NAMB to end endorsement of women as military chaplains

by   James Dotson                                                                                                                                      Vol. XVII, No. 3, March 2004

The North American Mission Board no longer will endorse women to chaplaincy positions requiring a "fully qualified member of the clergy" or that have a "role or function similar to that of a pastor" – a move that primarily will bring an end to endorsing women as military chaplains. Chaplains currently serving would not be affected unless they request a change in the category of chaplaincy in which they serve.

NAMB trustees adopted the policy change Feb. 4 on the recommendation of a Special Task Force on Chaplaincy Endorsement appointed last summer by NAMB President Robert E. (Bob) Reccord.

"I think this sets a clear, concise direction to where the chaplaincy ministry of the North American Mission Board is going to be in the future," said Terry Fox, NAMB trustee chairman and pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church in Wichita, KN. "I believe it shows that Southern Baptists are taking seriously the biblical mandates and qualifications of serving in the chaplaincy, while affirming women who are serving in biblical roles."

The task force was created in response to a motion at the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting last June related to NAMB's 2002 decision to stop endorsing all ordained women – while still endorsing women in all categories who are not ordained. Two senior military chaplains moved that the agency require all military chaplains seeking endorsement be ordained, based on a concern that NAMB's refusal to endorse ordained women could result in unqualified military chaplains.

Fox said the most recent policy change was based on the realization that military chaplains – more than those in other categories of service – often function in the role of pastor. Consequently, he said, it is appropriate not only that they be ordained, but also that they be men – in accordance with the current Baptist Faith and Message statement of faith. That document states, "While both men and women are gifted for service in the church, the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture."

"I think what this policy change does is bring us more in alignment with where the heart of the Southern Baptist Convention is at this time," Fox said. He noted that Southern Baptists have been endorsing women as chaplains since 1964, and the policy change brings the mission board back in line with historic practice.

Currently 196 women are among approximately 2,500 chaplains endorsed by NAMB. Of those, 20 are military chaplains. Most women chaplains under NAMB endorsement serve in healthcare and counseling roles.

"In the future, the North American Mission Board will endorse only ordained men to the office of chaplain to serve in the military or any place where the role and function of the chaplain would be seen the same as that of a pastor. We recognize ordination as a local church action, but endorsement and its requirement is the action of a national agency." [BP]