Choir Rooms.—These rooms are used to store choir robes and choral
music, and may be used by the choir for vesting and brief rehearsals prior to
a performance.
RIGGING FOR DIVINE SERVICES ASHORE.—Rigging for divine
services at an established shore command will differ considerably from the
procedures used afloat and in the field. Rigging for divine services ashore
and the equipment which may be utilized ashore are addressed later in this
chapter.
CRP Facilities Afloat
At sea, except for the newest and largest ships in the Navy, there is no
requirement for a permanent shipboard space for divine services or religious
activities. A commanding officer can, however, authorize the adoption of an
available shipboard space for the chaplain’s use. This space may be used
primarily for divine services or other religious and secular activities. When-
ever a space shipboard is unavailable for divine services or for religious
activities, the chaplain and the RP working together should attempt to locate
an alternate space aboard ship which is readily accessible to the crew and
suitable for the chaplain’s activities. You should bear in mind that the choice
of a location aboard ship will have an influence on the number of people who
attend divine services or religious activities conducted by chaplains afloat.
When deciding upon a location aboard ship for these activities, the limita-
tions imposed upon divine services and religious activities by the ship’s con-
figuration must be considered when a permanent space is unavailable. Divine
services or religious activities afloat may have to be routinely held at other
than one area aboard ship in order to meet the ever-changing circumstances
of work, weather, noise, or special tactical situations.
ECCLESIASTICAL EQUIPMENT ABOARD SHIP.—Chaplains and
Religious Program Specialists assigned to a ship or squadron of ships have
the responsibility to ensure that the ecclesiastical equipment necessary to
provide religious ministry to personnel of all faiths is on board. You should
be aware that the Naval Ship Engineering Center, Mechanicsburg Division,
makes provisions for the ecclesiastical equipment used in the ships to which
RPs and chaplains are assigned, The allowance equipage list of a ship
delineates the basic ecclesiastical items of equipment which are required on
board. Items of ecclesiastical field equipment and their use are discussed later
in this chapter.
RIGGING FOR DIVINE SERVICES AFLOAT.—Whenever a large
shipboard space must be prepared for divine services afloat, such as an air-
craft carrier’s hangar bay or flight deck (see figure 3-6), you will need assist-
ance. The rigging and unrigging of the space to be used for divine services
afloat are normally considered to be a part of ship’s work and a working part
from the duty section may be assigned to assist you. In this situation, you
should prepare the vestments and appointments used by the chaplain and
have the petty officer in charge (POIC) of the working party prepare the
space which is to be used by the worshipers. In cases where the place of
worship is not subject to frequent change, you should prepare a permanent
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