Beeson Podcast, Episode #595 The Very Reverend Kaelan Clay March 29, 2022 >>Announcer: Welcome to the Beeson podcast, coming to you from Beeson Divinity School on the campus of Samford University. Now your hosts, Doug Sweeney and Kristen Padilla. >>Doug Sweeney: Welcome to the Beeson Podcast. I’m your host, Doug Sweeney, here with my co-host, Kristen Padilla. And this week we are starting a new three week series on chaplaincy ministry at Beeson. Thanks to the generosity of good friends of our school we now have a chaplaincy emphasis at Beeson, aimed at preparing men and women for chaplaincy ministry. This emphasis includes a recommended track of study within the Master of Divinity program (MDIV), vocational guidance and enrichment, access to the chaplain networks, and scholarship funding. Chaplains provide a much needed gospel witness and Christian care and counsel in many of life’s most critical times and places. If you or someone you know feels called to chaplaincy ministry we hope you’ll consider Beeson and learn more about this chaplaincy emphasis. Kristen, do we have a chaplain on the show with us today? >>Kristen Padilla: We do. And we actually have someone who I was in school with at Beeson many years ago. Our guest today is the Very Reverend Kaelan Clay. He is the Provost and Dean of the Special Jurisdiction of the Armed Forces in Chaplaincy for the Anglican Church in North America, and is a Squadron Chaplain at Destroyer Squadron II. Lieutenant Commander is currently deployed aboard USS San Jacinto. And I think this is our first guest who is calling us from the sea. So, welcome, Kaelan, to the Beeson Podcast! >>Clay: Thank you, Kristen. Thank you, Dean Sweeney. It’s such a privilege and honor to be with you today. >>Kristen Padilla: We’re so grateful that we could spend these few minutes with you. I forgot to mention, which is very important, that you are married to Ashley and you have three children with one on the way due in August. Congratulations, Kaelan. >>Clay: Yes, we’re very excited. It’s [inaudible 00:02:32]. (laughter) >>Kristen Padilla: Well, like I said, we want to talk to you today about the ministry of chaplains, but before we do we always like to begin getting to know our podcast guests a little bit better. So, why don’t you tell us where you are from? Anything that you want to share about your family? Your spiritual journey? Anything that would help us to get to know you better. >>Clay: Sure. I’m originally from Ohio. I’m married to my lovely, Ashley. We have been married for almost 12 years. We have three little ones. [inaudible 00:03:14] is six, Charlotte is five, Margaret is 20 months, and we have a baby that’s due to be born in early August. So, we are a growing family and God has blessed us and it’s a lot of fun with these little munchkins. The past few years have been pretty busy. I’m currently serving in the Destroyer Squadron II as the chaplain there where I provide supervisory support to four different chaplains currently, over five [inaudible 00:03:50] programs. Right now we have four ships, but that fluctuates quite frequently. We can have as much as eight ships [inaudible 00:04:00] there. So, four ships, just to give you an understanding, is about 1200 sailors. So, it means a lot of sailors we’re going to be ministering to for four or five chaplains. I’m currently filling a gap right now, actually. I’m on the USS San Jacinto and we are deployed. And this has actually been the second deployment in 2021. So, a very busy season. But it’s also been really exciting. We are certainly sensing the Lord’s presence in my family and in the ministry. >>Doug Sweeney: Kaelan, it sure is good to have you on. It really is exciting to talk about you while you are out at sea. I’m sure I don’t have to tell you that there are a lot of people who wind up in chaplaincy ministry who didn’t know they were going to wind up in chaplaincy ministry at the beginning of their sense that God was calling them into ministry generally speaking. And part of what we want to do with this episode and this series is help people who are trying to discern God’s will for them, trying to discern whether maybe the Lord has chaplaincy ministry for them. So, we thought we’d ask you just a little bit about that part of your story. How did you figure out that the Lord wanted you to go into chaplaincy ministry? What attracted you into it? And maybe what attracted you into the Navy in particular? >>Clay: Okay. Well, you know, really it’s [inaudible 00:05:34] God really got a hold of my heart and just transformed my love in my life. I wasn’t interested in the military at first, it was really just God got a hold of my heart. I became passionate on studying God’s Word and passionate about serving God’s Church. It wasn’t really later until I began to really be exposed to the ministry of chaplaincy. First, that passion of God’s Word and