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- The Rev. Daniel J. Sparks is the senior editor of ArmyChaplaincy.com. He serves as a chaplain with the 36th Engineer Brigade at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico. He previously served with the 2nd Infantry Division and 43rd Sustainment Brigade at Fort Carson, Colorado.
Fr. Sparks is a priest of the Reformed Episcopal Church and author of the book He Shall Direct Thy Paths: Reflections for America's Soldiers and Heroes.
Posts by Chaplain Daniel Sparks:
CAAF says chaplains should serve on courts martial
According to CAAFlog, the Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces (CAAF) has declared invalid military regulations that prohibit chaplains from serving on courts martial. Traditionally, chaplains have been excluded from serving on courts martial because of conflict of interest concerns. Chaplains, as clergy, hear the confessions of Soldiers. It is unethical and illegal to [...]
Questioning my faithfulness to God’s call
[I originally wrote this reflection in April 2007 while deployed to Baghdad, Iraq. I had ministered to the casualties of another unit earlier in the day.] 9 April 2007 It is times like these that cause me to examine my faithfulness to God’s call. Am I living up to the standard of godliness for the [...]
A chaplain and his mistress
An Army chaplain has confessed to adultery and threatening to murder his mistress, according to an Associated Press article. FORT DRUM, N.Y. – A 10th Mountain Division chaplain was stripped of his rank and sentenced to five months in military prison after pleading guilty to adultery and threatening to kill his mistress when she wanted [...]
United States Army Chaplain Corps branch insignia
The U.S. Army Chaplain Corps was established on 29 July 1775. “The legal origin of the Chaplains is found in a resolution of the Continental Congress … which made provision for the pay of chaplains.”[1] Prior to 1880, there was no distinctive Chaplain Corps branch insignia. Chaplains had no official branch insignia nor officer rank [...]
Chaplain Loan Repayment Program
The Army Chaplain Recruiting Branch has announced the following programs in the February 2007 Chief of Chaplains newsletter. For ordained clergy who have already earned a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) or master degree in religious studies of at least 72 hours, who have completed at least two years of pastoral ministry, and who are otherwise [...]
Chaplain Candidate series to be expanded
Probably the most popular articles on my website are those about the Army Chaplain Candidate program. I began writing the articles to help others learn more about the chaplain candidate process, something I didn’t know much about when I first became a candidate. The series has been on hold for a while because of my [...]
A nation at war, an Army at war
I am constantly amazed by people who seem surprised that those who join the military are deployed to engage in war. After all, that’s why armies exist. Sure, there are arguments of just and unjust wars, but there are no logical definitions of military armies and non-military armies. An army is, by definition, military. Those [...]
Army chaplaincy recruiting information
From the Army Chief of Chaplains September newsletter: What’s required to be a US Army Chaplain? 1. An ecclesiastical endorsement from a recognized faith group. This endorsement should certify that the applicant is: a. A clergy person. b. Qualified spiritually, morally, intellectually and emotionally to serve as a Chaplain in the Army. c. Sensitive to [...]
