Chaplaincy
A parallel path to the pastorate is the position of a chaplain, who ministers in such settings as hospitals, schools, the military, and jails. Most chaplains do not have doctorate degrees in biblical studies or theology. (Several schools have specific Doctor of Ministry degrees in chaplaincy.) However, since chaplains frequently have the opportunity to teach from the Bible, that kind of training would be an asset.
Dr. K. Loren Aderhold
Chaplain
U. S. Army
The U. S. Army Chaplaincy has provided an opportunity for me to integrate my academic interests of warfare in the Bible and eight years of pastoral experience in a local church into a challenging and fulfilling vocation. The decision to begin this journey took place in the midst of the troop surges in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as a simultaneous significant shortage of chaplains in the Army. Since, I have found that there is no greater honor than caring for Soldiers and Families who make great sacrifices on behalf of our nation.
The daily life of a chaplain is embedded with Soldiers. You train and work alongside them which opens doors for incredible ministry and conversations about ultimate things in life. My service in the 82nd Airborne Division involved parachuting and even serving as a jumpmaster, experiences very different from my tenure-track classmates. My love for teaching found life in practical seminars and retreats supporting healthy relationships and moral leadership. During my two deployments to Afghanistan, long days were spent leading worship services in a variety of settings; advising leaders on issues of morals, ethics, and morale; counseling Soldiers struggling with the difficulties of war and separation from Family; ministering to wounded Soldiers in Aid Stations; and ensuring fallen heroes were sent home with the utmost respect while comforting their colleagues. I cannot imagine a context of ministry which could be more challenging or more rewarding than communicating God’s grace in the fog of war.
Time in service brings promotions as well as expanded and increased responsibilities. As a brigade chaplain, I coordinated the efforts of seven Unit Ministry Teams (a chaplain and their enlisted religious affairs specialist) to provide religious support for ~4,500 Soldiers and Families. This was at the height of COVID, and we worked to help leaders overcome isolation and loneliness Soldiers experienced (and the ensuing harmful behaviors) due to constraints on physical interactions. As one continues to serve, there are also opportunities for additional training and education—I completed an MBA and an Executive MPA at Syracuse University whereas others pursue CPE or Family and Marriage Therapy programs. Such opportunities enable teaching and training platforms which are another very meaningful way to fulfill my calling as an academic.
Specifically, having done theological doctoral work provides significant credibility with leaders and empowers me for vital tasks as a chaplain. I leverage my ability to research and write clearly to advise commanders and Soldiers on ethical and moral decisions on the battlefield (and at home station); to educate units on the effect of indigenous religions on military operations; and to care for Soldiers facing moral injury from actions in combat. That said, my continuing research has necessarily had more breadth of subjects than depth of focus on my specific scholarly discipline of Old Testament studies (though it certainly influences much of my thought and advisement). Furthermore, there are scores of opportunities to teach and mentor. My preparation to be a biblical scholar and professor has equipped me for the multiple opportunities I have taught in formal settings such as: training healthy relationship skills for Soldiers and Families; training chaplains in homiletics and other skills; equipping partner nation chaplains to better minister to Soldiers and leaders; and “Church History” chapel congregation tours while in Europe. All of these allowed me to apply biblical/theological knowledge in educational settings outside of a traditional classroom. A final, and perhaps most important way my PhD in biblical studies has impacted ministry as a chaplain is in my teaching and preaching in chapel settings. Specifically, I have the tools to proclaim God’s Word faithfully and effectively, wherever I may be. This is true in the States, where military Families often attend chapel rather than a local church due to the transient nature of their career assignments. Even more, in deployed environments, Chaplains are often the sole minister in remote locations where Soldiers daily face their mortality. Soldiers at such sites need the truth of Scripture rightly applied to carry on with their mission. Skills gained in my PhD years of focusing on Scripture have empowered me to do this more effectively in these situations where it mattered most.
There are certainly challenges in this vocation. You live in the nexus of duty to God and nation and must vigilantly maintain faithfulness and relevance. Our Family has moved eight times in the last 14 years, meaning we’ve seen lots of places but have not been able to plant deep roots. Finally, there is little room for superficiality in this calling—you must often step into the breach of life’s ultimate brokenness and provide pastoral care and leadership.
That said, ministry is most fulfilling where the need is greatest. Applying my biblical training in ministry as a chaplain has been a rich experience for me. Moreover, serving alongside warriors has informed my understanding of Scripture, particularly as it relates to warfare and its aftermath. Finally, as a biblical scholar AND chaplain, I serve as a deterrent to Thucydides’ concern for “cowardly thinkers” and “foolish warriors.” Being a military chaplain has enabled me to apply my knowledge of Scripture in the most challenging of contexts.
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