Introduction
At first glance, the connection between church and army might seem as barely noticeable one. From values to demeanor, the overall environment of the two fields seems almost incompatible. However, on further analysis, certain connections between the two will be spotted. Both sere a specific and crucial purpose of protecting those in need, and both have a rigid code of ethics and a set of strong standards to uphold. Arguably, one could say that soldiers in the military might not need the church; however, in the setting as rigid and demanding as the military, the presence of an opportunity for spiritual growth is one of the essential options for supporting the soldiers’ morale. Therefore, by offering spiritual support and opportunities for spiritual development, a Christian chaplain will be able to improve the performance of soldiers and build a strong sense of loyalty and responsibility in them, thus, giving them a purpose.
How my theology (from the upload book of worship) informs my identity and how that manifests in counseling others who share different beliefs. (Critique will be on integration, not what you believe)
As a Christian chaplain of the United Church of Christ, I put an exceptionally strong emphasis on the importance of union within a community, in general, and the military, in particular. The specific core belief will allow me to encourage collaboration and cohesion in the target audience. As a result, the development of mutual support and the active acceptance of the relevant values, including the traditional Christian ones, such as empathy and responsibility, will become possible. Overall, the framework that my current theology provides will be suitable for building a strong sense of unity within the army, thus creating a support system where spirituality will be sustained through support and focus on relevant rituals and traditions. Thus, soldiers will be able to accept the critical values and beliefs, integrating them, into the very fabric of their spirituality.
How The Army Profession Can Guide My Development as a Professional Pastoral Counselor
Being a part of the Army and encouraging soldiers to accept the principles of Christianity will provide a massive boost for my development as a Christian leader. Namely, the Army setting will teach me to provide directions to people that are highly driven by specific goals and, therefore, have very little time and place for spiritual contemplations. While being a tremendous challenge, the specified task will encourage me to develop flexibility in building the premises for spatulas growth, as well as demonstrate resourcefulness and conduct a proper needs analysis in order to appeal to the troops directly. since soldiers have a very rigid set of objectives to meet, spiritual growth and contemplations about the nature of their connection to Christ may not be on the list of their priorities. In turn, my guidance will let them develop the necessary extent of spirituality even in the demanding and restrictive conditions of the Army setting.
How the Army Ethic or Code of Ethics for Chaplains Can Help in Tough Counseling Situations
Though the ethical standards of the Christian Church and those of the U.S. Army might seem as not quite compatible given the difference in their objectives and purpose, there are certain overlaps in their context and content. For instance, in the situations that I will find particularly challenging, the focus on responsibility and acceptance of the authority of the superior will help me to convince the troops to accept specific values and ideas even if the soldiers do not have the necessary cultural or spiritual background needed to embrace the complexity of a specific concept or idea. In turn, the standards of the Christian Church will help me to remain patient and understanding of the needs of soldiers so that they could progress in their spiritual development.
How Empathy Helps Me as a Religious Leader and a Pastoral Counselor
As emphasized above, it is expected that soldiers may have certain difficulties in embracing and accepting specific spiritual concept. Moreover, some of the Christian ideas, particularly, the ones associated with Christlikeness, might seem alien to them, especially given the environment of the Army and the objectives that I pursue. Therefore, when facing the lack of understanding or acceptance, as a Christian leader and a pastoral counselor, I will need empathy in order to support the target audience on their way to redemption and ultimate salvation. Empathy will help me to recognize the humanity of the troops even if they reject the foundational principles of Christianity and reject the idea of accepting the Christian values that I will offer them. Therefore, empathy must lie at the core of the strategy that I will pursue as a Christian leader in the context of the U.S. Army.
A Brief Statement of My Pastoral Counselor Identity
My Personal Counselor Identity can be summarized as providing spiritual support and assistance to those that have doubts, experience a spiritual crisis, or need guidance, in general. I am willing to assist an individual or a group of people in finding the core of their spiritual strength and exploring it by building a connection with God. Seeking an individual approach to the spiritual discovery, I focus on traditional religious practice such as praying, as well as a more nuanced approach that involves delving into an individual’s value system and helping them to conduct an analysis of personal needs and drawing the path to personal salvation that they can follow. As a result, I can help an individual, as well as a team of individuals, to reach a new stage of spirituality, where they are aware of their needs and goals as Christians.
Bibliography
Holenweger, Michael, Michael Karl Jager, and Franz Kernic. Leadership in Extreme Situations. Cham: Springer, 2017.
Ramsay, Nancy J., and Carrie Doehring. Military Moral Injury and Spiritual Care: A Resource for Religious Leaders and Professional Caregivers. St. Louis, MI: Chalice Press, 2019.
Robinson, Paul, Nigel De Lee, and Don Carrick, eds. Ethics Education in the Military. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd., 2017.
United Church of Christ, Book of Worship. Cleveland, OH: Office for Church Life and Leadership, 2020.