chaplain corps, usn statistics, research and litigation prepared 2002

Chaplain Corps, USNChaplain Corps, USNStatistics, ResearchStatistics, Research

and Litigationand Litigation

Prepared 2002Prepared 2002

CHC Litigation QuizCHC Litigation Quiz

There is a lawsuit There is a lawsuit pending in federal pending in federal court against the court against the Navy chaplain corps.Navy chaplain corps.

True or FalseTrue or False

True and False.True and False. There are actually five There are actually five

separate suits in separate suits in federal courts federal courts concerning the CHC. concerning the CHC. Some have been filed Some have been filed by individuals, others by individuals, others by groups.by groups.


A senior chaplain who A senior chaplain who is in “the know” has is in “the know” has told me that the told me that the lawsuit is a dead lawsuit is a dead issue.issue.

Actually one of the Actually one of the suits recently was suits recently was given class standing given class standing by the judge. This by the judge. This class action suit will class action suit will eventually include eventually include between 700 to 1000 between 700 to 1000 chaplains. The suit chaplains. The suit has now entered the has now entered the discovery phase.discovery phase.


These suits have been These suits have been filed by a bunch of upset, filed by a bunch of upset, bitter, passed over bitter, passed over chaplains who couldn’t chaplains who couldn’t hack it and now are angry hack it and now are angry about being passed over.about being passed over.

A federal judge has ruled A federal judge has ruled that the suit should be that the suit should be heard because of the heard because of the significant constitutional significant constitutional questions being raised. questions being raised. The litigants have argued The litigants have argued that the current system of that the current system of preferential treatment is a preferential treatment is a violation of the law; violation of the law; specifically, the First and specifically, the First and Fifth Amendments to the Fifth Amendments to the Constitution.Constitution.


Chaplain Corps Chaplain Corps boards always boards always promote the best promote the best qualified. Why even qualified. Why even question them?question them?

A number of studies A number of studies have been done that have been done that prove that CHC prove that CHC selection boards do selection boards do not always promote not always promote those with the best those with the best records. records.

Religious DemographicsReligious DemographicsUSN and USMCUSN and USMC

8/16/998/16/99

RC23%

Lit8%

Non32%

SW3%

NP34%

The religious demographics of the Department of the Navy are readily available. The 2001 demographics look like this when sorted into the major groups of Roman Catholic, Liturgical Protestant, Non-liturgical Protestant and Special Worship and No Preference.

Expanded DemographicsExpanded Demographics

36%

12%

48%

4%

RC

Lit

Non

SW

If one were to remove the “no preference” group from the USN demographics, and expand the remaining numbers evenly, the result would look like this.

Expanded DemographicsExpanded Demographics

One would expect a Chaplain Corps based on the religious demographics of the DON to reflect these numbers: 36% Roman Catholic, 12 % Liturgical Protestant, 48% Non-liturgical Protestant and 4% Special Worship.

36%

12%

48%

4%

RC

Lit

Non

SW

Religious Demographics of CHCReligious Demographics of CHC19991999

CHC Demographics 1999

20%

36%

40%

4%

RC

Lit

Non

SW

In fact, we find little or no correlation between the current makeup of the Chaplain Corps and the religious demographics of the Department of the Navy. The next two charts compare the statistics.

Expanded DemographicsExpanded DemographicsVsVs

Actual CHC Composition 1999Actual CHC Composition 1999

Actual CHC 1999

20%

36%

40%

4%

RC

Lit

Non

SW

USN Expanded Demographics

36%

12%

48%

4%

RC

Lit

Non

SW

CHC DemographicsCHC Demographics

The result is that liturgical Protestants are The result is that liturgical Protestants are the most over-represented group in the the most over-represented group in the Navy.Navy.

Non-liturgical Protestants are significantly Non-liturgical Protestants are significantly under-represented as the following charts under-represented as the following charts illustrate.illustrate.