his Church, wanting to serve in his Church led me to college and eventually led me to Beeson. But it was also this passion that later on persuaded me to pursue maybe chaplaincy. I remember thinking to myself, “What better way to serve people with the gospel of Jesus Christ than when they’re confronted with crisis?” [inaudible 00:06:35] So, that was really the draw, is to minister in crisis. I also think that there was a little bit of a subconscious draw. If I could put it that way. My grandfather was a Marine. He was a Marine in World War II. I never really remember him speaking of his experience, only one time and that wasn’t really in a positive light. But I always did respect my grandpa for the sacrifice that he made for the love of freedom. Just as the gospel shoved me forward to serve the Lord, I think my grandfather’s deployment [inaudible 00:07:25] Canal, [inaudible 00:07:26], the Solomon Islands, Okinawa gave me a grateful cause to serve others through the [inaudible 00:07:34] of arms. So, I think those are some reasons that kind of drew me into the ministry. Fundamentally it was really God getting a hold of my heart and giving me a love for his Word and for his Church. But also I had people in my life that really fanned the flame of God as well. And that’s been friends and mentors, my wife, in college, in [inaudible 00:08:07]. I have to mention one of those persons is one of the professors there at Beeson. He’s recently retired and that is Lyle Dorsett. He had a significant influence on me. I’m not sure that I would be here today actually for Lyle. >>Kristen Padilla: Thank you, Kaelan. For those who are listening who just heard you talk about your heart for chaplaincy and how he drew you to the military. I wonder if you could explain for them what military chaplaincy ministry looks like? What kind of ministry does a military chaplain do? Is it different when you’re stateside versus being deployed? I guess what kind of challenges do chaplains face as their ministering to others at times of crisis? >>Clay: Yeah, so the military chaplaincy is busy. It definitely requires discipline to manage the various moving parts, busy schedules. And it requires that as well to practice being a chaplain in a demanding environment. So, what a chaplain does, he’s essentially planting a worshipping community of faith, particularly when it’s in an operational environment. So, this requires things like populating the plan of the day with a variety of events, coordinating outreach activities and events, through bringing [inaudible 00:09:49] together you’re establishing a worshipping community. So, certainly managing and prioritizing the chaplain’s mission to fulfill the core competencies. In the Navy there’s four core competencies that a chaplain is to fulfill. And that number one is providing [inaudible 00:10:11] Anglican tradition. So, that’s deeply significant, the chaplain practices [inaudible 00:10:17] faith. And we should trust that the organization has [inaudible 00:10:23] to do that. So, I’m here on San Jacinto to be an Anglican priest. No one can force me to do anything different. That is why I’m here. Also, [inaudible 00:10:38] facilitate [inaudible 00:10:38] religion. So, there’s a condition piece but there’s also the facilitation piece. And [inaudible 00:10:46] as well. This is where we help sailors [inaudible 00:10:50] have space so that they can practice their faith. And then also we’re here to make sure that all people are cared for indiscriminately. And that in itself requires that discipline piece of managing your work hours and your schedule so that you can be sure that the sailors are adequately cared for. And then lastly, a chaplain must have a professional knowledge with regards to policy and doctrine, but also have that relational bandwidth [inaudible 00:11:32] Commander on all manners pertaining spirituality, religion, or ethics, morals, or could change morale. So, that’s a bit of a mouthful there. But there is a certain amount of professional knowledge but there’s also the relationship piece that is really important. And so let me speak to that just for a second. I just mentioned the discipline piece, essentially, that’s required for managing your schedule so that you can ensure that you are providing, facilitating, caring, and abiding effectively, but also chaplains need to really be relational. The chaplain’s religious service belongs to an ecclesiastical endorsing agent. The [inaudible 00:12:21] program belongs to the commanding officer. Everywhere a chaplain goes, everywhere a chaplain serves, he will be responsible [inaudible 00:12:32] religious program. This means that chaplains must know the commander’s intent. Additionally, as a staff member, chaplains engage with the staff, they must have relationships, not only with the commander, executive officer and command master chief, but they must have good