In July the US House passed a measure preventing a humanist chaplain from serving in the military. The measure was sponsored by Rep John Fleming (R-La) who forgets that when a soldier in the field needs the comfort a chaplain can bring---that is exactly what the soldier needs. Here are some of Jason Heaps credentials- “On paper”, I have met the Navy’s requirements in terms of experience, having worked as a Minister of Music and Students in a United Methodist Church in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, plus interim pastorate work/pulpit-fill in various churches in north central Texas. I also have met their basic requirements for qualifications and education, in addition to a Master’s degree from Oxford in ecclesiastical history (I studied non-conformist controversies regarding their views of the afterlife, especially one church leader who publicly denied the existence of heaven, hell and future punishment altogether), and a Post-Graduate Certificate in Education that has allowed me to work as a teacher in the UK’s schools. As a teacher, I taught Religious Education and Philosophy for five years, and during this time, I have been responsible for not only teaching students about major religions and worldviews (including atheism, Humanism and even nihilism), but helping them understand themselves and their own existential views to become better people and to live in pluralistic societies as good citizens. Following this, I also managed international schools in the Middle East, West Africa and also in China, and have continued this work for the past five years. As you can see, counseling, capacity-building, cultivating relationships and empowering people from all ages and all walks of life has been part of my experience and something rather different that I would like to offer the Navy than someone who is fresh out of seminary. I am also in the final stages of a Doctor of Education degree with a specialization in leadership, and this new set of skills acquired through academic research also has relevance to my application to the Navy.
Posted on: Sun, 25 Aug 2013 19:43:22 +0000
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