Video Transcript: Who is an Officiating Chaplain?

Henry Reyenga:
Welcome. I'm Henry Reyenga, the founder of Christian Leaders Institute. With me is Chaplain Reverend Tom Walcott, and we are excited to introduce the Officiating Chaplain Skills class.

Tom and I go way back, to 1983. I was a first-year seminarian at Calvin Theological Seminary. My wife was working at a nursing home next door. After dropping her off at work, I would be there at six o'clock in the morning, getting coffee and donuts. And who would be walking in? Tom—he was a student too.

So, Tom, why were you in the coffee shop so early?

Rev. Tom Walcott:
Because I needed my coffee! I had a full day of studies ahead of me, and if I didn’t get my coffee, I wasn’t worth much. That coffee shop was also my favorite place in the seminary because that’s where all the people were—it was fun.

Henry:
I remember you as someone who loved to chat about the Lord and ministry. You graduated from Calvin Seminary the next year, right?

Tom:
Yes, even though I wasn’t in the library as much as some people thought I should have been.

Henry:
Okay, but you did well.

Tom:
I got through—and surprised everybody!

Henry:
So tell us what happened next. How did chaplaincy become part of your life?

Tom:
Well, after seminary, my wife and I served as missionaries in the Dominican Republic for six years. We loved that work—it was life-changing.

After that, I took a call to a church in Jacksonville, Florida, a big Navy town. Our church had many Navy families, and they would talk to me about the challenges of military life. Some encouraged me to consider becoming a Navy chaplain.

At first, we were a bit skeptical—it’s a big shift in ministry. But we decided to try the Navy Reserves for a couple of years. We did that and found it fulfilling. Then the Navy came calling and said, “We really need you to go on active duty for at least one three-year tour.”

So we prayed about it. Our kids were old enough to be part of that decision-making process, so we said, “Okay, Lord, we’ll give it a shot.” We did the first three years, then another three, and then another three.

Twenty-eight years later, I retired with 26 years of active duty and 2 years in the Reserves.

Henry:
Wow. You thrived as a military chaplain. So you went through that whole 30-year journey. What did you actually do in the military as a chaplain?

Tom:
Well… how many hours do we have to talk about it?

Henry (laughing):
Right—we want to keep this focused.

Tom:
Chaplaincy was a great fit for me because you do so many different things. You do many of the same things a regular parish pastor does, but also much more.

The biggest difference I found in moving from being a pastor of a church to being a military chaplain is this:
As a church pastor, I interacted with people mainly on Sundays, Wednesday nights, and during times of crisis.

In the military, you're with your people—your flock—all the time. You go where they go. You eat where they eat. You sleep where they sleep. You become part of every aspect of their lives.

In my church, almost everyone was already a believer and had been a Christian for many years. But in the military, the vast majority of the people I served were not Christians, or had very little connection to Christianity.

If they had problems, they wouldn’t say, “I’m going to call a pastor.” That thought wouldn’t even occur to them.

But in the military, they know that’s what chaplains are there for. So people would come talk to me about a wide range of issues, far beyond religion or theology or doctrine.

They would come to talk about their finances, problems with their kids, marriage issues, or struggles with their boss. Once those doors opened, we could also discuss what the Bible says about those things.

Henry Reyenga:
You may be the only minister someone ever meets.

And here’s where that calling shows up—in a hospital hallway… at a memorial… at a home dedication… or even at a recovery graduation.

Let’s say you’re embedded with an AA group as their chaplain. You may officiate a one-year sobriety ceremony, presenting the coin to someone who has reached that milestone.

Here are three thoughts I’d love for you to comment on, Tom:

• They need presence, not perfection.

• They need you.

• You are a minister in moments that matter.

Rev. Tom Walcott:
I like all three of those, especially that they need presence, not perfection.

I could tell way more stories than we have time for—moments when I walked into a situation and my first thought was, Lord, I don’t have a clue what I’m supposed to do here.

It was far beyond anything I had trained for, anything I had experience with. And yet… over and over, I’ve heard people say later, “Your presence meant so much. Just being there made a difference.”

It wasn’t about having the perfect words. It wasn’t about fixing everything. It was just… showing up.

In those moments of crisis, need, and chaos, I showed up. And I represented something much bigger than Tom Walcott walking into the room.

When you walk in wearing a shirt that says “Chaplain,” or someone introduces you that way, you are immediately given access to people that others wouldn’t have.

Even if they’re not people of faith, they still have a concept of what a chaplain represents.

