Military Chaplain Candidacy Application

Dear Friend:

Thank you for your interest in the Alliance of Baptists (AOB) approval process to serve in a Chaplain Candidate program of one of the military service branches. The Chaplain Candidate process and applicants for approval fall under the guidance of the AOB endorser and endorsement council.

Below you will find an outline of the approval application process and the application. A required Reference Form is available as a digital document on the Alliance of Baptists website. (https://allianceofbaptists.org/endorsementreference/).

Please complete this application and supply all accompanying materials to the AOB endorser, at endorsement@allianceofbaptists.org. Within six weeks of submitting your application, a Council member will schedule a phone interview with you. The Council will review your application materials, the results of your interview, and contact you with a decision regarding approval.

Approval to serve as a Chaplain Candidate is an official process by the Alliance of Baptists to discern whether a person meets the Alliance’s standards to serve in the specialized military training as a Chaplain Candidate.

A Chaplain Candidate will be a full-time theological student in an ATS accredited school and participating in congregational life. The AOB will follow the maximum time limit set by the military service branch for maintaining the ‘approval’ status of a chaplain candidate.

This form is one part of applying for Military Chaplain Candidacy with the Alliance of Baptists. Kindly read the Endorsement Manual carefully and submit this form and all other application materials.

* = required field

All applicants must demonstrate a one-year relationship with the Alliance of Baptists in one of the following ways prior to application: 

-Individual membership and actively participating in the Alliance for one year

-Membership in an Alliance-affiliated congregation for one year

-Attend an Alliance of Baptists Annual Gathering and contact Alliance staff about approval within six months of attending the Annual Gathering.

Please note that chaplain candidates will be expected to maintain individual membership at a giving level of at least $75 to the AOB per year. 

The following are required for your application for approval to be considered: 

1. A letter signifying active participation in the local congregation that is nurturing the applicant in faith and vocational identity for at least the two most recent years (if applicable, the congregation just before a relocation for seminary). You will upload this letter along with this application form.
2. Completed Approval Application Form.
3. Written reflections on the topics named below. You will upload these reflections with this application form.
4. One Reference Form dated within the last six months from a professional reference. This will be completed by your professional reference at this link: https://allianceofbaptists.org/endorsementreference/
5. Kindly remember to check the spelling and grammar of your writing.

I recognize my responsibility to update this misconduct disclosure in a timely manner should there be a change of status in any of the issues named above.

I am submitting this application to the Alliance as part of the Approval Process of the Alliance. I agree to cooperate with the Alliance, and to abide by all decisions of the Alliance. I understand and agree that the Alliance has the sole authority to grant or deny Approval, in its sole discretion, and that the decision of the Alliance to grant or deny approval is final and not subject to appeal or review. Further, if the Alliance should determine that my approval should be withdrawn, I agree to abide by that decision, which I agree shall be final and shall not be subject to review. I understand that there is no contractual right to approval by the Alliance, that the Alliance may decide to withdraw my recognition in its discretion at any time, and that I will have no legal claim of any kind against the Alliance as a result of any decision to grant, deny or withdraw approval.

I confirm that the information provided on this application, and any information I may provide at any time during the application process, is accurate and complete. I understand that the Alliance will rely on the statements I am making in this application and during the application process.

I agree that all of the information provided in this application and in the application process may be verified by the Alliance or anyone acting on behalf of the Alliance. I authorize the Alliance, or anyone acting on their behalf, to make any and all contacts necessary to verify my history of prior employment, and to inquire regarding any prior arrest, criminal records, professional, religious, or judicial proceedings involving me as a defendant. I authorize the Alliance, or anyone acting on their behalf, to make whatever contacts the Alliance considers necessary in order to obtain any other information the Alliance considers necessary in order to decide on my Application, including but not limited to contacting individuals, churches and organizations listed on this Application as references.

I hereby authorize previous employers, any pastoral care organizations, and any religious judicatory and/or any law enforcement or judicial authority to release any and all requested information about me. I hereby authorize any individuals, churches, or other organizations

listed on this Application to provide any and all requested information directly to the Alliance or anyone acting on their behalf. I agree to sign any additional authorizations that may be necessary for the Alliance to obtain this information. I will pay for any additional costs for the mandatory background check.

I have thoroughly read this document, and I understand its terms. I understand fully that the information obtained from other parties may be used to deny my approval from the Alliance of Baptists. I understand that the Alliance has no independent obligation to verify the accuracy of any information received from those other parties.

I understand and agree that having an approval to serve as a Chaplain Candidate by the Alliance of Baptists does not create any employment relationship with the Alliance, or establish any other kind of supervisory relationship with the Alliance. I agree that if I am approved to serve as a Chaplain Candidate by the Alliance of Baptists, I will not tell anyone that I have any kind of employment or supervisory relationship with the Alliance.

I understand and agree that the Alliance is relying upon the accuracy and completeness of my statements in this Application, and during the Application process, in making any decisions about Approval. I agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Alliance against any claims against the Alliance based upon or arising from (i) any actions I may take during the time that I am Approved by the Alliance, or (ii) any information that I have supplied to the Alliance as part of this process. I agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Alliance against any claims based upon or arising from any statements that I may make that misrepresent the nature of my relationship with the Alliance. Finally, I hereby release any and all claims that I may have against the Alliance as a result of my Application for Approval, including without limitation claims based upon or arising from (i) actions that the Alliance may take in contacting any third-party as part of that process, or (ii) any actions that the Alliance may take during the time that the Alliance has granted me Approval, or (iii) any decision by the Alliance to deny Approval or to withdraw Approval once granted.

