Bishop George Packard, the Episcopal Church’s suffragan bishop for chaplaincies, was elected chair of the executive committee of the National Conference on Ministry to the Armed Services at its annual conference in Alexandria, Va.
NCMAF is a private, nonfederal government organization that serves as the primary collaborative point of contact with the Department of Defense for religious bodies who have chaplains in the U.S. armed services.
The organization’s annual conference brings together in a supportive, working relationship official representatives of all the major faith groups in the United States that endorse chaplains for service with military personnel and their families. This includes Anglican, Protestant, Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Jewish, Muslim and Hindu representatives.
Packard will play a key communication role with each of the three chiefs of chaplains for the Army, Navy and Air Force in matters affecting the more than 4,700 chaplains who serve in the three branches in active duty or Reserve or National Guard capacities.
One hundred thirty-six Episcopal chaplains serve in the Army, Navy and Air Force, including 20 volunteer chaplains in the Air Force Auxiliary Civil Air Patrol. Nine are currently in Iraq. More than 20 Episcopal chaplains have served for 12 or more months since the outbreak of war.
The roots of the NCMAF extend back to 1901, when the War Department (predecessor to the Department of Defense) decided to require official ecclesiastical endorsement by religious denominations in order for clergy representing those faith groups to be vetted for service as chaplains in the armed services.
