QR&O: Volume I - Chapter 33 Chaplain Services
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Amendment List:
- 15 December 2014 – repealed article: 33.01
- 15 December 2014 – new article: 33.01
- 15 December 2014 – repealed article: 33.02
- 15 December 2014 – new article: 33.02
- 15 December 2014 – repealed article: 33.03
- 15 December 2014 – new article: 33.03
- 15 December 2014 – repealed article: 33.04
- 15 December 2014 – new article: 33.04
- 15 December 2014 – repealed article: 33.05
- 15 December 2014 – new article: 33.05
- 15 December 2014 - added article: 33.06 to 33.14
History:
33.01 - INTERPRETATION
The definitions in this article apply in this chapter.
“chaplain” (aumônier)
means an officer who has been granted a mandate by the Chaplain General under paragraph 33.04(1).
“chaplain services” (services d’aumônerie)
means
- the provision of pastoral and spiritual care; or
- the conduct or facilitation of religious services or ministrations and of ceremonies of a religious or spiritual nature.
“civilian officiant” (officiant civil)
means a person, other than a chaplain, who has been granted a mandate by the Chaplain General under paragraph 33.04(2).
(C) [33.01 : repealed on 15 December 2014]
(M) [15 December 2014]
33.02 - APPLICATION
In this chapter, the obligations imposed on officers commanding commands or formations and commanding officers shall be subject to the exigencies of the service.
(C) [33.02 : repealed on 15 December 2014]
(M) [15 December 2014]
33.03 - CHAPLAIN GENERAL
(1) The Chaplain General is the chief chaplain for the Canadian Forces and is responsible to the Chief of the Defence Staff for the religious, spiritual and moral well-being of all officers and non-commissioned members and the families of officers and non-commissioned members.
(2) The duties and functions of the Chaplain General include
- advising the Chief of the Defence Staff on religious, spiritual, moral and ethical matters relating to officers and non-commissioned members and the families of officers and non-commissioned members;
- directing and administering the Royal Canadian Chaplain Service for the purpose of providing chaplain services to officers and non-commissioned members and the families of officers and non-commissioned members;
- establishing the professional standards that are to be followed by chaplains and civilian officiants in the provision of chaplain services within the Canadian Forces;
- selecting candidates who are suitable for enrolment as chaplains;
- granting, revoking or suspending the mandate of a chaplain or civilian officiant to provide chaplain services to officers and non-commissioned members and the families of officers and non-commissioned members;
- leading public prayers at national events or at other appropriate events as determined by the Chaplain General;
- acting as personal chaplain to the Chief of the Defence Staff and other general officers; and
- consulting with the Interfaith Committee on Canadian Military Chaplaincy on matters related to the professional standards for chaplains, the well-being of chaplains and the requirements of a faith group.
(C) [33.03 : repealed on 15 December 2014]
(M) [15 December 2014]
33.04 - MANDATE TO PROVIDE CHAPLAIN SERVICES
(1) The Chaplain General may grant a mandate to an officer to provide chaplain services to officers and non-commissioned members and the families of officers and non-commissioned members if that officer
- is authorized to practise professional ministry by the faith group to which that officer belongs and is accountable to that faith group;
- is endorsed by the Interfaith Committee on Canadian Military Chaplaincy for service as a chaplain; and
- has been selected and enrolled in the Canadian Forces and has successfully completed the military occupation training required to serve as a chaplain.
(2) The Chaplain General may grant a mandate to a person, other than an officer or non-commissioned member, to provide chaplain services to officers and non-commissioned members and the families of officers and non-commissioned members if that person is accountable to the faith group to which that person belongs and, as appropriate,
- is authorized to practice professional ministry by that faith group; or
- is recognized as a spiritual leader by that faith group in accordance with its practices.
(C) [33.04 : repealed on 15 December 2014]
(M) [15 December 2014]
33.05 - SUSPENSION OR REVOCATION OF MANDATE
(1) The Chaplain General shall suspend the mandate of a chaplain or civilian officiant who no longer meets the requirements for the granting of the mandate under paragraph 33.04(1) or (2), as the case may be, and shall revoke the mandate if the chaplain or civilian officiant
- fails to meet those requirements within a reasonable time after the suspension; or
- based on a final decision of the relevant faith group or the Interfaith Committee on Canadian Military Chaplaincy, is unable to meet those requirements.
(2) The Chaplain General may suspend or revoke the mandate of a chaplain or civilian officiant if
- after consultation with military authorities or authorized officials of the faith group to which the chaplain or civilian officiant belongs, the Chaplain General is of the opinion, having regard to the religious, spiritual and moral well-being of all officers and non-commissioned members and the families of officers and non-commissioned members, that it would be in the best interests of the Canadian Forces to do so; or
- the Chaplain General is of the opinion, based on reasonable grounds, that the chaplain or civilian officiant is unfit to perform their duties as chaplain or civilian officiant.
(3) The Chaplain General shall advise a chaplain or civilian officiant of a decision to suspend or revoke the mandate of the chaplain or civilian officiant in writing without delay and shall include the effective date of the decision and the reasons for it.
(4) The mandate of a chaplain is automatically revoked on their release from the Canadian Forces.
