mp24957 Chaplain Mag Summer 2005 new.p65 - Chaplains service

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SAAF CHAPLAINS’ CONFERENCE 2005 YSTERPLAAT The Chief of the South African Air Force every year supports the drive of the chaplains in the Air Force, to host a work session. We gathered at Air Force Base Ysterplaat from 20 – 22 August 2005. The conference was officially opened with a candle-lighting ceremony when each Air Force Unit Chaplain was presented with a 22 SANDF - The Military Chaplain Chaplains and Conferences Chaplain Gen with Air Force Chaplains at their conference Chaplain Gen receiving a prayer booklet from Chaplain A. Burt Air Force Chaplains during candle lighting ceremony at conference unique candle, depicting the unit’s badge. These candles will be kept at the respective units. The candles were lit by the SSO Chaplains Service SAAF, Col (Rev) Mantsi Mohapi. Annually these candles will be lit at our conference. Chaplains presented what the ministry at their units entailed. They had the opportunity to benchmark with each other. They shared information on sermons, devotions and chaplain’s periods. The CD, with all the presentations was distributed at the conference. During their visit to the Cape they could not ignore an opportunity to visit the South African Navy. They appreciated the hospitality of the SA Navy. In Simonstown they experienced the wet conditions of the SA Navy on a ‘Lima’ boat and also toured SAS MENDI, one of the new corvettes. They were honoured by the presence of Chaplain General, Brig Gen (Rev) M. Cornelissen, Cols Z.A. Makalima and P. Oberholzer. They enlightened them on recent developments in the Chaplains Service. It was a proud moment when they presented the Chaplain Gen with the first copy of their SAAF Chaplains’ Devotional Booklet, confirming the chaplains’ commitment to promote the SAAF Core Values: INTEGRITY DIGNITY EXCELLENCE IN ALL WE DO SERVICE BEFORE SELF WORK SESSION ON DEVELOPMENT OF CHAPLAINS’ PERIODS In ensuring that the Chaplains Service addresses the relevant issues in 2006, a worksession was held to develop themes for Chaplains’ periods. A number of chaplains under the leadership of the SSO Training attended. The results and material will be available to all chaplains at the annual conference in February next year. RETREAT FOR CHAPLAIN GENERAL STAFF COUNCIL! In line with the core objectives of self-care, all chaplains will over the next two years attend a spiritual retreat. The first group that participated was the Chaplain Gen Staff Council. It was held on 14 to 16 November this year at Good Shepherd Retreat Centre, Hartebeespoort dam area, North West province. The facilitator during that period was Dr. George Malek, Director of Ecumenical Pastoral Institute. SSOs during the retreat with Dr George Malek (third from left front) SA ARMY CPLNS CONFERENCE17-20 MAY 05 By Cpln C.F. De Kock, ASB Bloemfontein SA Army Chaplains during conference Bloemfontein, the capital of the Free State province, was chosen as venue for the first SANDF Army chaplains’ conference. Col (Rev) T.J. Molaba opened the conference on 17 May and welcomed the army chaplains, emphasizing the important work they are doing in supporting our members spiritually, ethically and socially. He also specifically asked the Lord’s blessing for the conference. Brig Gen M.M. Moadira did the welcoming on behalf of the Army Support Base (ASB) Bloemfontein. The final word of welcome came from Col W. Nondala, Officer Commanding from the School of Armour, whose conference facilities were used. The first day’s work was rounded off by a traditional “braai”. Old friendships were strengthened and “war stories” exchanged. The main item on the agenda for Wednesday 18 May was the address by the Chaplain Gen, Brig Gen M. Cornelissen. We all looked forward to this, not only that the Chaplain Gen was speaking, but also the special nature of the place where his address was delivered. Just after breakfast we left Bloemfontein for Ladybrand, our destination being the Anglican Church, St. Augustines at Modderpoort. The Chaplain Gen spoke earnestly on discipline and professionalism. He reminded us of the Code of Conduct which we all signed as uniformed members of the SANDF. The chaplains also had the opportunity to ask questions on personnel, logistic and ministry matters. After the Chaplain Gen’s address, Fr Charles Lange, the resident priest at Modderpoort, took us on a tour round the estate. The farm Modderpoort was bought by the first Anglican Bishop of Bloemfontein, the Rt Revd Edward Twells in 1867. He started the first religious order in South Africa called the Society of St. Augustine. Because there was no
accommodation available on their arrival, they converted a sandstone shelter into a place of worship and a dwelling place for more than a year. A High School and Teachers’ Training College was opened in 1929 and some 700 teachers graduated from this college. Many highly esteemed women and men were educated there, like Mrs. Winkie Direko, the previous Premier of the Free State. Sadly, as a result of the introduction of the Bantu Education Act by the previous Government, the governing body refused to introduce an inferior education system and the facility closed its doors in 1955. Fr Lange also related the legend of Mantsopa to us. She was a contemporary of King Moshoeshoe, a prophetess known as Mme (Mother) Mantsopa, Anna Makheta. She gained a large following in Lesotho during King Mosheshoe’s reign as Paramount Chief. It is believed that she was baptized by the French missionaries