And that ministry of presence is the most crucial part of being a chaplain.

Henry:
Wow. That’s powerful.

Let’s talk now about the Officiating Chaplain role.

This role involves being trained to bring sacred meaning into everyday and institutional spaces. We’ll also unpack an ordination component throughout this class.

Officiating chaplains serve in all kinds of public and auxiliary settings:

• Hospitals

• Jails and correctional facilities

• Veterans’ organizations like the VFW

• Recovery clinics

• Civic ceremonies

• Clubs

• Sports teams

• And other need-based locations

So, when you think about the essence of this role, would you say it’s about bringing God's presence?

Tom:
Yes—bringing the presence of God into places where most people wouldn’t naturally expect to see Him.

In addition to my military chaplaincy, I also served as a volunteer chaplain for a local fire department.

Henry:
Oh, wow—volunteer. So you really understand the variety of chaplain roles out there.

Rev. Tom Walcott:
I was once offered the opportunity—though I couldn’t take it—to be a chaplain for a Major League Baseball team.

Now, you don’t typically think of a professional or even college sports team as a place for ministry. But the reality is, those athletes are people. They go through crises. They face personal struggles. And often, they don’t have a pastor who comes to mind—someone to turn to.

Then, they see you. And because of who you are—and because you’re there with them, one of them—you become a safe person to talk to.

Henry Reyenga:
That’s so interesting.

At Christian Leaders Institute, Tom, we’re seeing chaplains step into surprising places, which inspires me.

We have one woman, for example, who went through the devastating journey of being trafficked. Now in her mid-30s, she’s studying here at CLI to become a chaplain for people coming out of that industry.

She’s even serving as a chaplain at strip clubs—yes, with the owners’ permission—where she can bring water, offer a listening ear, and share Bible passages.

Tom:
And when someone brings their personal experience into that kind of ministry setting, it makes a huge difference.

So often, people walk through something and think, Nobody understands me. Nobody has been where I am.

But if you can say—even just in how you show up—“I do understand,” whether through personal experience or deep study, that creates an immediate connection. That’s something you can’t buy.

Henry:
I was thinking about that—how chaplaincy connects with calling. Whether it’s a professional sports team or a setting like that woman’s ministry, it all comes from a deep place.

Her transformation through Christ now fuels her calling. And that connection… that sacred thread… is powerful.

Tom:
Absolutely. And you mentioned sacred meaning—let’s talk about that.

Historically, the word chaplain comes from someone who guarded the sacred things.

So when we, as chaplains, walk into a room—even if we’re not fully conscious of it—we become guardians of the sacred.

Part of that is helping people see they have access to God—access they may have never considered before.

Henry:
So you bring access to God into places where people least expect it.

Tom:
Oh, absolutely.

That might be a ship in the middle of the ocean… the locker room of a baseball team… a VFW hall… a fire department… a motorcycle club… or even a college baseball team.

Henry:

It’s like someone wakes up in crisis… and then unexpectedly, they walk into a space, and it’s like… an angel shows up.

Tom (laughing):
Nobody’s ever called me an angel, to my knowledge.

Henry (smiling):
I meant it metaphorically! But seriously, it’s like people don’t expect help to show up, and then God opens that door.

Tom:
I can’t tell you how many times, over the decades, people have said to me, “I never would’ve gone to talk to a minister, a priest, or a pastor about this… but you’re here.”

When I was a parish pastor, I couldn’t just go to someone’s workplace, sit down, and have a cup of coffee with them.

But as a chaplain, you’re part of the group—you’re on the team. You have access that most ministers would love to have with their congregations, but often don’t.

Henry:
Here at Christian Leaders Institute, we use the term Ministry Sciences.

It’s how we describe the study and training of ministry in real-life applications. We combine Biblical Studies, Ministry Training, and insights from other disciplines, such as Christian Psychology, Christian Sociology, and even Business.

We believe ministry is both spiritual and practical. Chaplaincy, especially, requires interdisciplinary awareness. You need to know how to be appropriate.

You need to know how to read people and how to establish boundaries, and Ministry Sciences trains us in these skills.

So chaplaincy isn’t just about getting a certificate or a chaplain’s hat.

It’s about studying how to appropriately carry the presence of God into specific places.

Tom:
That word appropriate—it’s so important.

When I go into a fire station to talk with firefighters who’ve just had a traumatic call, that’s a very different situation than visiting a family at the hospital bedside of someone who’s dying.

And that’s different again from leading a prayer at a Fourth of July community event.