Chaplain AvailabilityChaplain Availabilityby Faith Group, 2000by Faith Group, 2000

Liturgical ProtestantLiturgical Protestant CongregationalCongregational 1:171:17 EpiscopalEpiscopal 1:1211:121 LutheranLutheran 1:1721:172 MethodistMethodist 1:2961:296 PresbyterianPresbyterian 1:791:79 OrthodoxOrthodox 1:291:29 ReformedReformed 1:231:23


Special Worship GroupsSpecial Worship Groups

Christian ScienceChristian Science 1:1171:117 JewishJewish 1:1041:104 77thth Day Adventist Day Adventist 1:1271:127


Non-Liturgical ProtestantNon-Liturgical Protestant

BaptistsBaptists 1:4751:475 PentecostalPentecostal 1:2931:293 OtherOther 1:4571:457

Roman CatholicRoman Catholic 1:6961:696


Average LiturgicalAverage Liturgical 1:1401:140

Average Non-LiturgicalAverage Non-Liturgical 1:4941:494

Average Special WorshipAverage Special Worship1:1161:116

Average Roman CatholicAverage Roman Catholic 1:6961:696

CHC AccessionsCHC Accessions

Just as CHC demographics do not reflect Just as CHC demographics do not reflect the religious makeup of the DON, research the religious makeup of the DON, research reveals that CHC does not recruit to meet reveals that CHC does not recruit to meet these demographics.these demographics.

Non-liturgicals were significantly under-Non-liturgicals were significantly under-represented in the recruiting goals set by represented in the recruiting goals set by the Chaplain Corps from the years1992-the Chaplain Corps from the years1992-1996.1996.

CHC Accession GoalsCHC Accession Goals1992-19961992-1996

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

Total

% of Total1992 22 29 35

1993 15 30 16

1994 25 45 21

1995 25 45 21

1996 20 37 14

Total 107 186 107

% of Total 27 46 27

RC Lit Non

CHC Actual AccessionsCHC Actual Accessions1992-19961992-1996

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

Total

% of total1992 19 25 41

1993 12 25 34

1994 11 18 20

1995 17 22 21

1996 10 26 19

Total 69 116 135

% of total 22 36 42

RC Lit Non

CHC Accessions, FY 1990-2001CHC Accessions, FY 1990-2001% by Faith Grouping% by Faith Grouping

22%

35%

37%

6%

Rc

Lit

Non

SW

Accession from the ReservesAccession from the Reserves

The Chaplain Corps regularly accesses The Chaplain Corps regularly accesses chaplains from the Reserves at various chaplains from the Reserves at various pay grades.pay grades.

Only certain groups, however, have been Only certain groups, however, have been accessed at the LCDR and above level.accessed at the LCDR and above level.

Accession from ReservesAccession from ReservesFY 1990-2000FY 1990-2000

04 and Above Accessions, FY 1990-2000

12

5

0

0RC

Lit

Non

SW

CHC LeadershipCHC Leadership

One would hope that the key leadership One would hope that the key leadership positions in the Chaplain Corps would be evenly positions in the Chaplain Corps would be evenly distributed among faith groupings, so that each distributed among faith groupings, so that each would be equally represented in Chaplain would be equally represented in Chaplain leadership.leadership.

In 1995, Chaplain Larry Ellis did a study of 15 In 1995, Chaplain Larry Ellis did a study of 15 key billets, the core of CHC leadership positions. key billets, the core of CHC leadership positions. He looked at the faith groups of chaplains He looked at the faith groups of chaplains serving in these positions for the previous 15 serving in these positions for the previous 15 years.years.


These billets included the Chief of These billets included the Chief of Chaplains, Deputy Chief of Chaplains, Chaplains, Deputy Chief of Chaplains, Executive Asst to the Chief, Director of Executive Asst to the Chief, Director of Training, Director of Distribution and Training, Director of Distribution and Placement, Director of Plans and Policy, Placement, Director of Plans and Policy, Director of Eccl. Relations, Asst for the Director of Eccl. Relations, Asst for the Naval Reserve, Asst for USMC, PACFLT, Naval Reserve, Asst for USMC, PACFLT, LANTFLT, CINCUSNAVEUR, CNET, US LANTFLT, CINCUSNAVEUR, CNET, US Naval Academy and the Director of the Naval Academy and the Director of the Chaplains School.Chaplains School.

