By Chaplain (Colonel) Bershon, USAF, Ret.
This summer, July 2008, the Church of God chaplaincy celebrated its 50th anniversary. It was in July 1958 that Edward E. Shoupe reported to Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, to become the first Church of God chaplain to serve in the United States Armed Forces. After attending the Air Force Chaplain School at Lackland, Chaplain Shoupe was assigned to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, where he served as hospital chaplain.
Shoupe continued as the only Church of God military chaplain for three and a half years. Later the Church of God placed three chaplains in the United States Army: James N. Layne in January 1961, Robert D. Crick in June 1961 and Richard Y. Bershon in January 1962. These four were to be the only Church of God chaplains for nearly four and a half more years.
Chaplains Shoupe, Layne and Crick retired after distinguished military careers. Chaplain Bershon continued his career in the Army Reserve and as a Department of Veterans Affairs chaplain. He wrote the history of the Church of God Chaplaincy and Ministry to the Military in the book entiled, “With the Cross of Jesus.” This book is still available through the Pathway Book Store.
Thirty years ago at the General Assembly of 1978, the Church of God Chaplains Commission was formed. This event coincided with the retirement of Chaplain Crick from the army. He became the first and only Director of the Chaplains Commission. At that time there were 16 recognized Church of God Chaplains; 13 military, Two Veterans Administration and one prison. Under the leadership of Robert D. Crick the Church of God chaplaincy has grown to 217 full-time chaplains and over 3000 Community Service Chaplains in some 70 countries around the world. It is overwhelming to contemplate the progress that has taken place over the last 50 and especially the last 30 years. God has blessed this ministry abundantly.
To learn more about the Church of God Chaplains Commission Chaplaincy programs, visit the Chaplains Commission website at: www.cogchaplains.com.
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Chaplain Robert Crick administers communion to a Viet Nam soldier. |