Chaplain Endorsements

AEGA offers an ecclesiastical endorsement for military chaplains, federal prison chaplains, VA chaplains, hospital chaplains and others. For those who meet the qualifications, the AEGA Chaplaincy Program has proven to be a rewarding field of ministry.

To apply, you must first complete the ministerial credential application and be approved as an ordained minister HERE.

 

 

Military Chaplaincy

The Military Chaplain provides comprehensive unit-based religious support. This includes implementing the free exercise of religion, assisting the command by providing pastoral care for its members, and accompanying them in peace, crisis and war. The Unit Ministry Team (UMT) consists of denominational and non-denominational ordained chaplains and enlisted chaplain assistants. Chaplain assistants serve to assist the chaplain in ministerial duties as well as protecting the chaplain during wartime.

The mission of the Unit Ministry Team is to furnish comprehensive religious support to soldiers, their families and other authorized personnel. Comprehensive religious support includes pastoral acts, rites ceremonies, ordinances, worship and religious education. Chaplains will also provide and conduct pastoral counseling, visitation, battle fatigue intervention, moral and ethical counseling, address social concerns and offer spiritual advice to the unit commander.

The Chaplain’s ministerial setting may range from a proper chapel to holding worship services in the middle of the desert to talking to a soldier on a road march during training. The chaplain must be willing to go into the perils of combat situations with the soldiers. The chaplain is a noncombatant and carries no weapon yet is looked up to by the soldiers merely through their presence. Often, the only contact a chaplain will have with many soldiers is during field training exercises. During these exercises, soldiers who would normally avoid the chaplain sometimes seek out the chaplain for advice or council.

 

How do AEGA Military Chaplains serve armed forces personnel and their families?

Chaplains can also provide pastoral care to soldiers’ family members. They are called upon to perform marriage ceremonies, premarital counseling, funerals, memorial services and provide chapel services on a continuing basis. The threefold core doctrinal principles of the Chaplain Corps in accomplishing religious support are 1) nurture the living, 2) care for the wounded and 3) honor the dead. Through the ministry of presence, the chaplain is aware of the spiritual, emotional and physical condition of the soldiers.

For AEGA Military Chaplains, this precludes participation in relationship enrichment programs with same-sex couples in attendance such as, but not limited to, “Strong Bonds Training Sessions.” Voluntary or forced participation in any such environment will result in the removal of both ministerial credential and endorsement by and from this fellowship. In contrast, when approached by someone not of our beliefs or practice, such as (but not limited to) same-sex couples or various non-Christian religions, for the purpose of counseling, we expect chaplains to exercise all gentleness and love while triaging the desired counseling needs and, when necessary, due to our theological mandates, locate a chaplain or secularly-trained therapist better suited to offer counsel to non-spiritually based needs.

While the military chaplaincy is unique when it comes to operating in a pluralistic environment. the AEGA Ministries Int’l, Inc. Military Chaplaincy Program has always operated on the Biblical principles of respect and love, not only for other clergy members but all military personnel and their families. AEGA maintains and mandates this Biblical demonstration of faith within a pluralistic environment, and it believes in the great importance of respecting the beliefs of others, especially where and when they may be different from our own. The AEGA stands firmly and unmoving within our own doctrine doctrinal beliefs while affirming not everyone we encounter within our ministries will agree with our stance on every issue. It is our practice to allow others, whether clergy or laity, to hold their beliefs sacredly. As Chaplains, we offer hope and comfort during uniquely challenging times when life is complicated by the most difficult circumstances to people of any faith saving within the US Military. Our ultimate ministry goal remains to serve those who serve our great country and present God to all warfighters and their families in such a way as to unite them with the Savior and to assist with the process of growing so their lives spiritually in faith (see John 13:35; Philippians 2:3).

The AEGA Fellowship is approved by the Pentagon as an Endorsing Ecclesiastical Organization with the United States of America Military Chaplaincy Program. We are a member of the Armed Forces Chaplain Board (AFCB) and the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE). We are proud to report that AEGA has chaplains in virtually all branches of the military to the glory of God!

Annual Training

DOD Chaplain Ecclesiastical Endorsing Agency, like AEGA, may require their endorsed Chaplains and Chaplain Candidates to attend an annual endorser-led training event. The various Service Chiefs of Chaplains support Units sending their Active Duty, Guard and Reserve Chaplains TDY to attend their Endorser’s annual training event. This provides CEUs up to 3.0. These training events are held at the AEGA Annual Conference in which an ordination ceremony is also held.

