BEING A CHAPLAIN
You were elected to the office of Post/District Chaplain.
You have an important responsibility to your Post/District.
Whether you have been selected for your religious training or past VFW experiences, you are expected to be the spiritual advisor to your organization and its members.
You are not expected to know everything but are expected to search for the answer and get back to the individual. Do not be afraid to ask questions when necessary. There are many ministers of faiths/denominations and chaplains that are willing to assist you. As you meet them, create a contact list and offer veteran/VFW/chaplain assistance when they need it. All will benefit from the experience.
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PURPOSE OF CHAPLAINS
The office of Chaplain is not just to provide a "religious” officer to the organization to offer prayers at meetings. He or she has higher purposes:
1- To help persons grow in their relationship with God.
2- To help persons grow in their relationships to one another and become a true comrade/sister to one another.
3- To serve as a reminder of the transcendent in life.
4- To develop an environment with which comrades and sisters are encouraged in their personal and collective moral and spiritual growth.
5- To remind all Americans that God is the source of all rights and privileges.
We must be reminded that the Veterans of Foreign Wars is comprehensive in nature, embracing all religions and faith groups within its ranks. The Chaplaincy, being non-sectarian must minister to the spiritual needs of all, without regard to either church/synagogue/mosque affiliation or non-affiliation. Chaplains will need to provide ministry to people wherever there is a need.
QUALIFICATIONS OF CHAPLAINS
The qualifications for the Veterans of Foreign Wars Chaplain are not academic or ecclesiastical. A VFW Chaplain candidate is not required to be a "professional” clergy person. (Most Post/Auxiliary Chaplains are not.) The qualifications are simple yet important:
1- A willingness to serve the office.
2- A sense of spiritual maturity.
3- Committed to providing a Chaplain’s ministry.
4- A caring person.
5- A desire to help people.
6- The ability to keep things confidential.(Extremely important.)
7- Willing to be neutral and objective when settling disputes.
8- Voice projection and the ability to read well in public.
9- Should have a positive attitude toward him/herself.
10- Chaplains should be proud of their office and determined to do a good job.
Duties and Responsibilities of the Chaplain
1. In a non-sectarian manner, you should be prepared to listen to your fellow comrades/sisters and provide aid and spiritual comfort in times of stress, sickness, or bereavement.
2. Work with your Service Officer to aid members and their families in time of need.
3. Your Post Commander or Officers may come to you in confidence. Remember the privileged communication you are having is for your ears only. Uphold the high ideals of the organization in any advice you offer. Remember it is a privilege – respect it.
4. You should be prepared to offer the ritual prayers at each meeting of the Post. You will also be called upon to offer appropriate prayers at the initiation of new members; installation of officers; the dedication of a building, monument or colors; or at the memorial service of a comrade.
Note: All such services are commemorated by use of the VFW or Auxiliary ritual.
5. Being a member of the Post’s Memorial Team will provide an opportunity for contact with the grieving family and thus provides a caring ministry to them. The Memorial Team is an important part of the honors offered to a veteran.
6. Use the persuasion of your office to promote harmony and unity in the Post/District/State.
Additional Duties & Responsibilities
- A person of moral and intellectual qualities
- A member of the Executive Committee
- Your Post’s official representative at Religious and Civic affairs in the great community
- A pastoral caregiver
- Conduct and/or participate in Memorial, and Funeral Services when called upon
- Send cards to sick and bereaved
- Visit sick, bereaved and hospitalized
- Participation in Parades, 9/11 Memorial Services, Veterans Day Programs/Services, and POW/MIA Services
- Presenting Memorial Bibles to deceased members’ Family
- Generate respect for the office of Chaplain
Key Resources
These sources are most likely the three most important resources a chaplain in the VFW needs in order to accomplish their general duties.
The complete resources are listed here for easy downloading. They may be printed by you and will fit nicely in a binder for easy access. I suggest you have a printed copy always available along with anything else printed that you might need. Finding things on smart phones and tablets can be challenging in a hurry and if the internet is not available or the battery change runs out, you may not be able to use them at all. I do have all of this saved in files on my smart phone and Kindle, but I also have a hard copy in my car.
So far as price for printing, there are some less expensive options if your post is unable to print them for you. Many libraries offer so many pages per month free with your library card. I know that the St. Louis Public Library offers 200 pages free per month and heard that Springfield, Missouri offers copies for five cents each. Check around. Often talking to the manager about your job and asking for a reduction in price also will get you a break on the cost of printing.
This is the formal handbook of the national VFW. It is no longer in print because it is available in several places on line for down loading and printing yourself. If you do find a old printed copy, hold on to it!
Free Resources of Hope and Encouragement
References
ADDITIONAL REFERENCES FOR CHAPLAINS
The references on this page are extra ones added to further research you may be doing. Although they maybe valuable from time to time, they are not necessary for you to print just to have a copy unless your specific duties call for you to use them.
Some of the references listed here may have been listed elsewhere on this site as well.
If you have other references you think might be helpful to other chaplains, please email them to me at chaplain@movfw.org.
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Religious Support in Joint Operations
Benedictions and Closing Prayers
Supporting Veterans in Recover; Strategies for Family, Friends and Communities
Articles
The articles come from a variety of sources. I tried to post the ones I felt would be of most interest to a VFW Chaplain. Should you come across something of interest that you do not see here, please send it to me at chaplain@movfw.org.
Hopefully you will find these enjoyable and informative!
VFW Chaplains Organizational Structure
National Four Chaplains Day – Feb 3
Ernest Heaton a Dorchester Survivor Died
Missouri VFW Chaplain's Reporting Program
All chaplains regardless of being at post or district level should report their activities through the normal VFW Reporting system. Most of what we do is covered under Community or Americanism areas. When in doubt ask!
BUT PLEASE REPORT YOUR ACTIVITIES! It is important to let the VFW know we are out there working!
Things to report:
Funeral and or Commitment Services for a veteran.
Memorial Day Services held outside of your post or district.
POW/MIA Services held for the public,
Offering prayers before any organization other than your post or district.
Participating in yellow ribbons or other recruiting events.
Helping during floods or other disasters. ie. helping at a shelter or collecting blanks and clothes.
Working as a VFW Chaplain while at a food bank or serving meals to the homeless.
Talking to a veteran other than in your post.
Going to the National Home and helping with a party for the children.
Please feel free to contact Chaplain Debb Halter by text at 314 397 5662 if you have questions on what to report.
Deborah Halter
State Chaplain, Department of Missouri
Past National Chaplain, 2021-2022, 2022-2023
