A BRIEF HISTORY OF CHAPLAINCY
The General Conference Adventist Chaplaincy Ministries Director has the following for us:
More than “thirty one years ago a group of church world leaders and chaplains gathered together. As a task force, the group dared to dream of a world where pastors would specialize as chaplains, with the full support and endorsement of the church. The group made several proposals. A primary recommendation was the creation of a new department that would function to support Adventist pastors who had chosen chaplaincy as their expression of ministry.
The next year Elder Charles Martin presented the recommendation to the General Conference Executive Committee. The proposition was approved and taken to the 54th General Conference Session. On July 5, 1985, a vote by the session delegates affirmed such an action and Adventist Chaplaincy Ministries (ACM) was born.
Today, we celebrate more than 30 years of faithful ministry. Currently, around the world more than 1200 chaplains serve the church in various roles of chaplaincy. As we commemorate our history, we must also contemplate a question about our future. What is our next step as we get ready for the Lord’s soon return?
The next year Elder Charles Martin presented the recommendation to the General Conference Executive Committee. The proposition was approved and taken to the 54th General Conference Session. On July 5, 1985, a vote by the session delegates affirmed such an action and Adventist Chaplaincy Ministries (ACM) was born.
Today, we celebrate more than 30 years of faithful ministry. Currently, around the world more than 1200 chaplains serve the church in various roles of chaplaincy. As we commemorate our history, we must also contemplate a question about our future. What is our next step as we get ready for the Lord’s soon return?
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE FUTURE
- Will have opportunities to grow professionally through continuing education opportunities. Imagine with a click of a button, online classes and virtual professional conferences with other chaplains around the world in real-time, without the need to leave office or home.
- Will have graduate and clinical training opportunities to further their training and pastoral education in their home Divisions.
- Will be viewed as pastors who are experts in the field of pastoral care. These experts will serve in institutional settings, with further specializations and a myriad of specialties and sub specialties.
- Will be recognized as an integral part of Seventh-day Adventist clergy around the world, both inside and outside the church.
- Will be supported with worldwide acceptance, professional training, and professional church certification.
- Will be supported with worldwide acceptance, professional training, and professional church certification.
- Will be immersed in a play a key role in the mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
- Will be leading ambassadors of the church to a world hurtling to the final days of its existence.
- Will be elected to serve at the highest levels of the church’s administrative structure.
- Will have CPE residency training as an integral part of their seminary curricula.
GET INVOLVED
I invite you to add your dreams to the list above. Feel free share your dreams with me through email and personal conversations. Together, let’s aspire to fulfill our commission as Seventh-day Adventist Christians – to bring the hope of a Saviour to a world that has not met Him yet. We do not have a lot of time. Jesus is coming, and coming soon!” (Mario E. Ceballos, Adventist Chaplaincy Ministries – General Conference).
Watch this page as it keeps unfolding the developments in Northern Zambia Union Conference!