CHAPTER 2 RELIGIOUS MINISTRIES IN THE NAVY The  constitution  guarantees  all  Americans  the opportunity  for  the  free  exercise  of  religion.  To meet  this  guarantee,  the  Navy  must  provide  all of  its  members  the  opportunity  to  worship  in  their chosen  faith.  The  Navy  is  a  unique  institution wherein traditional models of parochial ministry are not always possible or appropriate; therefore, ministry in the Navy is an institutional ministry. The  Command  Religious  Program  must  be designed  to  meet  the  unique  needs  of  Navy personnel  in  a  variety  of  settings. INSTITUTIONAL   MINISTRY VERSUS  PAROCHIAL  MINISTRY Various  differences  may  be  noted  in  institu- tional  and  parochial  ministry  as  outlined  in  the following   paragraphs. . Call versus contract—The establishment of a  church  in  the  public  sector  is  most  often  in response to a ‘‘spiritual calling” upon a group of believers.  Many  of  these  churches  will  “call”  a pastor. The fact that a Navy chaplain is a member of the clergy presupposes that all chaplains have received  a    “call   to   ministry”;   however,   a chaplain’s  relationship  to  the  Navy  is  based  on a  contract. .   Faith   group   accountability—Both parochial  and  institutional  ministries  are  account- able  to  their  particular  faith  group  or  de- nomination  for  ministry.  Chaplains  receive  an ecclesiastical endorsement from their faith group. In  the  public  sector,  the  church,  denomination, or faith group endorses or ordains the minister, rabbi,  or  priest. .   Ministry—Public   ministry   is   parochial (local)  and  is  designed  to  meet  the  needs  of  the local congregation. Ministry in the Navy is both global and plural and is designed to meet the needs of  all  assigned  personnel  and  their  families. .  Church  government  in  the  public  sector versus   religious   ministry   management   in   the Navy—Public churches are governed primarily by their  denomination,  church  headquarters,  diocese, or  synod  (polity);  church  structure;  or  church constitution  and  bylaws.  In  several  denomina- tions,   churches   operate   autonomously.   Local churches   may   cooperate   in   certain   mission endeavors. Such cooperation may be local, state, national, or international in scope. In the Navy, a local church structure does not exist. There are no deacons, elders, bishops, trustees, presbyters, pastors,  or  even  members  at  government-owned facilities  used  as  chapels.  Navy  chaplains  are responsible to their denomination or faith group, but are commissioned officers guided by statutes and  Navy  directives.  Professionally,  RPs  should remain   pluralistic   in   their   outlook   regarding ministry  in  the  Navy,  even  though  they  have personal religious viewpoints which they express privately. .   Ministry   responsibility—In   civilian churches,  ministers  are  responsible  to  the  govern- ing  body  of  the  church  for  ministry.  Navy chaplains  are  responsible  to  the  endorsing denominational affiliate, the commanding officer, Congress,  and  the  taxpayer  for  ministry. l   Congregational   funding   versus   congres- sional   funding—In   the   civilian   sector,   local churches conduct operations funded by donations from  the  congregation.  In  order  to  separate church  and  state,  laws  dictate  that  civilian churches  cannot  be  supported  by  any  tax  revenue. However,  since  ministry  in  the  Navy  is  a responsibility  of  the  command,  it  is  funded entirely  by  Congress. .  Personnel  support  in  the  civilian  church versus  personnel  support  in  the  Navy—Civilian churches   usually   elect   or   appoint   a   pastor, minister,  rabbi,  or  priest  and  a  staff  who  are acceptable  to  the  church  membership  and  who  are 2-1