Ellis Report - 1995Ellis Report - 1995

Key CHC Positions 1980-95

40, 34%

64, 54%

14, 12%

RC

Lit

Non

Chaplain Ellis found that only 12% of these billets had been held by non liturgicals during this period of time.


Take a brief look at the following statistics Take a brief look at the following statistics and make your own conclusion.and make your own conclusion.

Chiefs of ChaplainsChiefs of Chaplainssince 1980since 1980

O’ConnorO’Connor Roman CatholicRoman Catholic TrowerTrower LutheranLutheran StevensonStevenson PresbyterianPresbyterian McNamaraMcNamara Roman CatholicRoman Catholic KoenemanKoeneman LutheranLutheran WhiteWhite ReformedReformed MuchowMuchow LutheranLutheran HolderbyHolderby LutheranLutheran BlackBlack 77thth Day Adventist Day Adventist

Deputy Chiefs of ChaplainsDeputy Chiefs of Chaplains

MooreMoore United MethodistUnited Methodist StevensonStevenson PresbyterianPresbyterian McNamaraMcNamara Roman CatholicRoman Catholic KoenemanKoeneman LutheranLutheran WhiteWhite ReformedReformed MuchowMuchow LutheranLutheran HolderbyHolderby LutheranLutheran BlackBlack 77thth Day Adventist Day Adventist IaselloIasello Roman CatholicRoman Catholic

CHC LeadershipCHC Leadershipby Faith Group since 1980by Faith Group since 1980

Chaplains Holding the Position of Chief or Deputy:Chaplains Holding the Position of Chief or Deputy:

Three Roman CatholicsThree Roman Catholics Four LutheransFour Lutherans One PresbyterianOne Presbyterian One Reformed Church of AmericaOne Reformed Church of America One 7One 7thth Day Adventist Day Adventist One United MethodistOne United Methodist

CHC LeadershipCHC Leadershipby Faith Groupby Faith Group

Chief/Deputy by Faith Grouping

3

7

0

1

RC

Lit

Non

SW

Promotion Board CompositionPromotion Board Compositionby Faith Group Categoryby Faith Group Category

““Chaplain Corps board members shall be Chaplain Corps board members shall be nominated without regard to religious nominated without regard to religious affiliation.”affiliation.”

SECNAV Instruction 1401.3, 8 Aug 1991SECNAV Instruction 1401.3, 8 Aug 1991


As you read these charts, keep in mind the As you read these charts, keep in mind the following demographics:following demographics:

Non liturgicals compose 40% of the active Non liturgicals compose 40% of the active duty Chaplain Corps.duty Chaplain Corps.


LT Board Comp. 1990-2002

23%

38%

33%

6%

RC

Lit

Non

SW


LCDR Board Comp. 1990-2002

22%

42%

30%

6%

RC

Lit

Non

SW


CDR Board Comp. 1990-2002

26%

37%

30%

7%

RC

Lit

Non

SW


CAPT Board Comp. 1990-2002

22%

37%

25%

16%RC

Lit

Non

SW


Total Promotion Board Comp. 1990-2002

62, 23%

101, 39%

80, 30%

22, 8%

RC

Lit

Non

SW

The Future?The Future?

““The Chaplain Corps has lied to clergy about The Chaplain Corps has lied to clergy about opportunities for ministry in the sea services. opportunities for ministry in the sea services. When new chaplains discover how they are When new chaplains discover how they are restricted in their ministry by senior chaplains restricted in their ministry by senior chaplains who are jealous of their talents, they become who are jealous of their talents, they become angry and return to civilian life informing their angry and return to civilian life informing their clergy friends about the “truth” of what they can clergy friends about the “truth” of what they can expect if they become Navy chaplains.”expect if they become Navy chaplains.”

CAPT Gomulka (Roman Catholic) memo: CAPT Gomulka (Roman Catholic) memo: Navy Chaplain Shortage: In Search of a SolutionNavy Chaplain Shortage: In Search of a Solution

chaplain corps, usn statistics, research and litigation prepared 2002

Documents

chc demographics

religious demographics

navy chaplain

chaplain availability

usn demographics

chc accessions

religious demographics

non liturgical protestant