Chaplain

Job Description

Overview

CAF chaplains are responsible for fostering the spiritual, religious, and pastoral care of Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members and their families, regardless of religious affiliation, practice, and/or belief. They have privileged access to CAF members of all ranks, have no command authority, and are prohibited from bearing arms. Their responsibilities include:

• Providing an active, personal, and supportive presence


• Officiating at special functions, service, events, and ceremonies


• Advising the Chain of Command regarding spiritual/religious accommodation issues, ethical dilemmas, as well as spiritual and moral issues pertaining to the Formation/Unit/Squadron


• Applying knowledge in general military administration and RCChS policies


• Liaising with local area civilian Faith Tradition leaders


• Referring CAF members and their families to other helping professionals, such as social workers, psychologists, or medical personnel, as required


• Providing compassionate and caring support during, and following, significant life events and incidents

Work environment

CAF chaplains work in all military environments with members of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), Canadian Army (CA), Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), and Canadian Special Operations Forces (CANSOF). They provide an active, personal and supportive presence, and offer spiritual and personal growth counselling, programmes, and events throughout the year. Public services and military ceremonies typically require the chaplain to participate and offer spiritual reflections. CAF chaplains can work in Canada, or may be required to go abroad during operations.

If you choose a career in the Regular Force, after completing all required training you will be assigned to your first base. There is some flexibility with postings, accommodations may not always be available, and you can expect to move at some point in your career. If you join the Primary Reserve Force, you will do so through a specific Reserve unit. Outside of training, your Reserve unit will be your workplace on a part-time basis, and you will not be obligated to relocate. As part of the Primary Reserve Force, you typically work one night per week and some weekends as a minimum with possibilities of full-time employment.

Entry plans

• Direct Entry Options


• Paid Education Options

Chaplains must be ordained or mandated by a nationally registered Faith Tradition, and have a Graduate-level professional degree in Faith Tradition formation (MDiv or equivalent), be a member in good standing with a national Faith Tradition Governing Authority, and have at least two years of full-time, supervised Faith Tradition leadership experience. They must also receive the recommendation of a representative of the Interfaith Committee on Canadian Military Chaplaincy (ICCMC), the endorsement of the ICCMC, and be selected by the Chaplain General.

The ideal candidate already has a Graduate-level professional degree in Faith Tradition formation (MDiv or equivalent) and at least two years of full-time, supervised Faith Tradition leadership experience; CAF may place you directly into the required on-the-job training program following Basic Military Officer Qualification training.

For more information about entry plans and becoming a Chaplain, contact the Royal Canadian Chaplain Service:

Email: ChaplainMain-AumoneriePrincipale@forces.gc.ca

Phone: 1-866-502-2203

Regional Chaplains Contact Information

Please choose the region below to find the contact information of the regional chaplain.

• Alberta and the North — Chaplain, 3rd Canadian Division — Capt Christoph Deutschman — Email: Christoph.Deutschmann@forces.gc.ca — Edmonton 780-973-4011 x8141


• Manitoba and Saskatchewan — 1 Canadian Air Division Chaplain — Lt(N) David Godkin — Email: David.Godkin@forces.gc.ca — Winnipeg 204-833-2500 x2267


• Ontario — Chaplain, 4th Canadian Division — Capt Noteh Glogauer — Email: ArnoldNoteh.Glogauer@forces.gc.ca — Toronto 416-633-6200 x5314


• Quebec — Chaplain, 2nd Canadian Division — Capt Jean-Pierre Chamoun — Email: Jean-Pierre.Chamoun@forces.gc.ca — Montréal 514-252-2777 x4032


• Maritimes — Chaplain, 5th Canadian Division — Capt Kim Barlow — Email: Kimberly.Barlow@forces.gc.ca — Halifax 902-427-7849


• British Columbia — Chaplain, Joint Task Force Pacific — Capt Sarah Priebe — Email: Sarah.Priebe@forces.gc.ca — Esquimalt 250-363-4289

Seniority level

• Entry level

Employment type

• Full-time

Job function

• Other