USAF
PCCMP is supported by:
the Associate Reformed Presbyterian (ARP);
Presbyterian Church
and the generous contributions of friends and
well wishers.
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