Military Pagan Network Inc.

PO Box 1225 · Columbia · MD · 21044

 

 

 

SUBJECT: Registration as an Ecclesiastical Endorsing Organization and Applying for Appointment as a Military Chaplain.

 

                The Armed Forces Chaplains Board (AFCB) processes requests for recognition as an Ecclesiastical Endorsing Agent.  The enclosed application’s must be completed and returned to the AFCB office in order to process your request.  Please provide a brief history, copies of bylaws, organizational structure, criteria for membership, and other information that would assist the Board in determining if your faith group meets the established criteria. Please note that the senior ecclesiastical official of your faith group, read church, must sign the application.

 

                To be considered for recognition, a faith group must have specific clergy who are in the process of seeking appointment as a military Chaplain.  Also, the Endorsing Executive/Senior Presiding Official listed in paragraph 7 of DD Form 2741 cannot be the same as clergy being nominated for military chaplain service.  An ecclesiastical official cannot endorse herself or himself.

 

                It is crucially important that faith groups seeking recognition are:

 

A.      Organized for the purpose of religious services to a lay constituency.

 

B.       Able to endorse members of the clergy who are sensitive to the religious pluralism and who will provide for the free exercise of religion for all members of the Armed Forces.

 

The accession process for military chaplains involves two elements.

 

A.      The recognition of a religious faith group as an ecclesiastical certifying/endorsing agency.

 

B.       The acceptance of specific clergy for service as a military chaplain.

 

The faith group has the responsibility to nominate clergy for military service using DD Form 2088.  It is the responsibility of the Chief of Chaplains of the military departments to access clergy who can meet the requirements of providing for the free exercise of religion for the people of the military community. The recognition by the DoD of a religious faith group as an ecclesiastical endorsing agency does not guarantee that faith group a chaplain position in the military.

 

                The applicant for a chaplain position must meet the requirements listed in attachment 2 and submit DD Form 2088 to the ecclesiastical endorsing agent, or the organization applying for recognition by the DoD as an ecclesiastical endorsing agency. The applicant is not to send the DD Form 2088 to the AFCB, it must be submitted by the endorsing agency. The applicant is not guaranteed a position as a chaplain; it is up to the Chief of Chaplains of the each military department to determine the clergy required to meet the ministry needs of the military.

 

Dr. Drake Spaeth , Executive Director

 

Attch:

1: DD Form 2741

2: Information for faith groups seeking recognition by the DoD.

3: DoDD 1304.19

4: DD Form 2088