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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:
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 qualified [...]
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. [...]
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 religious pluralism and able to [...]
Every Man’s Battle
I’m currently reading Every Man’s Battle: Winning the War on Sexual Temptation One Victory at a Time by Stephen Arterburn and Fred Stoeker. This is a book helpful for those struggling with pornography and lust. Every pastor should read this book and consider it for use in pornography-recovery groups; I intend to [...]
Lest we forget
On this Memorial Day, we honor the dead—those fallen in defense of this great nation. Let us ever remember them and the price they paid. And let us continue, with diligence, the protection of such valued liberty.
The words of Rudyard Kipling’s hymn come to mind. We mustn’t be confident in our own [...]
Prayers in Jesus’ name
I posted the following elsewhere. It offers only a brief introduction of my thoughts on public ceremonial prayer in Jesus’ name by military chaplains.
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At the schoolhouse [Army Chaplain School], my class was told repeatedly not to pray in Jesus’ name. When I was a chaplain candidate, a supervisory chaplain asked me to write [...]