at Morija, and then banned from Lesotho by King Moshoeshoe. Mme Mantsopa was then taken in by St. Augustine missionaries where she lived and worshipped until her passing away at the age of 111 years. Fr Lange took us to her gothic style grave and spoke in length how it has become a place of pilgrimage for all Sesotho speaking people. After lunch, the chaplains went to the natural spring where Mme Mantsopa spent much of her quiet time. This spring is also believed to have healing powers. The chaplains bought bottles of Mantsopa spring water to take home. We left feeling refreshed and at peace. On the morning of 19 May Maj Gen J. Jooste, Chief Dir Army Corps Svcs addressed the chaplains. His theme was; The chaplain, walking the narrow road. He said there are many forces influencing the chaplain, e.g. external, political, organizational and transformational. Chaplains are members of their church denominations and must stay true to their confession. A chaplain is also a military practitioner and must conduct him/ herself in a professional manner. The chaplain also as a member of the military community, must respect the hierarchy of the organization. He/she is also a member of a family that must be nourished, supported and loved. Apart from special knowledge, skills and the right attitude, the chaplain must also, when working with people, have the three Fs viz; Fair, Firm and Friendly. All these must manifest themselves in the social, physical, emotional, cognitive and spiritual spheres of the chaplain’s life. In the afternoon, the chaplains attended the Chief of the SANDF’s farewell parade that was presented by the SA Army. The neatness of the members on parade, the precision with which the drill movements were executed and the pride of everybody present, instilled hope for the future in the chaplains. After the parade the chaplains were entertained by 1 SSB. The highlight of the last day of the conference was when the Armour Formation bade Cpln Steve van Jaarsveldt farewell. He accepted a calling to a Baptist Congregation in Brisbane, Australia. STRATEGIC WORK SESSION AT POTCHEFSTROOM The outcomes of Chaplain General’s two Strategic Work Sessions (one held in November last year at Pretoria and the other held at Banana Beach Resort in February this year) strongly indicated a great need for a relevant Chaplains Service to make a spiritual, social and ethical impact on the functioning of all members in the DOD. After consulting with all role players, six Key Performance Areas (KPAs) were identified and prioritized. A strategic work group session to develop an operational strategy for spiritual and moral Participants at the work session support in the SANDF was then held over the period 6 – 10 Jun 05 at Potchefstroom. The aim of this work session was to develop a draft Strategic Spiritual & Moral Support Plan for the Chaplain General Staff Council, by making use of the six identified KPAs. After four days of very hard work and inputs by all the participants, the plan was presented to Chaplain General and his Staff Council on 10 June this year and was approved in principle. SA INFANTRY CHAPLAINS’ CONFERENCE AT THE SEA By Cpln Hannes (P.J.A) Steenkamp 9 SA INFANTRY BATTALION Infantry Chaplains The Chaplains of the SA Army Infantry Formation, under the leadership of the Formation Chaplain, Cpln (Rev) S.J. Dithipe, left their landward inclination for the week of 18-24 October and gathered for a conference at Simonstown. Welcomed by the Flag Officer Commanding Naval Base Simonstown, R Adm (JG) S.L. Pillay, and the Acting Officer Commanding 9 SAI Bn, Maj S. Engelbrecht, the chaplains felt immediately at home in the Cape. Deployment Resilience was the main focus of the conference. The attendees were honoured and the importance of resilience was highlighted by the presence of Chief HR, Maj Gen L.S. Mollo and Cpln General, Brig Gen (Rev) M. Cornelissen, as well as (chaplain) Cols T.J. Molaba (SA Army Office), J. Dill (Cpln Gen Div), M.C. Dladla (CJ Ops) and P.J. Oberholzer (CJ Training). In his address Maj Gen Mollo stressed the importance of people, not only in the DOD, but also in a democratic South Africa – people that must be cared for. In the DOD the military chaplains play a vital role in the care of people and the chaplains must not underestimate their role. Cpln S.M. Thabalaka handing over a gift to Chaplain Gen from Infantry Chaplains In his address Brig Gen Cornelissen, amongst other issues, stressed the importance of resilience as the families in the DOD members The Military Chaplain - SANDF 23
Page 1 and 2: IN HOC SIGNO VOLUME 4 ISSUE 2 SUMME
Page 3 and 4: Contents EDITORIAL STAFF Chief Edit
Page 5 and 6: SPECIAL WORD FROM THE CHIEF OF THE
Page 7 and 8: amehlo ngokwenzeka embusweni wokuvi
Page 9 and 10: STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS This interven
Page 11 and 12: Members of the organisation called
Page 13 and 14: NEWS from the Chaplain General Head
Page 15 and 16: CHAPLAIN GENERAL VISITS THE FLEET I
Page 17 and 18: CHAPLAIN GENERAL’S ANNUAL PLANNIN
Page 19 and 20: BIRTH OF CHAPLAINS’ SPOUSES ORGAN
Page 21 and 22: TRIBUTE TRIBUTE T TTO T O THE THE L
Page 23: THE STORY OF CPLN J.N. JAPHTA DURIN
Page 27 and 28: HINDU Hindu Hindu PERSPECTIVE Persp
Page 29 and 30: COMBATING HIV & AIDS IN THE DOD THR
Page 31 and 32: CHAPLAINS SERVICE AND EXTERNAL VISI
Page 33 and 34: BOOK STUDYING CONGREGATIONS IN AFRI
Page 35 and 36: IN HOC SIGNO VISION The Department

mp24957 Chaplain Mag Summer 2005 new.p65 - Chaplains service

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