All complaints and reports of misconduct relating to Alliance of Baptists Endorsed Clergy or Alliance of Baptists Recognized Clergy will be handled as follows:

• Any member of the Alliance of Baptists Board, Alliance of Baptists staff or the Endorsing or Clergy Recognition Councils, who receives such information, shall promptly inform the President of the Alliance of Baptists of that information. Once the President has been informed, no further action shall be taken, except by the President, acting in consultation with legal counsel, or by legal counsel, as authorized by the Alliance of Baptists Board of Directors.
• After receiving such information, the President of the Alliance of Baptists shall promptly confer with legal counsel for the Alliance of Baptists, and take whatever action the President and legal counsel conclude is appropriate under the circumstances.
• The President of the Alliance of Baptists and legal counsel will consider how and when to consult with the Executive Committee and/or the full Board of Directors of the Alliance of Baptists, depending on the nature of the issues raised and the urgency of the matter.
• The President of the Alliance and legal counsel will consider whether consultation with the Clergy Recognition Council (for complaints regarding Recognized Clergy) or with the Endorsing Council (for complaints regarding Endorsed Clergy) is appropriate under the circumstances.
• The Alliance of Baptists’ response may include notification of Alliance of Baptists-affiliated congregations (for complaints regarding Recognized Clergy) or of certifying organizations and employers (for complaints regarding Endorsed Clergy), as is appropriate under the circumstances.

This policy shall not apply to reports of misconduct by Alliance of Baptists Employees, Officers or Directors, which shall be governed by the existing Whistleblower Resolution and procedures.

This policy shall be distributed annually to all Alliance of Baptists staff, all members of the Board of Directors of the Alliance of Baptists, all members of the Clergy Recognition Council and all members of the Endorsing Council.

Each person receiving the Policy shall sign and return a copy indicating that they understand the policy, have complied with it, and will comply with it .As part of the annual renewal process, Recognized Clergy and Endorsed Clergy shall indicate that they understand this policy, have complied with it, and will comply with it.

We are a people of faith formed by a long tradition of dissent and historic Baptist freedoms. Celebrating this heritage, we seek to cultivate beloved community, claiming our identity within the body of Christ in the world and our solidarity with all creation. We welcome and affirm all persons with full respect to gender, sexual, racial, and ethnic identities. We hold space for all persons with varying abilities, social standing, or economic status.

We lament that over time many of us have contributed to systems of racial, social, economic, and environmental injustice, privileging some while excluding others. As Baptists we confess that we have cherished independence from one another more than responsibility to one another and have allowed systemic injustices to flourish under the banner of individual freedom. We repent and seek transformation.

Embraced in baptismal waters, we freely gather to follow the radical way of Jesus. As disciples we pledge to wrestle with scripture in community, practice shared leadership, preserve local church freedom, and promote religious liberty.

Guided by the Spirit, we commit ourselves to:

Make the worship of God central in our life together;
Hold the earth sacred, practice creation justice, and
Pursue God’s peace and love;
Nurture spiritual formation and support theological education,
Develop ministry, ecumenical, and interfaith partnerships, and
Cultivate relationships of mutual respect and accountability;
Act to dismantle systems of white supremacy, patriarchy, and abusive power,
Raise prophetic voices for liberation and justice, and
Work to eradicate poverty in all forms;
Establish spaces of refuge and renewal with those who are wounded,
Listen to and follow voices that have been silenced, and
Break down barriers that divide us from each other and creation.

We seek to live in joy, humility, and gratitude, welcoming the realm of God.

As an endorsed clergyperson of the Alliance of Baptists, I make the following commitments: I will work cooperatively and collegially with those with whom I serve in the ministry to which I have been called.

I will stand in a supportive relationship with my colleagues in ministry, offering and receiving counsel and support in times of need.

I will maintain the highest ethical standards with colleagues, institutions, or congregations that employ me.

I will recognize the power my ministry gives me and refrain from practices that are harmful to others and which endanger my integrity or my professional effectiveness.

I will use my ministerial status, position and authority in ways that do not abuse, misguide, negatively influence, manipulate or take advantage of anyone, especially children.

I will personally and professionally support persons who experience discrimination on the basis of gender, sexual identity, gender expression, race, ethnicity, age, marital status, national origin, religion, physical ability, or mental ability.

I will seek to know, understand and respect the diversity of opinions, beliefs, and practices of others.

I will be a good steward of that which God provides and handle my own finances and those of my partners in ministry and my place of employment honestly and with great care.

I will seek to grow in faith, knowledge, and the practice of ministry through spiritual practices, study, professional development, and service.

I will live a life that honors my commitments to myself and my loved ones, including the need for privacy, time apart, and time together.

I will honor all confidences shared with me in my capacity as a clergyperson, unless not allowed by law, and I will maintain such confidentiality even when the pastoral relationship has ended.

I will navigate transitions between ministries carefully to support the ministry of those who follow me as well as the well-being of those with whom I have had a pastoral relationship.

With God’s help and the help of my colleagues in ministry, I make this covenant.