relationships with the staff as well so that the ministry essentially can flourish. So, it’s important for the chaplain to balance his or her schedule [inaudible 00:13:06] relating to the triad, which is the command master chief, the executive officer, and the commanding officer. As well as with the [inaudible 00:13:13], which is the officers, but also to have that relationship with the crew. So, chaplains must always been professional but they also must realize what the profession actually is. [inaudible 00:13:29] that experience, I’ve learned just in experience unlike other officers a chaplain’s profession is not limited to the Navy, but it is the religious organization in which [inaudible 00:13:42]. This is important for ensuring that chaplains are [inaudible 00:13:47]. Having that robust relationship with the entirety of the crew and not just a select few. So, being disciplined is incredibly important to managing the various different meetings and responsibilities of the chaplain, but also managing those relationships. Because that’s also really important for the ministry of the chaplaincy. >>Doug Sweeney: Reverend Clay, just real quick, we’re still all talking about the COVID epidemic here stateside. And it makes me wonder what difference COVID makes in your ministry on a ship, out at sea? Are there strict COVID protocols in place still there? Does it hamper your ministry in any way? Here at Beeson and at Samford the numbers are going down pretty dramatically and we’re about to ease up on some of our protocols. But I wonder how has COVID affected the work that you do with the sailors? >>Clay: Well COVID certainly had a significant impact on the Navy. Many people joined the Navy to see the world. And certainly COVID has hindered that. But also I think the mitigating measures have had just as much, probably more of an impact on the Navy, just involved with the mitigating measures. It’s certainly blatantly increased the weight of the burden that many of the [inaudible 00:15:15] carry. Whether that be operational, professionally, or even personally. An example of this was [inaudible 00:15:24] on the ship, actually. This ship had [inaudible 00:15:28] despite having 206 days at sea. That’s a significant time to be at sea and to not have a port call. But there’s [inaudible 00:15:38] examples actually of how COVID has really affected, and the mitigating measures as well has affected just the burden, the significant burden that sailors and Marines carry. It’s certainly, it’s not limited my work as a chaplain. I think that it’s actually made me more busy. In a way I think it’s probably easier for a chaplain during this time than a local church pastor. I think part of that is because the Navy has largely been ... not had a significant risk, specifically, many of the people in the Navy are young, not have been affected by COVID in terms of health wise. But also because the mitigating measures of the flock of which I shepherd oftentimes already executed by the time it gets to me. So, in many ways, I’ve had a robust ministry during the COVID period. I’ve pretty much been in an operational command since COVID has existed. And I’ve really just sought to be [inaudible 00:17:01] in the ministry that’s exemplified in Acts where the church devoted itself to apostolic teaching, the breaking of the bread, fellowship, [inaudible 00:17:14]. And at the same time I really sought to provide comfort and connection for those who are personally affected by COVID. Another way that I’ve been able to manage through it in relation to COVID, particularly, is by partnering with other chaplains. Recently, I [inaudible 00:17:43] fellow Anglican brother and Navy chaplain to write and publish in the Jurisdiction [inaudible 00:17:49] Chaplaincy Journal. And the article is titled, “Pastoral Perspectives For A Pandemic From [inaudible 00:17:57] Homilies: An Exhortation Against the Fear of Death.” And this article can be found on the Anglican Chaplain’s website. This was a very [inaudible 00:18:07] experience for me and John, my friend who is an Anglican priest and chaplain. And I often try to [inaudible 00:18:15] draw upon the [inaudible 00:18:18]. I think that there is a [inaudible 00:18:23] there and comfort and encouragement. So, I sought to do that. Because [inaudible 00:18:33] that it can provide clarity and comfort to them, especially at this time where it is just filled with confusion and chaos. >>Kristen Padilla: Reverend Clay that’s a nice segue into asking you to share a little bit about grief that chaplains experience while they are serving. I know that you have given thought to this and have written a poem called, “A Chaplain’s Lament and Lesson.” I would like you to read the poem for our listeners if you would. But also I wonder before you do if you can address the grief that chaplains face personally as they’re serving in the military? >>Clay: