From Topeka-
Finding enough chaplains to minister to troops has become a difficult task.
The Kansas Air National Guard has two of its six chaplain positions unfilled, while the Kansas Army National Guard is faring worse, with nine of 15 slots vacant.
Officials with the Kansas Army National Guard describe the high vacancy rate as typical of other units across the country.
They said efforts to address the shortage, including a $10,000 sign-on bonus, $4,500 in tuition assistance and extending the age limit for new enlistees, had done little to help so far.
The approaching retirement of many chaplains promises to compound the problem in the future.
The job of a military chaplain is to ensure that the spiritual needs of troops are met — a task that involves leading religious services and Bible studies and providing individual counseling.
But a host of reasons are making recruitment a challenge, including the danger of serving in war-torn areas and the reluctance of churches to stick with pastors who are deployed for several months at a time.
The Rev. Don Davidson, rector of St. David’s Episcopal Church in Topeka and the head of the Kansas National Guard’s chaplain program, said the shortage had resulted in chaplains facing repeated deployments.
“There is a definite need, but it comes at a price,” said Davidson, who doesn’t face deployment in his current position but has been deployed in the past.
“Not every church, not every clergyperson, wants to do that.”
More here-
http://www.kansascity.com/115/story/1474557.html
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