International Conference of War Veteran Ministers

Who We Are

Our current ministerial work covers a variety of ministries. A majority of the members are Pastors of churches. Nine members are Chaplains in VA Medical Centers - four of whom are Chiefs of Chaplain Service. Two work as Readjustment Counselors in VA Vet Centers. Two of our members are professors. Two of our members are Hospital Chaplains in private sector hospitals. One member is a Certified Pastoral Counselor. Two members are in the Active Army Reserves.

Several of us are involved in special work. One member began a successful rehabilitation center/shelter for Homeless Veterans who are addicted to alcohol and other substances. This center has a strong Christian focus and provides vocational training. One of our members authored a book on the Spiritual Healing of the Vietnam Veteran. Another member has authored several scholarly articles that were published in the Journal of Pastoral Care on the Spirituality of Vietnam Veterans. A former member founded the Point Man Ministries International organization with outposts through the US and abroad.

Veteran Affiliations

Veterans groups are a special area of focus for our members. Many are active members of Vietnam Veterans of America. One member is the VVA National Chaplain. Several of our members are State Chaplains for VVA, VFW, or other veterans organizations. Two members are Chapter Chaplains. Many of us are members of other veteran service organizations including the Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, and Disabled American Veterans.

Faith Community.

One of our members became a minister while incarcerated. Two of our members are women who served as nurses in Vietnam and are presently ordained Episcopal Priests. We represent almost every State of the Union and most of our major denominations. Years ago, we identified these statistics based on our September 1999 Membership Directory:

• Roman Catholic (10)
• Episcopalian general and ministries Site (8)
• Presbyterian (6)
• United Methodist (5)
• Baptist (4)
• Assemblies of God (3)
• United Church of Christ (3)
• Southern Baptist (2)
• Anabaptist (Bruderhof) (1)
• Anglican Church of Canada (1)
• Christian Assembly Fellowship (1)
• Church of Christ (1)
• Disciples of Christ(1)
• Eastern Orthodox (1)
• Lutheran - Missouri Synod (1)
• Quaker (1)
• Unitarian-Universalist (1)
• World Wide Church of God (1)

Military Service

We reflect all the services, and not only American but allied (1998 data):

• Army (23)
• Navy (9)
• Air Force (8)
• Marine (6)
• New Zealand Infantry (1)
• Australian infantry
• Uganda
• Vietnam, Uganda conflicts, Desert Storm, Iraq, Afghanistan

Range of Ministries with Veterans.

In the spring of 1998 we conducted a survey of our membership with a particular view to identifying the range of ministries through which we provide spiritual healing to veterans. The results demonstrate the impact of our members on the broader veteran community:

• 70% counsel veterans who are members of their church congregations
  
• 74% counsel veterans who are not members of their church congregations but who have sought them out.
  
• 48% counsel veterans through their jobs. In addition to those who are chaplains at VA Medical Centers, members listed roles as a Marriage and Family Therapist, Director of a home for homeless veterans, Jail visitation and advocacy, and community hospital chaplaincies.
  
• 48% are chaplains for veterans groups. Vietnam Veterans of America is a special area of focus for our members. One member is the VVA National Chaplain. Four of the members are VVA State Chaplains. Six of those who responded to the survey are VVA Chapter Chaplains. Other veterans organizations supported included the American Legion, VFW, Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association, Catholic War Veterans, and Organization of Vietnam Veterans.
  
• 89% conduct memorial services for veteran events, and 67% conduct worship services other than memorial services for veteran events.
  
• 41% conduct workshops and training sessions for veterans. In addition to the Spiritual Healing and associated workshops described in this grant application, these activities include PTSD workshops, training sessions at a VA Day Treatment Center, Bible Studies and Prayer meetings, God and Country presentations using 100 Vietnam slides, spiritual renewal events including 2 sessions of a psycho-education course, strategy sessions on PTSD and spirituality and on substance abuse and PTSD.
  
• 22% engage in advocacy activities for veterans. These range from issues like Agent Orange to assisting veterans with benefit applications. One member is a Board member on a task force for homeless veterans in his area and another has worked with the National Coalition of the Homeless in developing awareness in his area. One works with issues related to women veterans and another is a member of Vietnam Veterans Against the War.
  
• 41% reported even other activities above and beyond the categories listed on the survey. These included development of a PTSD chorus, attendance at the Texas Tech Annual Symposium, teaching pastors and lay counselors about PTS, maintenance of internet sites for veterans, operation of a transitional living center for homeless veterans, service on the Community Affairs committee for their VVA chapter, food pantry activities, and work with addictive and homeless veterans.
  
• 85% were willing to have their name listed on the internet as a resource for veterans, with 78% willing to be listed by mailing address and phone number, and 44% providing an e-mail address by which veterans could contact them. Click here to see our names and how to contact us. Many of us are on the internet and have e-mail.
  
• Several of us have suggested links to other sites of interest to veterans.
  
• Each year, our history of service grows longer!