Photo By Lt.Cmdr. Jim Remington | U.S. Navy chaplains from the National Capital Region to the west coast received briefs...... read more read more
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WASHINGTON – Senior Navy and Marine Corps chaplains from the National Capital Region, including visiting chaplains from up and down the west coast, recently took part in a three-day professional development training course at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling (JBAB) that focuses on pastoral care and the importance of confidentiality when dealing with service members and their families, particularly when involving sexual assault. The course, which was hosted by the (JBAB) Chapel Center, was also a foray into how chaplains can get better engaged with their base commands and respective communities.
Back in 2008, the U.S. Navy announced an official campaign to help educate service members, families and leadership on the importance of confidential communications with a chaplain. From this “sacred trust” comes many variables, according to Chaplain (Lt. Cmdr.) David Cullen, deputy director of professional development for the Naval Chaplaincy School and Center (NCSC) in Columbia, S.C.
As per Navy policy, Cullen said it’s vital that service members and families have the right and privilege to confidential communication. Chaplains also have the obligation and responsibility to protect and guard communications disclosed to them, while commanders must honor and support the relationship between an individual and a chaplain. He noted that chaplains can also not be compelled to share information that is told to them in confidence.
“Chaplains offer service members a safe place to talk – one without fear or judgment,” Cullen said. “This course is designed to better inform our chaplains and religious program specialists on not only the legal, judicial and psychological factors that are involved with that, but an overview of pastoral care in the sea services.”
Chaplains serve as advocates in getting individuals the help they need, Cullen said. It’s a special relationship and one that acts as a safety valve to a commander when striving for increased morale and mission readiness. While chaplains are not bound by mandatory reporting requirements, he said chaplains will always assist in guiding an individual to the appropriate resources.
“Confidentiality is particularly important when someone feels they have nowhere else to go,” said Cmdr. Wesley Sloat, command chaplain at JBAB. “Someone could also be worried about command involvement or potential impact on their career. This course deals with all that and how to properly approach a situation.”
The confidential relationship extends to written communications like letters, emails and text messages, Cullen said. This includes beyond the death of someone making a disclosure.
The NCSC provides professional development training at fleet locations throughout the Navy and Marine Corps. For more information on confidential communications with a chaplain, call the JBAB Chapel Center at 202-767-5900 or visit www.chaplain.navy.mil.
| Date Taken: | 11.08.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 11.15.2013 16:37 |
| Story ID: | 116844 |
| Location: | WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, US |
| Web Views: | 154 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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