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Do VA Chaplains serve local churches or parishes?

April 26, 2017chaplains churches local parishes serve VA

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Do VA Chaplains serve local churches or parishes?

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Full-time chaplains are prohibited from serving local churches and parishes as pastors. Their primary focus in ministry is to the hospitalized veteran and those served in residential and home based care programs supported by VA. Less-than-full-time and contract chaplains are allowed to serve in community religious organizations as pastors. All chaplains within VA are prohibited from recruiting into their individual faith group, denomination or church and from attempting to proselytize (i.e. – “to attempt to influence or change an individual’s beliefs about religion or religious expression”. VHA Handbook 1111.02). Chaplains assist veterans to clarify the veterans’ desire for religious involvement and assist in strengthening veterans’ ties with religious resources in the veterans’ community as the patient desires. Chaplains as well as all VA employees are prohibited from evangelizing or trying to convert others to their beliefs.