PREPARATION FOR DIVINE SERVICES ASHORE
Preparation for divine services is an important factor for any Command
Religious Program; however, this is especially true ashore where the
limitations found shipboard and in the field are not present. Ashore, a wider
range of facilities and ecclesiastical equipment allows chaplains to conduct
divine services in a manner which is more similar to the services conducted by
clergy in the civilian community. As a Religious Program Specialist, you
should be familiar with the wider range of religious practices and procedures
followed ashore. In this particular section, we will discuss the procedures for
preparing a CRP facility for:
A nonsectarian chapel arrangement
Jewish divine service
Eastern Orthodox divine service
Protestant divine service
Roman Catholic divine service
Non-Judeo and non-Christian religious requirements and practices*
NONSECTARIAN ARRANGEMENT OF THE CHAPEL FACILITY
When divine services or religious services are not in progress, the chapel
facility should be configured to present a nonsectarian appearance. To do
this, you should remove or cover all symbols, statues, or related objects
which are characteristic of one particular faith group. How this is accom-
plished will vary according to the location and arrangement of the chapel. In
some cases, items which have been permanently affixed within a chapel and
do not present a nonsectarian appearance may be curtained, screened,
covered, or possibly even removed. The command chaplain will instruct you
as to what action should be taken in these circumstances. Once the facility
has been rigged to reflect a nonsectarian appearance, it is a good practice to
make and keep a diagram or photograph of the arrangement for future
reference in the sacristy/vestry area. It may then be used by any RP who is
assigned worship support functions in your facility. This practice may also be
used to show the duty RP each arrangement used by each of the chaplains
assigned to your facility.
Display of the Flag
Whenever a church flag is displayed at divine services, it must be placed
on the opposite side of the chapel from the American flag. If the chaplain is
on a raised chancel area or platform, the American flag is placed to the
chaplain’s right and the church flag to the chaplain’s left. If the chapel is on
the same level as the congregation, the American flag is placed to the left of
the chaplain and the church flag to the right of the chaplain. When the
chapel is not in use, and the arrangement is nonsectarian, only the American
flag should be displayed.
* Faith Groups such as Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism are widely represented throughout
the world although no chaplains currently represent these faiths within the U. S. military and
naval chaplaincies.
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