2018 AME Chaplaincy Ministry Overview
By Bishop Frank Madison Reid, III, Endorsing Officer
The AME Church Chaplains Commission is an active member of the National Conference on Ministry to the Armed Forces (NCMAF) and The Endorsers Conference for Veterans Affairs Chaplaincy (ECVAC). These bodies include the official representatives of all major faith groups in the United States.
Chaplains serve as an extension of the local church in places that other members and church staff sometimes cannot go. The chaplaincy has an area of service for you. Chaplains are not only in hospitals and military uniforms. They are in boardrooms and classrooms. They work with a diverse group of people in various settings. They have virtually unlimited opportunities to serve in hospitals, military, law enforcement, institutions, corporations, and places that are sometimes closed to “professional clergy.” We ask for your continued prayers for chaplains as they take the gospel as ambassadors of African Methodism.
The chaplaincy strategy includes: embrace our chaplains and their families; educate our pastors and churches on the ministry of the chaplaincy; engage our pastors and denominational leaders on an intentional strategy in support of our chaplains and their families; and enlist chaplains for continued local church ministry on all levels of the church. Goals include endorsing the best AME chaplains, conducting annual chaplain training events, and providing pastoral care to our chaplains through the Chaplains’ Ambassador Program-Initiative.
Our chaplaincy strength includes 83 AME-endorsed chaplains. Of the federal chaplains, 53 are serving in the military (active and retired), 16 in veteran’s affairs, and one in the federal Bureau of Prisons. Of the non-federal chaplains, seven are Board of Chaplaincy-certified, two work in prisons, two in hospices, and two in corporations.
Below is a summary of events conducted by this office from 2017-2018. January 7-11, 2018, I attended the Annual Endorsing Agent’s Training at the National Conference on Ministry to the Armed Forces (NCMAF) in Alexandria, Virginia. On January 30, 2018, I submitted the Annual AME Chaplain Religious Compliance Form to the Armed Forces Board for Military Chaplains for 28 active, reserve, and National Guards chaplains.
On April 30, 2018, I visited regional chaplains in South Carolina and Georgia. In Fort Jackson, South Carolina, I had an office call with LTC Jason Pieri, escorted by CH (CPT) Samuel Siebo (7thDistrict) and with CH (COL) Milton Johnson, Fort Jackson Command Chaplain, escorted by CH (COL) Addison Burgess (7thDistrict). In Fort Gordon, Georgia, I had an office call with Command Deputy Mr. Jon Curry, Command Chaplain Fort Gordon, and CH (COL) Dennis Hyson escorted by CH (LTC) Monica Lawson (6thDistrict).
On May 1, 2018, I visited the Marine Corps Recruiting Depot in Parris Island, escorted by CH (LTjg) Netetia Walker (4thDistrict). I had office calls with Father Kevin Sweeney, Assistant Chief of Staff, Religious Ministries; COL John Barnett, Commanding Officer, Recruit Training Regiment; LTC Ty Kopke, Director of DI School; and LTC Misty Posey, 4thBattalion Company Commander. I had dinner and visited with CH Effson Bryant, VA Chaplain (7thDistrict).
On May 2, 2018, I visited the Naval Chaplaincy School and Center of Basic Leadership Course escorted by CH (LTjg) Robert Johnson III (8thDistrict). I also attended Chaplain (LTjg) Robert Johnson, III’s graduation from the Navy Chaplain School at Fort Jackson.
