MISSION  OF  THE  CHIEF OF   CHAPLAINS To direct, administer, and manage the Navy Chaplain Corps and implement reli- gious  ministries  to  meet  the  needs  of personnel  in  the  naval  service  and  their dependents  in  their  pursuit  of  the  free exercise  of  religion. Figure 1-4.—Mission of the Chief of Chaplains. The  Navy  Department  will  not  commission  as  a chaplain  any  clergyperson  who  has  not  received an  ecclesiastical  endorsement.  A  candidate  for commissioning  in  the  Chaplain  Corps,  in  addi- tion   to   ecclesiastical   endorsement,   must   have completed 4 years of undergraduate study in an accredited  college  or  university  and  possess  a Master   of   Divinity   degree   or   an   equivalent theological  degree.  Candidates  must  also  meet the  required  age  and  physical  qualifications  for commissioning.  Because  of  the  impracticality  of providing  clergy  of  every  faith  or  denomination in  every  ship  or  station,  the  Navy  and  the churches  of  America  have  evolved  jointly  a  pat- tern   of   cooperative   ministry.   The   term “church,”   as  used  in  this  module,  includes  the denominations and religious bodies of all faiths. The  principle  of  cooperative  ministry  places  on every  chaplain  the  obligation  to: Make  provision  for  meeting  the  religious needs  of  those  in  the  command  who  are adherents  of  other  churches  and  faith  groups. Cooperate  with  other  clergy  and  com- mands  in  meeting  the  religious  needs  of members  of  the  chaplain’s  own  faith  group. responsibilities  of  the  chaplain  to  members  of the  chapel  community. CHAPLAINS  AS  PROFESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVES OF THEIR CHURCHES As  used  here,  the  term  “professional”  refers to those aspects of the chaplain’s role which are determined   not   by   the   Navy   but   by   the chaplain’s  identity  as  a  member  of  the  clergy whose  profession  is  the  ministry  of  religion.  All liturgical, sacramental, and pastoral acts are per- formed on the basis of ecclesiastical rather than naval  credentials  of  the  chaplain.  The  ultimate responsibility  for  the  substantive  nature  of  the chaplains’   religious   ministry   rests   with   their churches. As  pastoral  representatives,  Navy  chaplains seek to project a favorable image of religion and to  communicate  to  people  within  the  command their church’s  doctrines  and  practices; church’s   attitudes   toward   social   and moral  issues;  and right  to  freedom  of  religious  expression. Communicating  information  in  these  and  other areas  of  the  chaplain’s  ministry  may  take  the form   of   religious   and   devotional   services; religious   education;   or   morale,   welfare,   and public  affairs  activities.  These  “professional” functions are integrated into the overall context of   the   Command   Religious   Program   and   are based   upon   the   principle   of   cooperative ministry.  Administrative  and  personnel  support for   these   “professional”   functions   as   specified in Navy  Regulations  and  SECNAVINST  1730.5 is  provided  through  specially  trained  personnel designated as Religious Program Specialists. The  support  which  the  chaplain  will  require CHAPLAINS  AS  NAVAL  OFFICERS as the pastoral representative of a religious body will  vary  from  that  which  is  accorded  to  naval While  the  nature  of  the  religious  ministry officers in line and other staff communities. This rendered  by  Navy  chaplains  is  determined  by requires  that  the  RP  have  an  understanding  of their  respective  “church,”  the  conditions  under the  professional  as  well  as  official  duties  and which their ministry is rendered are determined 1-5