THE RACHD - A ONE-DEPARTMENT STRUCTURE
Since 1920 the RAChD has been organised into 2 denominational elements consisting of the Roman Catholic branch and the Unified branch; the latter included the Anglican Church, Church of Scotland, Methodist, Baptist and United Reform Churches. Each branch had its own head of service known as the Principal Roman Catholic Chaplain and the Chaplain General respectively. Each branch effectively provided chaplaincy almost completely independent of the other although they have grown closer over the years. This independence also extended to management procedures.
As we all know this structure had some disadvantages, the most important of which was that the efficiency of military chaplaincy was diluted because denominational issues sometimes created a tension within the RAChD and confused our soldiers and their families. Furthermore, it was inefficient in the use of our chaplains.
The Spiritual Needs Study of 1999 recommended that RC chaplains should join the RAChD under the same arrangements as other denominations. MOD Chaplains (Army) has been engaged in discussions with the appropriate representatives of the Churches since May 2002 in order to take this matter forward. The process has been known as Convergence of the Unified and RC branches into a new one-department structure.
Discussions were successfully concluded on 4 May 2004 and a one-department structure was declared to be in place from 5 May 2004 onwards. This means that there is now one Head of Service who is the Chaplain General. He will exercise leadership of his department through a unified chain from major headquarters to unit. The new structure will allow the Chaplain General to make best use of all his people with duplication of posts at Brigade and Division being phased out as incumbents’ tours end. It will also separate, where appropriate, denominational issues from the delivery of chaplaincy. This will allow chaplaincy posts to be independent of denomination. Chaplains will provide spiritual, moral and pastoral care to our soldiers and their families, irrespective of the denomination of those individuals. Should situations arise which require denomination-specific action or advice, chaplains will arrange for personnel to be contacted by clergy from their own denomination. There is no question of chaplains being asked to undertake something that would not meet with the approval of their parent church. Furthermore, special safeguard mechanisms have been built into the structure to protect denominational integrity and so reassure the churches from which our chaplains are drawn. All chaplains will be under the military authority of the Chaplain General and their advancement will be based on the principle of merit tempered by seniority.
Finally, because it will not be unduly influenced by denominational considerations, the new structure will be capable of expansion in order to accommodate, when appropriate, the introduction of clerics from faith groups other than Christian.
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