Reformed Presbyterian Minutes of Synod 1993

40 1993 MINUTES OF THE SYNOD OF THECHAPLAINSTwo of our chaplains have experienced significant changes during thepast year. Joseph Paul has been transfened from Patuxent River, Md„ toArgentia, Newfoundland; he and his family need the prayers of the churchfor their adjustment to the new environment and for his abiUty to ministerto people who feel isolated (and whose base is scheduled to close by July1995). Prior to his transfer, Joe was promoted to lieutenant commander.Kelly Moore was placed on Active Duty and assigned to Fort Drum,N.Y., where he serves with the 10th Mountain Division. In the monthssince that assignment, he has gone with his unit on two TDYs (TemporaryDuty assignments): Operation Andrew, the cleanup following HurricaneAndrew in Florida, and the relief operation in SomaUa. At about the timethe Moores moved to New York and Kelly left for Florida, the Moores'fourth child (Emily) was bom. Kelly was promoted to Captain effectiveDecember 1, 1992. Pray for the family's adjustment to military Ufe; forJudy as she bears the brunt of raising four children; for Kelly's ministrywithin his battalion. Praise God for KeUy's promotion and for safekeepingduring the long separation in Somalia.Our third active duty chaplain, Stanley Copeland, has remained at FortLewis, Wash., until June 1993. His regiment has been redeployed to FortPolk, La., where he will report prior to the meeting of Synod. Pray forStan's ministry to a unit which is experiencing dislocation; for the family'sadjustment to a new environment and to a location remote from RPfellowship.Reserve Chaplain Jonathan Leach has begun full-time ministry asChaplaincy Program Director at White Haven Center, an intermediate carefacility for mentally retarded and other developmentally disabled people,operated by the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare and serving400 people. In addition to his personal ministry, he oversees nine contractchaplains from three major "faith groups."GAYS IN THE MILITARY?The homosexual battle for the soul of the military has begun; openingshots have been fired, and the situation is alarming. President Clinton, inone of the few campaign promises he seems determined to keep, hasthrown his political weight in favor of requiring the armed services toaccept avowed homosexuals on the same basis as any other persons. Eventhose whose objections to homosexuality are not scripturally-based areconcerned about the practical ramifications of such a change: spousalsupport, fanuly housing allotments and dependents' health care benefits,for example. For Christian chaplains, the situation presents a number ofproblems, of course, in addition to our fundamental moral objections to