Every situation is different. It takes discernment. It takes study.

Yes, we always start with the Bible, but you also need to understand the organization you're serving. What are its needs? Who are the people?

And going back to how we first met—that’s how you start.

Sit down. Have a cup of coffee. Sojourn with them. Ask about their family.

Find ways to connect. Let them know: we’re in this together.

Henry:
Wow, that’s amazing. And yes, the Bible gives us models.

Take the book of Daniel. He served in a secular setting. What comes to mind when you think about Daniel?

Tom:
Daniel was taken against his will into a completely foreign country—one with a totally different worldview.

But he learned enough about that culture so that he could faithfully live out his faith in that context.

Think of it this way: the place Daniel was brought to became the institution he served. And he became invaluable to that institution.

He became as much a part of their world as he could—up until the point he couldn’t anymore. And when that line came, he said, “This is what I can do—and this is where I draw the line.”

They respected him because of his integrity. And because of that, they allowed him to stay true to his faith.

Henry Reyenga:
You know, so many parts of Daniel’s life are going to be taught in this class because we’re going to talk very specifically about where the line is.

Do you say “In Jesus’ name” during a civic prayer—or not? There’s real discussion around that.

We’ll also talk about things like: How long do you stay at a meeting? At what point do you risk becoming too socially integrated in a way that blurs your ministry identity?

For example, I’ve served as a chaplain in golf settings, and as a huge golfer, I’ve done funerals and weddings connected to that community. But at a certain point, I’ve had to ask myself: Are they pulling me in as a “country club chaplain”? Where’s my boundary?

All those questions require careful thought. And I imagine the military has its own version of those boundary lines, too.

Rev. Tom Walcott:
Oh, absolutely.

And what you often don’t realize at the time is that a small interaction—what seemed like just chatting in a parking lot—can end up being hugely important.

A week later, that same person might come to you with one of the biggest issues in their life. And if you hadn’t had that earlier moment of connection, the door to deeper ministry wouldn’t have opened.

So, questions like: What meetings do I attend? What training sessions do I go to? How deeply do I integrate into this organization? These matter.

chaplain commitments.

Balancing all of that can be challenging.

Henry:
Going back to Daniel, he was a high-ranking official in the Persian government, part of that institution, yet he wore another hat.

That’s like a chaplain today: part of the institution, but grounded in something greater.

Then you have the Apostle Paul—he was more of a sojourner, always bringing the Gospel to unexpected places across the Roman Empire.

I think of his time at the Areopagus, speaking to Greek philosophers—that’s a whole different context. So, Tom, how do you think about Paul in relation to chaplaincy?

Tom:
When you mentioned Paul entering “foreign spaces,” it reminded me of the Navy. On a ship, we refer to different areas as “spaces.”

For one of my assignments, I flew to different ships almost every week. I spent a day or two getting to know the people there, and then I left.

Paul had stayed in places longer, but even so, sometimes you have long-term relationships, and sometimes it’s one and done.

So you have to decide ahead of time:

• What is the purpose of this visit?

• What do I hope to convey?

• Most importantly, how do I stay sensitive to what the people need from me?

Too often in ministry, we focus on what we want to say, not necessarily what people need to hear.

Paul was excellent at listening to the community, observing their culture, and tailoring his message so they could receive and understand it.

That’s a key chaplain skill—interpreting truth through the lens of the community’s need and experience.

Henry:
Which brings us to the next point: the Interpreter of Sacred Moments.

Tell us more about that.

Tom:
Over my years as an active-duty chaplain—and now as a volunteer chaplain in the Coast Guard Auxiliary—I’ve come to believe this:

My job is to bring the sacred wherever I go.

It’s as if every step I take becomes sacred—not because Tom is there, but because God is. And I firmly believe God is there.

So, how do I bring that sacred awareness into everything I do?

Whether I’m dedicating a child, performing a baptism, praying at a retirement ceremony, or simply talking to someone about their job, I’m helping them see that what they’re doing isn’t just a job.

It’s a calling. It’s part of their purpose.

Even if they’re in a difficult or broken place, I help them redeem that moment because God is present, and wherever He is, that space is holy.

Henry:
Sometimes my wife and I can’t fall asleep because we’re too awake, so we’ll put on a Bible audio series.

One story we’ve heard many times is about Abram and Sarai, and how Sarai treated Hagar poorly. Hagar fled into the wilderness, pregnant and alone.

And then—God sends a chaplain of sorts: an angel.

That encounter is powerful. Hagar discovers the God who sees.

