Journal of Civil Defense Chaplaincy Article

Click the link above for a PDF version of the article. Reprinted by permission from the American Civil Defense Association

North Carolina Wing Chaplain Interview

Click on the link above for an interview which discusses the roles of chaplains in the Civil Air Patrol

Patriot Pastors: Consider Volunteer Ministry in the Civil Air Patrol

Chaplain (Major) Steven Mathews

The Civil Air Patrol is perhaps America’s best-kept secret when it comes to character and leadership development in the lives of young people. Founded one week before Pearl Harbor was attacked, the Civil Air Patrol played a role in the defense of America’s homeland during World War Two, and in the 75 years that followed, has transitioned into one of America’s premier search-and-rescue organizations. Over ninety percent of all aerial search and rescue operations in the United States are performed by Civil Air Patrol aircrews. The Civil Air Patrol is the official auxiliary of the United States Air Force. But the greatest strength of the Civil Air Patrol is the cadet program, in which young people from 12 to 21 learn character development, leadership skills, and aerospace education. The Civil Air Patrol has a strong history of turning boys and girls into men and women who are prepared to serve as leaders in the military, society, and the church.

The Civil Air Patrol Chaplain Corps is the largest volunteer chaplain force on the planet, with over 900 chaplains and character development instructors nationwide. In this article, I’d like to encourage my colleagues in ministry to consider joining the Civil Air Patrol Chaplain Corps. The opportunities for ministry and for personal enrichment are tremendous, and the need is great. Even with such a large chaplain corps, most local Civil Air Patrol squadrons function without a chaplain. There is probably a squadron near you, waiting for someone to bring your gifts, calling, and education to their young people and adults.

What Do Civil Air Patrol Chaplains Do?

Chaplaincy ministry in the Civil Air Patrol revolves around the local squadron, most of which are comprised of adults and young people (cadets). Squadrons have weekly meetings, the emphasis of which rotates through a monthly cycle of physical testing and drill, aerospace education, safety training, and character development. It is the chaplain’s responsibility to lead the monthly character development session.   The chaplain is also a member of the commander’s staff, and advises senior leadership on the religious makeup and needs of the squadron. The chaplain’s primary ministry, though, is a ministry of presence. The chaplain’s presence and participation in the squadron helps to build relationships with young people and their families. As a squadron chaplain, I may pray with a cadet before her next promotion test. I may run the mile with a cadet who is struggling to keep up, giving him encouragement to keep going. Or, I may simply stand guard over the cadets’ canteens and water bottles while they run. I sit and listen to aerospace education lessons and safety briefings. I watch the cadets practice drill, and sit and talk with parents and with prospective cadets. In my ministry of presence I serve as a reminder that every undertaking, even running a mile or learning about the forces of lift and drag on a wing, can become an opportunity for meaningful service to God. My cadets know that when they need to talk, we can step aside to the fence where we are seen but not heard, and that I will listen, counsel, and support them. Chaplains, through their ministry of presence, earn the chance to impact the lives of young people in a way that many local church pastors and youth pastors do not.

Chaplains are not required to participate in activities beyond the local squadron meetings, and attendance is not mandatory at every weekly meeting. Chaplains cannot be called up to active or reserve military duty, though some chaplains can become qualified to volunteer for short-term military ministry, such as filling in for a chaplain on an Air Force base. Chaplain service with the Civil Air Patrol is voluntary, and the chaplain may resign at any time. Chaplains wear uniforms, and the Civil Air Patrol allows a range of uniforms, from the Air Force dress blues to a casual polo shirt and slacks or skirt. Chaplains hold officer grade- the Civil Air Patrol equivalent of military rank. Most chaplains are appointed at the grade of First Lieutenant or Captain, and are eligible for promotion to the grades of Major and Lieutenant Colonel.

Ministry Opportunities Through Civil Air Patrol Chaplaincy

What ministry opportunities can the Civil Air Patrol provide to a local pastor? Opportunities vary from one ministry context to the next, but I’ll sketch out a few unique benefits of this ministry.

Reach Motivated Families

The Civil Air Patrol is a challenging youth program. Young people who join and remain active in the Civil Air Patrol are intelligent and highly motivated. They tend to come from strong families who place a value on hard work and accomplishment. Civil Air Patrol ministry provides the pastor with opportunity for outreach to strong, motivated families.

Develop Relationships with the Community

The Civil Air Patrol has a community presence in schools, in families, and in the emergency services community. A chaplain in the Civil Air Patrol may have an opportunity to develop relationships with people throughout these communities. As an emergency services chaplain, a pastor can receive an open door to minister to people in times of deep crisis.

