Volunteers sought to lead spiritual services

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Samuel Taylor
  • 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  In an effort to support the spiritual diversity of its members, the Air Force relies on military chaplains to either directly support or accommodate spiritual services and requirements.
For services that chaplains cannot directly support, volunteers are encouraged to apply to lead spiritual services at Dover Air Force Base, Del.

"We are always encouraging people who wish to lead others in services to come forward and apply, as it our goal to accommodate everyone's spiritual needs, so long as they are compatible with good order and military discipline," said Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Dennis Saucier. "Spiritual fitness is one of the pillars of human wellness. Our beliefs, ethics and morality give us direction in life; they are the glue that holds us together."

The process for applying to lead religious services begins at the chapel, where a chaplain will make initial contact with an applicant. As the Air Force does not establish the qualifications to lead a service, endorsing agents recognized and sanctioned by the Armed Forces Chaplains Board are consulted to verify the credentials of a service leader.

If applying to lead a doctrinal religious service, such as a Buddhist, Christian, Islamic or Jewish service, applicants will be referred to one of more than 190 endorsing agents. An applicant will receive an endorsement if the endorsing agent deems them qualified to teach the bona fide doctrines and dogmas of their religion. An endorsement is required to lead a military-sanctioned doctrinal religious service.

Non-doctrinal religious services, like many individualistic Earth-based services, do not require an endorsement, as there are no established doctrines and dogmas pertaining thereto. Instead, a letter of recommendation from a leader within that religion is encouraged.

Non-religious services, including Atheistic, Agnostic and Secular-Humanist services, are also supported by the chapel. The application process for non-religious services is identical to that of non-doctrinal religions.

Once an applicant has obtained an endorsement or recommendation, they can meet with a chaplain to arrange for a location, time and resources, said Saucier. The chapel will do its best to meet the needs of each service.

For more information, call the Dover AFB Chapel at (302) 677-5111. To access the list of AFCB-sanctioned endorsing agents, visit http://prhome.defense.gov/RFM/MPP/CHAPLAINS%20BOARD/ENDORSEMENTS.ASPX