We all salute you!My heart is full when I think of the extraordinary ministry of our military chaplains. As the mother of a sailor in the U.S. Navy, I know my son’s e-mail and mailing addresses without thinking about it. IT 1 (SW) Kammerer is how he’s addressed by the Since Sept. 11, 2001, I have been more intentional as a bishop to stay in touch with military chaplains in the two annual conferences I have served. I have been overwhelmed by their stories of daily life and their deep commitment to serve, even at cost to themselves and their families. By e-mail, I hear about our chaplains officiating at memorial services for those soldiers who are killed in action or in their place of duty. I hear about chaplains offering religious services for anyone, including those not of our Christian faith. They are well skilled at this, and yet keep faith with their Christian centering. I hear about ways in which they support the troops — listening, counseling, being a part of a unit. They have opportunity to be present to the officers as well. There is the rare occasion when they officiate at a baptism or a wedding. There are many, many times when they are in physical danger as well. I have enormous respect and appreciation for those men and women who serve as our military chaplains. I have covenanted to be their prayer partners back home in the Virginia Conference and to be in touch with them by e-mail, to encourage them and support them. We have no idea how hard it will be for our congregations to minister to those who return from war situations. We have years ahead of difficult and sensitive ministry for soldiers and family members, for wounded and for grieving people, for people beset by traumatic stress. I am very pleased with the resources that are being provided by our denomination for local churches, pastors, and our chaplains. By now, hundreds of thousands of the United Methodist devotional books have been distributed to soldiers, serving everywhere in the world. Our son has received several of them from many of you as a sign of care for him, and we are grateful. Won’t you join me and our family as we intentionally pray for our chaplains, lift them up with their families, during times of deployment and also duty at home. We are so blessed and in their debt. They are indeed the face and hands and feet of Christ in our stead. Thanks be to God! With gratitude, Charlene Kammerer |