Chaplain Pastoral Ministry

INSTRUCTIONS

OVERVIEW

Chaplains are often said to be pastors in uniform. In reality military chaplains are more than pastors as they are incarnational ministers, becoming one with the people they seek to minister to and going where their people go, even to war! Still, the ministry military chaplains perform is pastoral in nature and the most dynamic ministry chaplains offer is in combat. This assignment will provide the student an opportunity to examine a chaplain’s pastoral ministry while under fire.

INSTRUCTIONS

After reading one of the assigned books, Benimoff or Cash, write a 1,200-word Practical Book Review (PBR) in current Turabian format reflecting on the Chaplain’s Pastoral Ministry as presented by the author. Your PBR can be accomplished by thinking of five words: Introduction, Summarize, Respond, Reflect, and Conclusion. Include these five headings to complete your review. Choose one of the following books from your Bibliography:

• Benimoff, Roger, and Eve Conant. Faith Under Fire: An Army Chaplain’s Memoir. New York: Three Rivers Press, 2010.
• Cash, Carey H. A Table in the Presence. New York: Ballantine Books, 2004. (Note: Do not choose this book if you reviewed it for CHPL 500. Turnitin will reflect this).

Introduction

Introduces the title of the book review and the author and ends with a thesis statement that tells the reader that they are writing a book review that includes a summary, response, and reflection. Keep this to approximately 100 words.

Summarize

Prove that you comprehend the material by writing a no-nonsense summary. It should provide a clear overview of the material. Keep this section to approximately 300 words.

Respond

What parts of this book are about you? You will remember almost nothing you have read unless you make this critical, personal connection. Be transparent and vulnerable with your answer.
Relate a personal life episode, if possible. What video memory began to roll? Relate your story in first person, describing action; quote exact words you remember hearing or saying and/or the non-verbal on display in the memory. What was going on with your internal conversation during the story? In the teaching style of Jesus, this is a do-it-yourself parable, case study, confession. Conversely, this is your chance to tell your story and make new ideas your own through a practical learning activity designed for you! Keep this section to approximately 200 words.

Reflect and Apply

This is the most important part of the book review. It is easy to read a book and talk about it, but how it impacted you to do or change something is what this review is looking for. What new questions or “ah ha” moments popped up for you after reading the book? In the margins of the book, journal and become a meaning-making specialist. Clarify statements made with your situation/context in mind. How will this book change your chaplaincy ministry? What might the

book add to your chaplaincy ministry? Utilize at least 10 applicable Scripture passages with references in this section. Keep this section to 500 words.

Conclusion

Gives a restatement of the thesis and final thoughts about the book. Keep this to 100 words.

Your grade on this review depends on the manner in which you address each of these 5 dimensions in graduate level fashion and according to the appropriate research writing guidelines of this course. A Contents page is not needed since the design of a PBR provides the necessary information. However a Title Page and a Bibliography Page are needed. You must use the headings provided as your main headings and any sub-headers deemed necessary. Follow current Turabian guidelines.

The Review must demonstrate a graduate-level use of the English language. This assignment requires critical thinking, logical progression of thought, and appropriate organization. In addition, you must meet the following standards of style and form:

• Adhere to current Turabian format.
• Use 1″ margins on all 4 sides.
• Double-space your text.
• Use 12-point Times New Roman font.

• Indent paragraphs at 5 spaces (0.6″).
• Do not include extra blank lines between paragraphs.
• Use and italicize section headings.
• Include page numbers.

• Include a title page with your name, student ID number, course number/section, instructor’s name, and date. The title page does not count toward the required word count.
• Include an Introduction with a thesis sentence, a body with subheadings, footnotes, a conclusion, and a bibliography.

Note: Your assignment will be checked for originality via the Turnitin plagiarism tool.