Military Chaplain Association » Chaplain

2012 Annual Meeting

Gary — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 03:24:22 +0000

The 2012 national MCA Annual Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, 18 April at the Holiday Inn Riverwalk in San Antonio, TX.

Look for a meeting registration form and information about hotel reservations on Wednesday, 15 February.

The National Executive Committee will meet beginning at 0830 on Tuesday, 17 April. Other participants should plan to arrive in time to register on Tuesday afternoon and participate in a Welcome Reception early Tuesday evening.

Other activities will include a keynote speaker on “Moral Injuries During War,” annual awards, and a briefing on the mission of the newly formed Chaplains Alliance.

Look forward to assistance with recording your story for the Chaplains “213 by 2-03-13″ Campaign in the Library of Congress Veterans History Project.

For those interested, Fiesta San Antonio 2012 begins on Thursday, 19 April and continues for ten days.

MCA Newsgram 12.30.11

Gary — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 04:38:31 +0000

Our second newsgram was sent on 30 December to all members and friends who have provided us with current emails. If you did not receive the newsgram, please check to see if your computer blocks emails sent via Constant Contact. Or please send a confirmation of your preferred email to chaplains@mca-usa.org.

Following are key announcements from the 12.30.11 edition:

We are grateful to those who have been able to send special year end donations totaling nearly $15,000. The Military Chaplain Winter 2011 issue lists the names of donors for gifts received through 12 December. More names will appear in the first 2012 issue.

For those who maintain annual membership status, the 2012 renewal form is now posted on our web page. For the fifth year in a row, the MCA National Executive Committee (NEC) has maintained dues at $50 per year. You can print the form and send with your check via surface mail. You are also able to renew via PayPal.

The MCA is seeking nominations for election of six new national leaders during our 2012 Annual Meeting. One election is for a vacated term in the NEC Class of 2013. We require four members to form a new NEC Class of 2015. We must also elect a new Trustee, Class of 2015. Please send nominations along with current contact information to our MCA email address C/O Chair, Nominating Committee.

Mark your calendar and plan to attend our 2012 Annual Meeting on Wednesday, 18 April. We are meeting in San Antonio, Texas at the Holiday Inn Riverwalk. Watch for more info on this meeting and other activities during that week.

As you pray for all of those wounded in war, please remember those who suffer moral injuries – which can be as profound in consequence as physical and mental injuries.

CFC & United Way CFC #11957

admin — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 15:17:21 +0000

Please note that our organization number on the pledge form for local United Way campaigns may be different than the number on CFC forms. Every year the MCA submits a professionally conducted audit along with our application to qualify for the CFC. We are in full compliance with the mission and accountability standards that are expected for organizations with non-profit status under the Internal Revenue Service. We deeply appreciate your contributions and support of our mission and services.

CFC #11957

DoD Policy Change for Chaplains

Gary — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 18:18:46 +0000

On 30 September 2011, Under Secretary of Defense Clifford L Stanley released a memo about chaplain participation in “private” ceremonies. This short memo did not mention same-sex rites. But he prefaced the guidance with reference to Section 654, Title 10 U. S. C. — which is the law concerning homosexual identity in the military that was repealed. So, there should be no surprise with various news headlines that say words to the effect that “chaplains can perform gay military weddings.”

Representative Todd Akin of Missouri immediately challenged the Pentagon guidance memo as a violation of federal law. He is referring to the Defense of Marriage Act of 21 September 1996. The MCA National Office can’t speculate about what might come next in this substantial struggle over conflicting interests.

As an Association, our position continues to emphasize rigorous accuracy of salient fact, fairness, and justice for all concerned as this policy change unfolds. We might not be able to eliminate or convincingly dispute distortions of fact [and even context] that are often present in controversial issues. But we certainly can pursue calm, patience, and graciousness in our own responses. Chaplain Gary Pollitt, Executive Director.

“Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” season premiere on 25 September features former Navy chaplain

admin — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 06:03:25 +0000

Former Navy chaplain Barbara Marshall will appear during the season premier of “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” on 25 September at 7:00 -9:00 pm EDT on the ABC Television Network. Barbara is committed to assistance for homeless Veterans. Using her own funds, she established The Steps-N-Stages Jubilee House in Fayetteville, NC.

Jubilee House offers shelter, support and services such as mentoring and life coaching to homeless female veterans. Jubilee House needed additional space and resources to continue its work with the women. With the help of First Lady Michelle Obama, a paratrooper team from the U.S. Army, other service members, and Ty Pennington from “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” a new Jubilee House will be unveiled on 25 September.

Mrs. Obama, Ty Pennington and the “EM: HE” team of designers Paul DiMeo, Tracy Hutson, John Littlefield, Sabrina Soto, local builder Blue Ridge Log Cabins and community volunteers helped build the new Jubilee House.

For more information on “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” visit http://abc.go.com/shows/extreme-makeover-home-edition

See the special Season Nine premiere of “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” from 7-9 pm EDT on Sunday, 25 September.