RAF CHAPLAINCY
SERVING THIS GENERATION: RESERVIST CHAPLAINCY
The Reverend Paul Sweeting
‘ If I knew then what I know now …’
Back in 2013 I was encouraged to explore reservist chaplaincy in the RAF by having got to know a number of chaplains. This was because I had been the Rector of the Falkland Islands and had worked alongside them. It took nearly a year to decide to pursue this further – I was really attracted to the prospect but needed to weigh up how it would sit with my family life and my regular full-time role as a school chaplain. I had previously seriously considered regular full time chaplaincy but life circumstances meant that it wasn’ t a realistic option … happily I concluded that reservist chaplaincy was!
If I could go back to 2013 I’ d tell myself to definitely go for it – and to get on with it a bit quicker! I am so glad, and thankful, for the experience.
I’ ve laughed so much with chaplains and so many others – the military sense of humour can be an‘ acquired’ taste but there is often joy and( friendly) mischief at the heart of it. If there is a way to see the funny side of a situation – then someone will find it!
Then there’ s what I’ ve learned. You grow and develop so much. The formal training is significant and it pushes you: it’ s meant to. This is not always easy, but I have grown in confidence, humility, leadership qualities and can even march, sort of. The experiences that you have during training and then serving as a chaplain offer a rich mixture of opportunities to learn and grow.
The ministry is, of course, the heart of the matter. We are called to serve, and I can honestly say that I believe some service personnel’ s lives are better for having come to talk to me about difficult situation. I can picture some of them now as I write: and it is humbling to think that I have had a positive effect on them.
The military chaplain is willing to listen to anyone unburden themselves or to help them think over a problem, for
Padre Paul leading a service of Remembrance in the Falklands.
Leading a service of Remembrance in Stanley Cathedral.
example. Leading worship in the field or in a station chapel for people of a wide range of beliefs is sometimes a challenge but really wonderful – there are those moments when you see a person genuinely moved, or when they come up for a quiet word afterwards. These are often people who would otherwise have no meaningful contact with church and lived Christianity.
We pray for those we serve, and for their families. Then we try to live out that prayer by who we are and what we do.
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