Welcome all VFW Chaplains! Thank you for serving our
veterans and their families! Below are some resources that
hopefully will give you guidance as you serve.
Don't forget to connect with us on the VFW
Chaplain Blog: https://lotcs.org/comments_script/blog.php
Or click the button below...
VFW Chaplain Blog
Chaplains are our nation's comrade veterans who minister
to our nation's sons and daughters, and their families. Like
any chaplain or minister, they must provide a dynamic and
genuine ministry with a shepherd's heart. Whether leading
worship, visiting a hospital, conducting a final farewell to
our comrades, or even answering a phone call just to talk,
Chaplains are always at the frontline of our veterans' lives.
Chaplains serve both God and country by bringing their
unique gifts with which they are endowed by God, to the
veterans of our nation in the broad, challenging, diverse,
and ever changing environment.
Courtesy of
Reverend
Tom Darling
(Past VFW National Chaplain)
Chaplain Dave Frei
vfwdfrei@gmail.com
The Chaplain's Corner is a monthly message from the VFW
National Chaplain.
by Reverend Peter R. Hook,
Past National Chaplain
Clergy vs: Chaplain...Is there a difference?
Credibility of Chaplains and Leadership
Dealing with Suicide as a Chaplain
Exercising Wisdom When Helping People in Need
Organizational Structure of the VFW Chaplaincy
Public occasions put the Chaplain on center stage
When a crisis happens remember A-B-C
by Chaplain Dale A. Iannello, B.Th., M.B.S.
Chaplains and Mandatory Reporting
Have you checked on your Chaplain lately?
The Heart and Soul of Service:
Understanding
the Role of VFW Chaplains
1. In a non-sectarian manner, you should be prepared to listen
to your fellow comrades/sisters and provide aid and spiritual
comfort in times of stress, sickness, or bereavement.
2. Work with your Service Officer to aid members and their
families in time of need.
3. Your Post Commander or Officers may come to you in
confidence. Remember the privileged communication you are
having is for your ears only. Uphold the high ideals of the
organization in any advice you offer. Remember it is a privilege – respect it.
4. You should be prepared to offer the ritual prayers at each
meeting of the Post. You will also be called upon to offer
appropriate prayers at the initiation of new members;
installation of officers; the dedication of a building, monument
or colors; or at the memorial service of a comrade.
Note: All such services are commemorated by use of the VFW
or Ladies Auxiliary ritual.
5. Being a member of the Post’s Memorial Team will provide
an opportunity for contact with the grieving family and thus
provides a caring ministry to them. The Memorial Team is an
important part of the honors offered to a veteran.
6. Use the persuasion of your office to promote harmony and
unity in the Post/District/State.
1. Chaplains will demonstrate utmost personal and professional
integrity: truthfulness, honesty, and compassion to those who
they minister to.
2. Chaplains will provide an objective, appropriate, holistic
support and a comforting presence.
3. Chaplains will not proselytize. Those who are cared for will
be provided freedom from unwanted gifts of religious literature
or symbols, evangelistic and sermonizing speech, or forced
acceptance of specific moral values and traditions.
4. Chaplains will demonstrate sensitivity to all faith traditions
and provide appropriate and sensitive spiritual care to all
persons in need,
irrespective of their religious or nonreligious
identity.
5. Chaplains will not discriminate, with regards to their care,
based on sex, age, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation,
disabilities, socioeconomic status, or any other factors that
would hamper a person’s ability to receive spiritual care.
6. Chaplains will, whenever possible, attempt to locate a spiritual leader within the faith tradition of an affected person, if needed.
7. Out of respect for those who are served, Chaplains will
maintain confidentiality.
8. Chaplains recognize their personal and professional limits,
know their boundaries and make referrals to professionals
with appropriate expertise.
9. Chaplains will do no harm.
(Note: State Chaplains can request an Excel spreadsheet
for their state listing the data for those who have reported
online).
Chaplain of the Year Award requirements
VETERAN RESOURCES
Defense Suicide Prevention Office The Defense Suicide
Prevention Office does not provide crisis services. If you or
someone you know is in crisis, contact the Veteran/Military
Crisis Line for immediate assistance.
Veterans Crisis Conversation Handout This handout gives
helpful information on helping a veteran in crisis.
Suicide Prevention Resource Center
6 Ways to Begin a Conversation about Veteran Suicide
Warriors Journey Warriors helping Warriors. (There is
a Chaplain section).