Networking with Other Clergy

Civil Air Patrol chaplains come from a diverse range of theological and ecclesiological backgrounds, but are united in their service to God and to their country through the Civil Air Patrol. Each Wing (state) has an annual conference, and each region holds a week-long Region Staff College at least every two years. At these events and through other informal opportunities, chaplains meet for education, edification, and encouragement. As a CAP chaplain, a pastor can meet and network with dynamic partners in ministry and form lifetime bonds with fellow servants of Christ.

Model Volunteer Ministry

Pastors ask their church members to volunteer their time and efforts to the ministry of the local church. We ask our people to carve out time from work, school, family commitments, and personal interests to serve the Lord through the ministries of our local churches. As a chaplain in the Civil Air Patrol, the pastor can model this commitment to volunteer service. What is more powerful than leadership by example?

Train the Next Generation of Church Leaders

As pastors, we lead the church today and prepare leaders for tomorrow. The Civil Air Patrol is a great incubator for leadership. In my area, many of the cadets in local Civil Air Patrol squadrons are Christian young people. These are the next generation of pastors, deacons, elders, teachers, missionaries, and mature disciples of Jesus Christ. Today they are enthusiastic youth earning ribbons and medals. Tomorrow they will take up the torch of leadership in the church of Christ. As a chaplain in the Civil Air Patrol, the local pastor can have an active role in developing character and leadership traits in young Christians.

Reach the Next Generation with the Gospel

Many cadets in the Civil Air Patrol come from strong Christian families. Many others are unchurched and unreached with the gospel. The chaplain in their Civil Air Patrol squadron may be the only minister involved in their lives. Many families who will not bring their children to church will bring them to the Civil Air Patrol. The squadron chaplain can develop meaningful relationships with these young people and their families through CAP that they might not be able to reach in any other way.

Personal Benefits to the Chaplain

Ministry as a chaplain in the Civil Air Patrol also provides many benefits to the chaplain personally. The CAP is the official auxiliary of the United States Air Force, and places a high emphasis on the education and training of its officers. Much of this training transfers directly to the pastor’s ministry in the local church. Leadership is leadership, whether in the military or the local church. Chaplains in the Civil Air Patrol have access to top-notch leadership education. I’ll describe some of these opportunities.

Within the Civil Air Patrol, there is the Squadron Leadership School. This is usually presented as a Friday night and Saturday course to acquaint new officers with the structure of the Civil Air Patrol. Some of the content is unique to the CAP, but much of what is taught is about leadership, communication, team-building, and change management. I found it to be a very helpful refresher course. The Officer Basic Course is presented online, and covers some specific aspects of the Civil Air Patrol, as well as more detailed training in leadership, followership, problem solving, conflict management, decision-making, communication, organizational culture, mentoring, counseling, and group dynamics. What pastor would not benefit from some additional education in these areas? Civil Air Patrol officer training also includes the Corporate Learning Course, offered online, and the Chaplain Corps Region Staff College. The Region Staff College is a week-long gathering of chaplains from a geographical region for education and encouragement, and is a highlight of most chaplains’ careers. Finally, the National Staff College is a week-long educational opportunity at the Civil Air Patrol national headquarters at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama.

The Civil Air Patrol trains officers for their specific responsibilities through specialty tracks. The Chaplain Specialty Track offers very helpful training in ministry to local squadrons, in mentoring and enabling other chaplains in their ministries, and in leading larger, more complex ministries. The benefit of such training for a local pastor is tremendous. Chaplains can also enroll in other specialty tracks to augment their ministries, such as administration, cadet services, or professional development. Chaplains have access to specialized training opportunities, such as in suicide prevention, domestic violence ministry, and critical incident stress management.

This may sound overwhelming, but chaplains are not required to commit to all of these education and training opportunities. When a new chaplain is first appointed, he or she should complete some of the education and training to become oriented to ministry in the Civil Air Patrol, but is not obligated to the more advanced educational experiences. These opportunities are available, and many can be organized around the chaplain’s schedule.

Because of the Civil Air Patrol’s relationship with the Air Force, chaplains are also permitted to participate in Air Force PME- Professional Military Education. These educational opportunities are provided online, and include the Squadron Officer School, Air Command and Staff College, and Air War College. These are graduate-level schools of command and leadership, and are widely recognized and respected as top-shelf schools of leadership. They train Air Force officers in decision-making, critical thinking, strategy, leadership, management, team building, conflict management, and the other skills that make a military officer such an effective leader. Pastors who serve as Civil Air Patrol chaplains have the opportunity to join Air Force officers from all over the world in a dynamic online environment and learn how to think and lead like an officer.   The cost of such high quality leadership education is out of reach of most pastors, but is free of charge to Civil Air Patrol officers.

As pastors, we value continuing education to keep ourselves sharp in biblical scholarship, ministry skills, and leadership. Chaplaincy in the Civil Air Patrol can provide years of continuing education opportunities in leadership and practical ministry skills, at no cost.