In my chaplain experiences—whether at the golf course or with a team—I've noticed that people often come to life when they feel seen by God.

Tom:
Absolutely. That’s what happens when someone who represents the sacred notices and cares about them.

And let’s be honest—many institutional environments are very lonely.

I served on a Navy ship with 5,500 people. It’s easy to feel invisible in that setting. You’re just another uniform, just another job title.

In many institutions, people are not called by name but by rank or role. Their value is tied to performance.

So, when you see someone as a human being, as a child of God—that’s huge.

I had a sailor who made an appointment to see me every week. After three weeks of mostly small talk, I finally asked, “What’s this about?”

He said, “I just need to know someone sees me as a person—and cares about me as a person.”

Henry:
Yes—the God who sees.

As chaplains, we can reflect that presence in lonely places.

Let’s wrap up this first session with some housekeeping and a class overview.

This class is going to cover:

• Biblical ordination—chaplains are ordained, which is spiritually affirming.

• Study-based training—this isn’t random; it’s built on intentional learning.

• Relational accountability—ordination is public. People must know you, see you, and endorse you.

You’ll build a profile. You’ll be listed in our clergy directory through Christian Leaders Alliance.

So, if you’re a private person who doesn’t want to engage with your community, chaplaincy is probably not for you.

Tom:
Right. You don’t go through all this training to hide your calling.

This is about legitimacy. This is saying, “I am called. I’ve prepared. I’m ready to serve.”

Henry:
Tom, we’ve both done a lot of study. Why are study and legitimacy so important, especially for those reaching people who don’t yet know God?

Tom:
Because when people come to you, they expect something.

They want to be heard, yes—but they also expect you to have something to offer.

I don’t have that because I’m naturally brilliant. I have that because I’ve studied. A lot.

People come with problems—kids, marriage, finances, work—and you need to be ready to speak Christian truth into those areas.

Henry:
And I’ve noticed something. For believers, credentials don’t always matter.

But for non-believers—having a credential, knowing you’ve studied—does matter.

If they’re trusting you with their soul, they want to know you’ve taken this seriously. That you’re legit.

Tom:
Exactly.

Most people have heard of chaplains. They know hospitals and civic events have chaplains.

They may not understand everything we do, but the title gives us credibility.

We’ve been called, trained, and certified. That’s what sets chaplaincy apart from just being a helpful friend.

Henry:
So, who can become an officiating chaplain?

• People called to serve outside the church

• Lay ministers (volunteer chaplains)

• Part-time chaplains (like in fire departments)

• Bi-vocational ministers

• And yes, there are career chaplain paths too.

Maybe you’ve already been serving at jails, shelters, schools, or recovery centers. You’ve officiated moments of joy and sorrow.

This class is about understanding and owning that role.

Here’s your challenge:
Have you been asked to pray in a moment that mattered?

Tom:
And I’d add: Have you ever thought, “Somebody should be praying right now”—and realized you might be that person?

That could be the Holy Spirit nudging you to step into that chaplain role.

Henry:
When you walk through grief or joy with someone, you’re not just a helper.

You’re a minister. You’re an officiating chaplain in training.

So let’s end with this thought: What shows that someone has that fire in their belly—that sense of calling?

Tom:
There are many signs, but here’s one of the most important:

Chaplaincy—like any ministry—will bring painful seasons.

Emotional pain. Spiritual struggles. Even physical challenges.

If you don’t know that God called you to that space, you won’t make it.

When I had to leave my family for long deployments, the only way I could board that plane was because I knew God had called me.

The call doesn’t always make things easy, but it makes things possible.

Henry:
No matter your parish—your sojourn, your people—you’ll need that clarity.

Especially for people ministering in hard places, like that woman we mentioned who came out of trafficking.

If you don’t have support and accountability, you can get pulled back in.

So we’ll talk about self-care, accountability, and soul health in this class too.

Tom:
Because let’s be honest—chaplaincy is not easy.

Henry:
Right. You have to be called, grounded, and have a strong walk with God.

Tom:
You also need a church community. You need people praying for you, supporting you, and holding you accountable—not just to avoid doing dumb things but to do the good things God is calling you to do.

Henry:
This is going to be an exciting class. We’ve just started scratching the surface.

Let’s close in prayer:

Henry (praying):
Oh Lord God, thank You so much that we’re beginning this class.

We pray, Lord, that You will open our hearts and minds, make us receptive to the training You have for us.

We ask this in Jesus’ name, amen.

Tom:
Amen.

Henry:
Until next time!