Chaplain

Canadian Armed Forces | Forces armées canadiennes; Fredericton; On-site; CAD 30,000 - 60,000; Part time

Job summary

A national military organization is looking for a CAF chaplain to provide spiritual care and support for military members and their families. Candidates must hold a graduate degree in Faith Tradition and have significant leadership experience. This role includes advising on ethical issues and providing support during life events. It offers both full-time and part-time opportunities across Canada.

Benefits

Competitive benefits package

Paid training

Opportunities for full-time roles

Qualifications

• Must be ordained or mandated by a nationally registered Faith Tradition.
• At least two years of full-time, supervised Faith Tradition leadership experience.
• Recommendation from the Interfaith Committee on Canadian Military Chaplaincy (ICCMC).

Responsibilities

• Foster spiritual, religious, and pastoral care for high-ranking military members.
• Advise on spiritual/religious accommodation and ethical dilemmas.
• Provide compassionate support during significant life events.

Skills

Leadership

Compassionate Support

Liaison Skills

Education

Graduate-level professional degree in Faith Tradition formation (MDiv or equivalent)

Job description

Overview

As a member of the military, CAF chaplains are responsible for fostering the spiritual, religious, and pastoral care of Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members and their families, regardless of religious affiliation, practice, and/or belief. CAF chaplains have privileged access to CAF members of all ranks, have no command authority, and are prohibited from bearing arms. Their responsibilities include:

• Providing an active, personal, and supportive presence
• Officiating at special functions, service, events, and ceremonies
• Advising the Chain of Command regarding spiritual/religious accommodation issues, ethical dilemmas, as well as spiritual and moral issues pertaining to the Formation/Unit/Squadron
• Applying knowledge in general military administration and RCChS policies
• Liaising with local area civilian Faith Tradition leaders
• Referring CAF members and their families to other helping professionals, such as social workers, psychologists, or medical personnel, as required
• Providing compassionate and caring support during, and following, significant life events and incidents

Work environment

CAF chaplains work in all military environments with members of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), the Canadian Army (CA), the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), and Canadian Special Operations Forces (CANSOF). Public services and military ceremonies typically require the chaplain to participate and offer spiritual reflections. CAF chaplains can work in Canada, or may be required to go abroad during operations.

If you choose a career in the Regular Force, upon completion of all required training, you will be assigned to your first base. While there is some flexibility with regards to postings (relocations), accommodations can’t always be made, and therefore, you can likely expect to move at some point in your career. If you join the Primary Reserve Force, you will do so through a specific Reserve unit. Outside of training, your chosen Reserve unit will be your workplace on a part-time basis, and you will not be obligated to relocate to a different base. As part of the Primary Reserve Force, you typically work one night per week and some weekends as a minimum with possibilities of full-time employment.

Entry plans

• Direct Entry Options
• Paid Education Options

Chaplains must be ordained or mandated by a nationally registered Faith Tradition, and have a Graduate-level professional degree in Faith Tradition formation (MDiv or equivalent), be a member in good standing with a national Faith Tradition Governing Authority, and have at least two years of full-time, supervised Faith Tradition leadership experience. They must also receive the recommendation of a representative of the Interfaith Committee on Canadian Military Chaplaincy (ICCMC), the endorsement of the ICCMC, and be selected by the Chaplain General.

The ideal candidate already has a Graduate-level professional degree in Faith Tradition formation (MDiv or equivalent) and at least two years of full-time, supervised Faith Tradition leadership experience; the CAF may place you directly into the required on-the-job training program following Basic Military Officer Qualification training.

For more information about entry plans and becoming a Chaplain, you may contact the Royal Canadian Chaplain Service:

Email: [e-mail]
Phone: [phone]

Regional Chaplains Contact Information

Please choose the region below to find the contact information of the regional chaplain.

• Alberta and the North – Chaplain, 3rd Canadian Division – Capt Bryan Bowley – Email: [e-mail] – Edmonton 780-973-4011 x8141
• Manitoba and Saskatchewan – 1 Canadian Air Division Chaplain – Maj Henry Hoy – Email: [e-mail] – Winnipeg 204-833-2500 x2267
• Ontario – Chaplain, 4th Canadian Division – Capt Adnan Balihodzic – Email: [e-mail] – Toronto 416-633-6200 x5314
• Quebec – Chaplain, 2nd Canadian Division – Capt Dany Perreault – Email: [e-mail] – Montréal 514-252-2777 x4032
• Maritimes – Chaplain, 5th Canadian Division – Lt(N) Stephen Cogswell – Email: [e-mail] – Halifax 902-427-7849
• British Columbia – Chaplain, Joint Task Force Pacific – Lt(N) Peter Han – Email: [e-mail] – Esquimalt 250-363-4180

If you wish to become a Chaplain for the CAF, you can apply for the Subsidized Education for Entry Level Masters (SEELM) programme. If you have an undergraduate degree in any discipline from a recognized Canadian university, and meet the required entry criteria, you may qualify to apply for the SEELM entry option. If accepted, you will be enrolled in the CAF as an officer while you complete a Graduate-level professional degree in Faith Tradition formation (MDiv or equivalent) program at a Canadian university, and complete the required two years of post-credential, full-time, supervised Faith Tradition leadership experience. Successful applicants will receive a salary, medical and dental care, and paid annual vacation. In exchange, you must work for the CAF for a specified period of time. To apply, you must have been accepted without condition to a Graduate-level professional degree in Faith Tradition formation (MDiv or equivalent) at a Canadian university in a program recognized by the ICCMC and the CAF.

For more information about entry plans and becoming a Chaplain, you may contact the Royal Canadian Chaplain Service:

Email: [e-mail]
Phone: [phone]

Training

After being posted, you will prepare for basic training by completing the 12 week intensive Basic Military Officer Qualification training programme at the Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec. Topics covered include general military knowledge, the principles of leadership, regulations and customs of the CAF, basic weapons safety handling, and first aid. Opportunities will also be provided to apply such newly acquired military skills in training exercises involving force protection, field training, navigation and leadership. A rigorous physical fitness program is a vital part of basic training. Basic Military Officer Qualification training is provided in English or French, and successful completion is a prerequisite for further training.

Following the successful completion of Basic Military Officer Qualification (BMOQ), chaplains will spend the next 12-18 months engaged in various online and in-person professional development courses. Courses include: Basic Occupation Qualification (BOQ), Intermediate Ethics, Chaplain Counselling Skills, Chaplain in Deployed Operations, Canadian Armed Forces Junior Officer Development (CAFJOD) programme, as well as any element-specific training requirements.

Part time options

This position is available for part-time employment with the Primary Reserve at certain locations across Canada. Reserve Force members usually serve part time at Reserve Unit in their community, and may serve while going to school or working at a civilian job. They are paid during their training. They are not posted or required to do a military move. However, they may volunteer for deployment on a military mission within or outside Canada.

Reserve Force members usually serve part-time with their home unit on scheduled evenings and weekends, although they may also serve in full-time positions at some units for fixed terms, depending on the type of work that they do. They are paid 92.8 percent of Regular Force rates of pay, receive a competitive benefits package and may qualify to contribute to a pension plan.

Related Careers

Social Work Officer

Military Police Officer

Personnel Selection Officer