The local Las Vegas Review-Journal covers US Air Force Chaplain (Capt) Michael Engfer, a Reserve Chaplain who does double duty as a local Episcopal Reverend:

The Rev. Michael Engfer occupies two distinct ministries.

In November, he was named deacon in charge of All Saints Episcopal Church, a growing multicultural congregation…

He also is stationed at Nellis Air Force Base as deputy wing chaplain for the 926th Wing Air Force Reserve unit. Among the people he serves are drone pilots, a new type of service with unique challenges.

Chaplain Engfer also makes a point of explaining his view on marriage: 

Engfer also has a passion for another area of service he performs both in the church and on the base, to marry couples from every walk of life.

Marriage is important to him. He and his wife, Kate, have four children, and he believes any couple that loves each other deserves that same happiness.

“In the Episcopal church there are no restrictions on who can marry, as long as they love one another,” he said. “It doesn’t matter if they are same-sex couples or undocumented immigrants. I’ll even marry atheists.”

Last year Chaplain Engfer explained his relationship with Jesus Christ as similar to that with his parents:

It involves knowing how much He loves me despite the physical distance. He shows he cares with occasional touches and has written a beautiful letter to me call the Scriptures. I call Him regularly and think of Him often and try to please him by my thoughts, words and behaviors. He desires my health, happiness and that I give and receive love and kindness from those in my life.

So Chaplain Engfer doesn’t precisely come from a Christian worldview — despite the fact he wears the Cross of Christ on his uniform.

The US military generally does a decent job of protecting the religious liberty of its troops. Chaplains, of course, are a key tool to that end.

Chaplains come from the range of traditions, though, despite complaints by some that “evangelicals” have taken over.

Ultimately, for troops the religious symbol on the chaplain’s uniform only helps distinguish between Muslim, Jewish, and every other chaplain — since “every other” chaplain generally falls under the category of “Christian” in the military.

If you really want to know what they believe, you’ll have to ask.

ADVERTISEMENT