VFW California Chaplain's Page
(Chaplain Frank Correa, State Chaplain)
VFW Colorado Chaplain's Page
(Chaplain Kevin Reinhold, State Chaplain)
VFW Missouri Chaplain's Page
(Chaplain Deborah Halter, Past VFW National Chaplain)
VFW Pennsylvania Chaplain's Page
(Chaplain Peter Hook, Past VFW National Chaplain)
VFW Washington Chaplain's Page
(Chaplain Uschi Graeff)
VFW National Level Memorial
Memorial Service National Script (PDF)
VFW Conference Level Memorial
Eastern Conference Memorial Bulletin Cover
Eastern Conference Memorial Bulletin Inside
VFW Department Level Memorial
Department Memorial Bulletin
Department Memorial Script
VFW District Level Memorial
District Memorial Service Template (PDF)
District Memorial Service Template (Word)
District Memorial Service Index Cards
VFW Post Level Memorial
Funeral Services
Draping of the VFW Charter by Reverend Peter R. Hook,
Chaplain, Department of Pennsylvania
Funeral Planning for the Veteran
Memorial Service Template
Memorial Checklist and Planning Worksheet
VFW Chaplain Meeting Prayers (VFW 2023 Ritual)
The-Public-Reading-of-Ritual-Prayers
by Reverend Peter R. Hook, Chaplain,
Department of Pennsylvania
Prayer for Support by Reverend Peter R. Hook,
Chaplain, Department of Pennsylvania
PRAYERS ON THE GO
Whether a Chaplain is on the go ministering to Comrades
or their families, visiting a post, or is in need of meeting
prayers, these "prayers on the go" will be helpful.
These prayers can be viewed on mobile devices:
vfw_prayers_mobile
Zoom Training
IMPORTANT NOTE: All Zoom training links will be shared
via email. When participants log into a Zoom training session,
the screen name must be formatted as: First and last name with
the state. For example: Dale Iannello (WA). This will help us
know who is on, enabling us to count attendance by state.
Next training session: TBD, Keep checking back...
TIME ZONES:
5:30 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
6:30 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada)
7:30 PM Central Time (US and Canada)
8:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Past Training Sessions
MAY 2024 Dashbord Reporting (Presented by Chaplain
Frank Correa) Click HERE to view the training session.
(YouTube).
Click HERE to download the PowerPoint presentation.
APR 2024 Memorial Services (Presented by Chaplain Peter
Hook) click HERE to download the PowerPoint presentation.
MAR 2024 Ethics (Presented by Chaplain Frank Correa)
and VFW Ritual (Presented by Chaplain Peter Hook).
click HERE to view the training session. (YouTube).
FEB 2024 Suicide Prevention Training II, click HERE!
(PDF) or HERE! (PowerPoint) host Chaplain Ron Ringo Jr.
Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) information, click HERE!
host Chaplain Ron Ringo Jr.
JAN 2024 Suicide Prevention Training, click HERE!
(YouTube) host Chaplain Ron Ringo Jr.
NOV 2023 VFW National Home introduction training
session, click HERE! (YouTube).
OCT 2023 Chaplain Workshop with host Past National
Chaplain Jim Jenkins, click HERE! (YouTube).
Other Training Material
Funerals/Memorials
Presented by Chaplain Peter Hook
Funeral Planning for the Veteran (15 MAR 23)
Memorial Service Template (15 MAR 23)
Hospital Visitation
Presented by Chaplain Frank Correa
Hospital, Nursing Home, Private Home, Hospice &
Spiritual Care Workshop (19 APR 23)
Hospital, Nursing Home, Private Home, Hospice &
Spiritual Care Workshop Slideshow (19 APR 23)
Based on the training material above test your knowledge
by taking the following test. There is a test and an answer
sheet.
Hospital Visitation Test
Hospital Visitation Answer Sheet
Ethics
After reading the information under the "Ethics" tab, test
your
knowledge by taking the following test. There is the
test and
an answer sheet.
Ethics Test
Ethics Answer Sheet
A brief overview of the SAVE suicide prevention training
program.
The Chaplain Workshop at the VFW National Convention in
Louisville, KY is Tuesday 30 JUL 24 from 1300-1600
in room L015-L019.
For more resources go to the VFW National
Chaplain web
page at:
https://lotcs.org/
vfw_chaplain.html