PURPOSE OF THE CHAPLAIN
CORPS
The Navy Chaplain Corps is comprised
of representatives of the various religious bodies
of the United States. The purpose of the
Navy Chaplain Corps is to provide professional
guidance to the Department of the Navy and
to promote the spiritual, religious, moral,
and personal well-being of members of that
establishment by providing the ministries
appropriate to their rights and needs. This
may involve providing ministries to dependents
and other authorized individuals. The chaplain’s
ministries normally include conducting worship
services, liturgies, and rites; providing religious
education and pastoral ministries; organizing
spiritual renewal activities; and participating
in humanitarian projects.
COMMISSIONING OF NAVY
CHAPLAINS
Quotas for Navy chaplains are established
by government authority and are based upon
the overall national population for the various
faith groups. The right of these groups to
establish standards for their clergy seeking
commissioning as naval officers in the staff
corps (Chaplain Corps) is recognized by the
Navy. This approval is referred to as an
ecclesiastical endorsement. The Navy Depart-
ment will not commission or call to active
duty any member of the clergy who has not
received an ecclesiastical endorsement. In addition
to an ecclesiastical endorsement, a candidate
for commissioning in the Chaplain Corps
must have completed 3 years, or 90 semester
hours of graduate study leading to a master
of divinity degree, or an equivalent theological
degree. Candidates must also meet the required
age and physical qualifications.
THE CHIEF OF CHAPLAINS
Respect and custom established the unofficial
title “Chief of Chaplains” before its official
establishment by an act of Congress on 22
December 1944. Since March 1945, the Navy’s
Chaplain Corps has been headed by a Chief of
Chaplains with the rank of rear admiral. An
organizational change in the Office of the Chief
of Naval Operations occurred in November 1981
whereby the Chief of Chaplains was desig-
nated as OP-09G (formerly OP-01H). Specific
guidance concerning this reorganization was
provided in OPNAVNOTE 5430 dated 23
November 1981. The mission of the Chief
of Chaplains as outlined in OPNAVINST
1730.7 is shown in figure 1-3.
ORGANIZATION OF THE OFFICE
OF THE CHIEF OF CHAPLAINS
As stated above, the Office of the Chief
of Chaplains is within the purview of the Chief
of Naval Operations and is designated OP-09G.
In order to accomplish the mission of the
Chief of Chaplains, the Office of the Chief of
Chaplains is organized into various branches and
divisions.
The current organization of the Office
of the Chief of Chaplains is outlined below.
Each division and branch contributes to the
Figure 1-3.—Mission of the Chief of Chaplains.
1-4