(C) [33.05 : repealed on 15 December 2014]
(M) [15 December 2014]
33.06 - RELIGIOUS, SPIRITUAL AND MORAL WELL-BEING
Commanding officers and officers commanding commands or formations shall provide for the religious, spiritual and moral well-being of the officers and non-commissioned members under their command and the families of those officers and non-commissioned members.
(C) [15 December 2014]
33.07 – CHAPLAINS
(1) The duties and functions of a chaplain at a base, unit or other element include
- advising the commanding officer of the base, unit or other element on religious, spiritual, moral and ethical matters relating to the officers and non-commissioned members under that commanding officer’s command;
- providing chaplain services to any officers, non-commissioned members and families of officers and non-commissioned members who desire those services, including to those who are sick or in service or civil custody, regardless of the religious or spiritual affiliation or beliefs of those officers, non-commissioned members and families; and
- being prepared to give advice, assistance and instruction on religious, spiritual, moral and ethical matters.
(2) A chaplain may
- participate in any religious service or spiritual ceremony or activity, provided that doing so does not interfere with their duties as chaplain;
- communicate directly with superiors of the faith group to which they belong on religious or spiritual matters and with their superiors in the Royal Canadian Chaplain Service on all matters relating to military chaplaincy; and
- provide chaplain services to former officers and non-commissioned members and the families of those former officers and non-commissioned members, provided that doing so does not interfere with their duties as chaplain.
(3) A chaplain
- shall not bear arms or be ordered to bear arms;
- shall not accept a fee or other consideration, other than any compensation or benefits to which the chaplain is entitled as a member of the Canadian Forces, for the provision of chaplain services to officers and non-commissioned members and the families of officers and non-commissioned members; and
- shall not be required to perform any military duties other than those duties that are related or ancillary to the provision of chaplain services.
(4) A chaplain is responsible to the chaplain's commanding officer or, if that commanding officer is not the chaplain’s military superior, to the chaplain’s military superior for matters other than religious, spiritual or faith group matters.
(5) Under the direction of the Chaplain General, a chaplain shall comply with the directives of the Interfaith Committee on Canadian Military Chaplaincy on religious, spiritual and faith group matters.
(C) [15 December 2014]
33.08 – CIVILIAN OFFICIANTS
(1) A civilian officiant may be engaged to provide chaplain services to officers and non-commissioned members and the families of officers and non-commissioned members in accordance with article 33.09.
(2) A civilian officiant is responsible to both the commanding officer of the base, unit or other element receiving the chaplain services and the supervising chaplain assigned to the civilian officiant.
(C) [15 December 2014]
33.09 – PROVISION OF CHAPLAINS, CIVILIAN OFFICIANTS AND CHAPLAIN SERVICES
(1) For the purposes of article 33.06, the responsibilities of a commanding officer include
- providing a chaplain or a civilian officiant under their command with every assistance in the provision of chaplain services;
- providing for chaplain services on recognized days of religious and spiritual observance;
- providing adequate accommodation and facilities for conducting chaplain services; and
- providing officers and non-commissioned members and the families of officers and non-commissioned members with the opportunity to receive additional chaplain services if desired.
(2) If a base, unit or other element has a position of chaplain but the position is vacant, the chaplain is unable to provide chaplain services because of temporary duty, illness or leave or additional chaplain services are required, a commanding officer may provide a civilian officiant for the base, unit or other element.
(3) If a base, unit or other element does not have a position of chaplain, the officer commanding the command or formation shall ensure that
- a chaplain or a civilian officiant is provided; or
- other adequate provision is made for the officers and non-commissioned members at that base, unit or other element and the families of those officers and non-commissioned members to receive chaplain services.
(4) If a base, unit or other element has a position of chaplain but additional chaplain services are required, the officer commanding the command or formation may provide for one or more additional chaplains for the base, unit or other element.
(C) [15 December 2014]
33.10 – TRAINING
Officers and non-commissioned members undergoing instruction, training or professional development may be required to participate in training provided by chaplains on the subjects of ethics and moral or personal well-being.
(C) [15 December 2014]
33.11 – RELIGIOUS OR SPIRITUAL PARADE
Officers and non-commissioned members shall not be ordered to attend a parade that is primarily religious or spiritual in nature.
(C) [15 December 2014]
33.12 – MILITARY CEREMONIES
Officers and non-commissioned members may be required to attend a military ceremony that has a religious or spiritual aspect, including a Remembrance Day ceremony, colours ceremony, Battle of Britain Sunday ceremony, Battle of the Atlantic Sunday ceremony, military funeral or civic or memorial service.
(C) [15 December 2014]
33.13 – RELIGIOUS OR SPIRITUAL AFFILIATION
(1) An officer or non-commissioned member may declare their religious or spiritual affiliation, if any, on enrolment.
(2) An officer or non-commissioned member may notify their commanding officer in writing of a change in their religious or spiritual affiliation and the commanding officer shall ensure that the necessary amendments are made to the records of the officer or non-commissioned member.
(C) [15 December 2014]
33.14 – PROVISION OF INFORMATION
A commanding officer of a base, unit or other element shall provide
- the chaplain or civilian officiant with a list of the officers and non-commissioned members at the base, unit or other element, grouped by religious or spiritual affiliation, to use in the provision of chaplain services; and
- on request, the Chaplain General with the number of officers and non-commissioned members on the base, unit or other element, grouped by religious or spiritual affiliation.
(C) [15 December 2014]
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