Certainly. Yeah, I’ll start by saying that [inaudible 00:19:21] this time. [inaudible 00:19:24] college that you rely on. I was taking a class called, “In Leadership and War,” through the humanities. In this course we read a number of literature, it’s a great volume of literature that reflected on these various pieces of literature concerning a variety of wars. And it was actually greatly moving. I think it sort of uncovered some grief that I had experienced throughout the years. And so I wrote this poem and I titled, “A Chaplain’s Lament [and Lesson 00:20:01].” And just to give you a little backdrop, I think the grief that chaplains experience is not just the death and the disturbing aspects which are certainly very significant things about a chaplain is we have confidentiality. So, there’s a lot of sailors that come to us and they share a lot of disturbing issues, experiences of past and present. Another challenging thing that is often not talked about is the [inaudible 00:20:36] a real challenge. I’ve personally in the past 13 years, I’ve moved about nine or ten times since I’ve been in active duty ministry. And when you couple this with experiencing trauma and real challenges it becomes really difficult for a chaplain to recover from some of these things. A lot of times [inaudible 00:21:09] take the place of [inaudible 00:21:11] by hearing the mentioning of a person’s name. Chaplains don’t have [inaudible 00:21:16] oftentimes sent to another command. We don’t have that organic community where we can heal with them, especially when we’ve experienced some real difficulties and trauma. So, I would like to, yeah, just share this poem with you. “A Chaplain’s Lament and Lesson” I remember not why I am so distressed [inaudible 00:21:39] path of those who I’ve laid to rest Breaking bread [inaudible 00:21:42] I am here, they’re there, [inaudible 00:21:47] There is a grief in chaplaincy that longs for something more. [inaudible 00:21:53] baptism together we adore. Growing to know the Lord above is every pastor’s calling. But to do it alone by myself does not [inaudible 00:22:04] my heart longing. There is a vision in humanity of another shore. That has no death, no loss, no grief, knows nothing of war. But there is one thing that I would say to the next generation. Learn to grieve in this life, make it not an aberration. If you do not grieve you will never know the abundant comfort of our Lord for which he longs to show. But when you mourn [inaudible 00:22:31] The Spirit [inaudible 00:22:36] you there’s power, hope, and joy too. In this life one thing is sure, [inaudible 00:22:46] creator there’s so much more. >>Doug Sweeney: Amen. That’s a wonderful poem. Thank you Kaelan. We’re pleased to say that you are an alumnus of Beeson Divinity School. We’re very proud of you and the work that you’re doing in the service of the Lord and the service of your country. And I wonder if I could get you just for a moment to reflect on the time you had here at Beeson and share with our listeners a little bit? We’ve got some alumni listening right now. We have some people who send us students listening right now. And I know for sure we have some prospective students wondering about Beeson, wondering about chaplaincy ministry. What do you have to say to them about the difference that your time here at Beeson Divinity School has made in your own life and ministry? >>Clay: Yeah, Beeson has had just a great impact on me. If I could do it all over again I would attend Beeson. It was just a wonderful experience whether it be the curriculum, the exegetical and expositional work, [inaudible 00:23:52] focus on during that significant time in my life. It was a special time. I think that’s giving me a great well to draw from. Also the historical and theological [inaudible 00:24:06] is something that I’ve really learned to appreciate having that has also been just given me a clear vision for the issues of today and helping me to interpret those issues. Just from a historical lens. And then I would also say the pastoral vision at Beeson has certainly shaped me. I think that when I was a student actually at Beeson I would go off in the summer [inaudible 00:24:45] at Beeson, I would go off and I would do on the job training with the Navy. I quickly learned how busy chaplains can be and how easy it is to be undisciplined in the practice of preaching. And so I made my mind up. And this was in 2006. That I wanted to be a chaplain who preached. And that I think was part of Beeson’s contribution. I sought to be a chaplain who preaches and I think the chaplaincy has profoundly impacted my ability to preach actually. It taught me to [inaudible 00:25:33]. I can’t assume that my [inaudible 00:25:38] are catechized. So, I have to preach clearly and simply. And it’s also helped me to preach lovingly and passionately. [inaudible 00:25:47] sailors [inaudible 00:25:50] to see