 

Learn more about these military chaplaincies:

 

 

Veterans Affairs (VA) Chaplaincy

The AEGA Fellowship is approved by the VA to endorse VA Chaplains. To apply, you must first complete the ministerial credential application and be approved as an ordained minister HERE. After you are approved as an ordained minister, you can request the VA Endorsement Form.

National VA Chaplains provide complete religious ministry to veteran patients in accordance with their needs and desires. They address religious, spiritual, moral and ethical problems of patients; minister to newly admitted, pre- and post-operative patients, the critically ill and their families.

Learn more about how to become a VA Chaplain and meet their requirements HERE.

 

Civil Air Patrol (CAP) Chaplaincy

CAP chaplains are professionally qualified, endorsed clergy who deliver ministry to our members outside the walls of a traditional congregation.

Generally, CAP Chaplains have to qualify by the same clergy rules as Air Force Chaplains, excepting the age requirements. A CAP chaplain must become a CAP Senior Member, which includes a fingerprint card, background check, and payment of national and local dues.

A chaplain’s “ministry of presence” has a positive impact on our members in a wide variety of ways. Chaplains are entrusted by their endorsers with representing the presence of God to the people they serve. Chaplains are a “reminder of the holy” and serve as a thermostat to keep our members mindful of living according to CAP’s core values. Learn more HERE.

 

Federal Prison Chaplaincy

The AEGA Fellowship is an approved endorsing agent for all federal prisons. To apply, you must first complete the ministerial credential application and be approved as an ordained minister HERE. After you are approved as an ordained minister, you can begin the process for chaplain endorsement.

Chaplains administer, supervise and perform work involved in a program of spiritual welfare and religious guidance for inmates in a correctional setting. All chaplain vacancies are full-time positions. If you are an experienced, credentialed minister with an ecumenical spirit, there is a special community that needs you.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons can provide you with an opportunity to do challenging and spiritually satisfying work. Learn more about how to become a Federal Prison Chaplain HERE.

 

Law Enforcement Chaplains

The International Conference of Police Chaplains (ICPC) is the world’s leading membership, training and advocacy association for law enforcement chaplaincy. ICPC continues to raise the standard for training and supporting chaplains while we maintain an intentional focus on moral excellence, cutting-edge training and effective communications to encourage every law enforcement agency to establish and maintain a powerful chaplaincy.

To apply, you must first complete the ministerial credential application and be approved as an ordained minister HERE. We welcome you to explore what it means to be a chaplain with the ICPC and how you can join with other chaplains as we learn and grow together. Learn more about ICPC HERE.

 

Hospital – Hospice & Other Chaplains

In order for AEGA to write an endorsement or complete a form from the hospital or other institution, you must first complete the ministerial credential application and be approved as an ordained minister HERE.

Hospital Chaplains

Hospital Chaplains offer spiritual guidance and pastoral care to patients and their families. As representatives of religious traditions, chaplains in hospitals and medical centers use the insights and principles of psychology, religion, spirituality and theology. Some hospitals may require different type educational backgrounds, certifications and ecclesiastical endorsement.

Hospice Chaplains

Hospital chaplains crucial to the care of patients in their end-of-life process by providing spiritual solace and comfort. Hospice chaplains can work in hospitals, nursing homes, retirement communities and even patients’ homes. Typically, hospice chaplains have a bachelor’s degree in religious studies or related subjects. They may also have advanced degrees in theology, divinity or pastoral studies. Employers may also prefer ordained ministers when filling the role of a hospice chaplain along with ecclesiastical endorsement

Many large medical, hospital and hospice health care systems require or prefer CPE training.

Other Chaplains

Most police and fire departments require full ordination and ecclesiastical endorsement for chaplains. Some chaplaincy domains do not require a Master of Divinity, only that the applicant be ecclesiastically ordained and endorsed.

Benefits

  • Annual Training Events
  • Strategic Partnership Resources
  • Leadership Resources
  • Leadership Opportunities
  • Spiritual Oversight and Accessibility for Prayer and Counsel 24/7!

 

If you have more questions about chaplain endorsement, contact our office at info@aega.org, call 1-800-842-5176 or through the contact form.