In many denominations, pastors earn the opportunity to take on greater ministry responsibilities through their experience, education, and training. Seminary continuing education programs are expensive, but the leadership education provided by the Civil Air Patrol and the Air Force are freely available to any chaplain. This can be a great benefit to career advancement for the local church pastor.

Another benefit is increased connections through denominational endorsements. To qualify as a chaplain, a minister must be endorsed by a recognized ecclesiastical organization. Most denominations, and many other groups, qualify in this regard. Many denominations have opportunities for their endorsed chaplains to network and to participate in educational opportunities. My own denomination, for example, has annual meetings for endorsed chaplains, and provides funding for chaplains to participate in training opportunities. Chaplaincy with the Civil Air Patrol may open up new relationships and opportunities within your denomination.

Is CAP Chaplaincy Right for You?

As a pastor, you have the calling and gifts for ministry. Can chaplaincy in the Civil Air Patrol be a useful outlet for those gifts? Is it a worthwhile investment of your time and energy? Only you and God can answer those questions together. I’ve found chaplaincy in the Civil Air Patrol to be the best way I could possibly spend each Tuesday night. The education and training the CAP provides is really benefitting me, and I look forward to new opportunities. I’ve met and reached into the lives of some exceptional young people- Christians and non-Christians alike. For me, chaplaincy ministry in the Civil Air Patrol is a great fit. Perhaps it would be for you as well. If you would like to look into CAP chaplaincy, where should you start?

First, check out the Civil Air Patrol Chaplain Corps website: http://www.capchaplain.com

Then take a look at the overall Civil Air Patrol website to get a better idea of the organization’s missions, goals, and structure. http://www.gocivilairpatrol.com

You can visit a local squadron and meet the staff and cadets. Here is a link to a page to find the closest squadron to you: http://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/how_to_join/ . Squadrons love to have visitors, and are especially glad to see prospective members! The commander of the local squadron can point you to what you need to know to join, and can connect you with your state’s Wing Chaplain, who can answer any chaplain-related questions you may have, and will be your point of contact if you decide that CAP chaplaincy is for you.

You can also email me at stevehmathews@gmail.com . I’ll be glad to answer any questions I can, and to point you to the resources you need.

Will you consider joining America’s largest volunteer chaplain corps, and do your part to represent Christ in preparing the next generation of America’s leaders?

Patriot Pastors, Part Two

It’s been nearly two years since I wrote the article above regarding chaplaincy in the Civil Air Patrol. Since then, I’ve fielded quite a few questions from prospective chaplains. There seems to be a growing interest in this volunteer ministry. I’ve also deepened and broadened my own experience in the Civil Air Patrol chaplaincy, so I wanted to round out the article with an updated perspective.

Everything I wrote about the opportunities and rewards of Civil Air Patrol chaplaincy stands. The more experience I gain as a chaplain, the more passionate I become about this ministry. In this quick update, I’ll discuss two areas in more detail: professional development and emergency services.

Professional Development

I have had the chance to complete the Air Force’s school for captains, the Squadron Officer School, and the school for majors, the Air Command and Staff College. These programs are offered online, and are required of Air Force officers stationed around the world. They both focus on essential skills of officership: communication, leadership, and decision-making. There are also courses on international relations, military history, airpower studies, and strategy, of course, but the focus is on the officer as a competent Air Force leader in a joint operational environment.  I needed this. When I was coming up through college and seminary, the focus was on church administration, rather than leadership. We were taught how to manage programs that had been in existence for decades. These programs worked in their day, but the administration-based approach lacked the flexibility to prepare me shifting paradigms.  I recognized this gap a decade ago, and returned to school part-time to earn an M.B.A., thinking it would strengthen weaknesses in my leadership education. It served this role very poorly, focusing more on administration and management than leadership; it was more about moving money and things around than about leading people. Fortunately, I had a full scholarship, so it was free!

The Air Force Professional Military Education programs I completed have courses that are not relevant to ministry.  The leadership courses, however, are worth the price of admission. The Air Force teaches the Full-Range Leadership Model to its officers, and the more I reflect and apply these leadership paradigms, the better pastor I become. Leadership is an art, and I’m still growing in it, but these educational programs have been a great benefit. Squadron Officer School is accredited for 6 undergraduate credit hours, and Air Command and Staff College is a full graduate certificate, accredited for 21 master’s-level credit hours.

The Civil Air Patrol’s in-house professional development has also been a great help to me. The Civil Air Patrol is a volunteer organization. Some of the best officers I’ve worked with have been electrical engineers, retired people, homeschool moms, nurses, and teachers. Like me, many of them have no military experience, so the CAP has to train us in the skills and values we need. Since I became an assistant professional development officer in my squadron, I’ve seen firsthand how useful this is. For example, at the moment I’m setting up a training event that my squadron will hold for our group. There is a specific format for planning these events, and it’s different from how we do it at church. As I’ve worked through the steps, I can see several ways to improve the efficiency of event planning at church. I’m learning new paradigms in leadership and administration, and some of them are quite helpful in my work as a pastor.