beyond their [inaudible 00:25:51] and their sinful ways. And by so doing it has changed my prayer life. Praying for my flock, praying for these sailors, and preaching passionately to them as well. But then I can also think of a number of people that have [inaudible 00:26:09] impacted me at Beeson. And there’s too many names to even mention. But let me just say Frank Thielman had a great impact on me. I took several exegesis courses. I was never a great student I confess, but I certainly took as many class as I could with him. He was a great influence on me. And Gerald Gray has guided me throughout the years. I took a Lay Academy class, actually, with him along with other seminary classes. But the Lay Academy class, the Anglican tradition actually was significant. I truly am standing on the shoulders of giants. It has given me as a young man in the Anglican tradition, it has given me a clear vision and conviction of churchmanship. I’m very thankful for that. Lyle Dorsett was a pastor to me. I attended Christ the King when they were meeting at Beeson and Lyle has been just a [inaudible 00:27:25] in my life through the years. To this day I just remember him always emphasizing [inaudible 00:27:33] to pray with people. To this day when I’m in [inaudible 00:27:36] the ship or in the [inaudible 00:27:39] shore, I try to practice praying with people, not being too busy to pray with them. Timothy George as well. I took the Institute of Christian Religion [inaudible 00:27:54] and journaled through much of it. That had a significant impact on me. So, there’s been so much at Beeson that has really greatly influenced me and has been effective in shaping who I am today. I am deeply indebted, very thankful. I think as I look throughout my life and I see what God has done I am just deeply indebted to the Lord and I’m indebted to the friends that I have kind of come across, and many of those friends actually are at Beeson. >>Kristen Padilla: Kaelan, we always like to end the show by hearing what the Lord is doing in our guest’s life, what the Lord is teaching you? So, can you end our show today by sharing with us what the Lord has been teaching you these days as a way to encourage and edify our listeners? >>Clay: Yeah. This has been one of the most challenging seasons in my life, actually. It’s been a very different time. As I mentioned earlier, I’ve was deployed twice in 2021. I’m still deployed. [inaudible 00:29:16]. I am very thankful for these deployments though. These deployments give me confidence that the gospel is going forth and God is being glorified and lives are being changed. And if it weren’t for the deployments I wouldn’t still be a chaplain. So, this is the heartbeat of the ministry. And as I look back I just am [inaudible 00:29:39] for these many deployments and wonderful opportunities in ministry that I’ve had, whether it’s being able to lead people to Christ or to baptize ... like I just did on Christmas Day. A guy that did not even know anything about the Christian faith, I was able to lead him to the Lord and it was such a joy. We baptized him on Christmas Day and gave him his first communion. So, it was an absolute joy. I would say that what God is teaching me in this season right now is that I’m his son. As I mentioned, this has been quite a trying time. Despite the challenges [inaudible 00:30:32] I’m his son. And there’s no need to be worried. There’s no need to be filled with anxiety. Because I’m his son. He’s been teaching me also to rest. I think that goes hand in hand. Recently we’ve been walking through, in Sunday school on the ship, the ten commandments. Recently looked at the fourth commandment, to rest. And it’s hard to know that God looks [inaudible 00:31:05] rest. Resting in the Lord and knowing that he is my Father and I’m his son and being joyful in the sufferings that we experience because that joins us to Christ, the intimacy of our Lord and Savior. >>Doug Sweeney: Amen. Thank you, Kaelan, for your faithfulness to the Lord and your perseverance in ministry through all these deployments. What a wonderful servant of the Lord you have been. We’ve been listening to the Very Reverend Kaelan Clay. He is the Provost and Dean of the Special Jurisdiction of the Armed Forces and Chaplaincy for the Anglican Church in North America, and is the Squadron Chaplain at Destroyer Squadron II. He is currently deployed on the high seas. We thank him for this gift of time. We thank you for tuning in. And we say “goodbye” for now. >>Kristen Padilla: You’ve been listening to the Beeson podcast. Our theme music is written and performed by Advent Birmingham of the Cathedral Church of the Advent in Birmingham, Alabama. Our engineer is Rob Willis. Our announcer is Mike Pasquarello. Our co-hosts are Doug Sweeney and, myself, Kristen Padilla. Please subscribe to the Beeson podcast at www.BeesonDivinity.com/podcast or on iTunes.