Where do Federal Chaplains work, and what do they do?
ELCA chaplains can be found in Federal Prisons, Veterans Administration hospitals, and the Armed Services (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard). The ELCA has many chaplains who have been called by the ELCA Church Council to serve in Federal institutions. You can also find ELCA chaplains serving in state prisons and local hospitals, but these chaplains are called by their own synod’s church council rather than the Church Council of the ELCA.
Federal Chaplains have all of the same responsibilities of any other ELCA pastor: to preach the gospel, lead worship, administer the sacraments, perform weddings, counsel, teach, and bury the dead. Most ELCA Federal Chaplains lead a worship service every Sunday of the year. In addition, Federal Chaplains advise government leaders (wardens, military commanders, doctors and nurses) on how to uphold the spiritual life of prisoners, patients, staff members, and military personnel.
How does the ELCA support the ministry of Federal Chaplains? The ELCA’s support of chaplains begins by "endorsing" them for government service, that is, certifying them as competent, qualified, and caring members of the clergy who are eligible for government service.
Beyond this, the ELCA supports Federal Chaplains in a variety of ways. Federal Chaplains participate in regular continuing education and consultation sponsored by the ELCA through the ELCA’s Bureau for Federal Chaplaincy Ministries. The bureau works with the various federal agencies that sponsor chaplains, to empower both chaplains and those they serve. They also recruit new chaplains and seek replacements for those chaplains who retire, die, or move to other types of calls each year.
The ELCA supports Federal Chaplains through the prayers of the Lutheran community, and through financial support generously given by ELCA members as part of the ELCA’s worldwide ministry.
How can I support the work of Federal Chaplains?
Pray for them, and ask your congregation to pray for the work of ELCA chaplains who work in prisons, hospitals, and the armed forces. If you would like to pray for ELCA chaplains by name on a rotating basis, call the ELCA Office for Federal Chaplains at (202) 822-6414 or e-mail them at
elcachap@aol.com.
Give generously to the work of the ELCA. ELCA benevolence supports the work of the Bureau for Federal Chaplaincy Ministries as well as many other efforts to spread the gospel.
The Bureau for Federal Chaplaincy Ministries also gratefully receives gifts designated for specific ministries (prison, VA hospitals, and the armed forces). Such gifts make possible kits for military field worship, educational opportunities for chaplains, and other ministry enhancements.
My son / daughter / husband / wife is serving in the armed forces, and I need to notify them about a death / birth / illness in the family. How can I get word to him/her?
Chaplains are always available to support those who received news of a birth or death, but normally do so only upon request.
If your loved one can be reached by phone at their home or barracks, the quickest way is to call them directly. You can also call the operator at the military post/base your loved one is stationed at, and ask to speak to a chaplain before you call your loved one. A duty chaplain is normally available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
If your loved one is in basic training, at sea, in the field, or deployed, you should call the American Red Cross’s Armed Forces Emergency Number, which is 877-272-7337, or your local office of the Red Cross. The Red Cross will convey the message to your loved one’s commander. You can specify in the message that you "request a chaplain be present during notification."
I am concerned about a member of the family who is in the military. They seem depressed / they are having financial problems / they seem to be having marriage problems. How can I get a chaplain to speak to them?
The best way is to ask your loved one to go see a chaplain. Generally, people are more receptive to help when they seek it out themselves.
If your loved one will not seek help, or if time is of the essence, call the post/base operator and ask to speak to a chaplain. If you can, please give the chaplain your loved one’s name, social security number, unit of assignment (company / battalion / squadron / ship) so that the chaplain will be able to locate your loved one more quickly.
If your loved one is overseas or on a ship, call the closest military base of that service (Army, Navy, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard) and ask to speak to the post, base, or ship's chaplain.
You can also call the American Red Cross at 877-272-7337 and ask them to verify that your loved one is all right. This is called a "Health and Welfare message" by the Red Cross.