Pastors as leaders are often encouraged to “think outside the box.” The Civil Air Patrol’s professional development opportunities can empower us with new paradigms and protocols to consider, and help us become better leaders and administrators.

Emergency Services

Since I wrote the original article, I’ve gained some experience in emergency services. I served as assistant chaplain in the wing headquarters for a period during Hurricane Florence, and as mission chaplain on a missing person search. I’ll discuss the missing person search. A small boy ran away from his parents in a park. The authorities searched for five days without finding him. The Civil Air Patrol, along with other agencies, was brought in on the sixth day, and a CAP ground team found him after about five hours of searching. Unfortunately, he was deceased.

During the search, I was assigned to the incident command post, which in reality, meant I was free to wander the premises. That’s what I did. There were about 180 search personnel from various EMS, fire, police, and sheriff’s departments there. I was the only chaplain on the site. At the very end, after the boy’s body was found, the local police department brought in one of their chaplains to talk to their people. But for most of the personnel present and searching that day, I was the only chaplain available. I moved freely, talking to people. It was usually as simple as asking “how are you doing?” Some of these men had been searching for this little boy for days. Most had children of their own. They were giving their best efforts, but the window for finding him alive had closed. They were hoping beyond hope. Some wanted to talk, some did not. When they wanted to talk, I mostly listened. They talked about their families, their colleagues on the search, or personal issues.

Trauma tends to shake out pain, guilt, and frustrations that we have pushed deep inside us. The emotional toil of searching for a lost little boy brought out emotional baggage in many of these strong men. I was amazed to see how many of them would open up to me, though we were strangers. I realized a key way in which a chaplain is different from a pastor. A chaplain is seen as “one of us”, a minister in a uniform with a cross on it. When I meet new people as a pastor they are often guarded. When I meet new people as a CAP chaplain, they often want to talk. Maybe it’s the fact that I fit a role- when you have a problem, you talk to the chaplain. Maybe it does not matter – initially, at least- who is wearing that uniform with a cross on it. Whatever it is, unchurched people are much more willing to talk to a chaplain than a pastor.  That five hours was one of the most productive days of hands-on ministry I’ve had in a long time.

When I worked with Chaplain Taylor on the Hurricane Florence mission, he explained that chaplains in the CAP have a greater degree of flexibility than military or institutional chaplains. Civil Air Patrol chaplains can work with anyone, from any agency or no agency. We can help the responders as well as the victims of a disaster.  I saw this in action. I spoke with officers from so many departments that I lost track, from the FBI to local volunteer fire departments. If I had not been there, there would have been no one in a uniform with a cross on it, and those meaningful conversations and contacts would never have taken place.

When the body was found, everything changed. Most departments packed up to go home. The Civil Air Patrol volunteers were brought together. Our search teams consisted of a handful of adults and about 15 teenagers. These young people had trained hard to earn the right to be treated as professionals and allowed to search, and they had done their jobs well. They were hot, sweaty, scratched and muddy from head to toe. They gave all they had to find this child. The team that found him was comprised of two men and three teenage boys. The men were fathers themselves. Finding a deceased child in a stream is a terrible thing for anyone to experience. So is searching, only to find that you were called in too late.

My role as a chaplain changed. I was no longer making myself available for any ad hoc discussion that may come up. I had a job to do. We gathered under a pavilion, away from everyone else. After the CAP crew had been fed, I led them in a Critical Incident Stress Management debrief. This is something I learned in the CAP, and had never heard of as a pastor. It’s a process of talking through emotional trauma soon after the incident, along with the others who experienced it, so that the mind can begin to sort it out. It’s similar to psychological first aid. I did not know what to expect from the group, but it became clear that they needed the process, and they appreciated it. When it was over, I prayed for the group, and offered my availability for anyone who needed to talk further. In the weeks after, I followed up with several people, including those who had found the child’s body. Several people indicated afterward how much it helped to have a chaplain to talk to. It was an emotionally draining experience, but one of the most rewarding ministry opportunities I’ve had in a long time.

I had the honor of being there because I’m a CAP chaplain.  As ministers, our lives are dedicated to advancing the Kingdom of God wherever we may find an open door. Civil Air Patrol chaplaincy opens doors to represent the presence of God where local pastors can’t go.

Two years later, I continue to recommend the Civil Air Patrol chaplaincy to every pastor I meet. It’s a great opportunity to grow as a leader and to serve people at the times when your ministry is needed most.

Email me at stevehmathews@gmail.com to discuss the opportunities of CAP chaplaincy, and I can point you in the right direction to get started.