Royal Australian Chaplains Department
Encyclopedia
The Royal Australian Army Chaplains' Department is an all-officer Corps within the Australian Army
that provides ordained clergy
to minister to the men of the Australian Army
.
As of 2006, there are 151 serving regular chaplains (commonly known as "padres
") in the Australian Army
; these belong to either one of several Christian
churches, or to the Jewish faith. The Australian Army Chaplains' Department has two cap badges, for its Christian and Jewish officers. There are also chaplains in the Australian Army Reserve.
Army chaplains, although they are all commissioned officers of the Australian Army
and wear uniform, do not carry arms (and are the only officers not to carry swords on parade). At services on formal occasions, chaplains wear their medals and decorations on their clerical robes.
Chaplains in the Australian Army begin their commission as a Captain, and there are five levels or "divisions" for the seniority of chaplains in the Australian Army and Air Force with each division corresponding to a worn rank. The highest "division" is Division 5 who are "Principal Chaplains," of which there are three per service representing the three major Christian denominations: Catholic
, Anglican, Protestant, and Jewish. The Principal Chaplains of the Army wear the rank of Brigadier
.
Australian Army chaplains, whatever their rank, are mostly referred to as "Padre
" by officers and soldiers alike.
Heads of Denominations:
In the Australian Defence Force
(ADF), the heads of military chaplaincy for those Christian denominations and of the Jewish faith that have an official association with the ADF, are also members of the ADF's "Religious Advisory Committee to the Services" (RACS). With respect to the Catholic and Anglican churches, their Bishops are members of RACS and they and the other members of RACS have the status of a two star General (US) or Major General (Australian Army). The current chairman of the RACS is Rev Prof Allan Harman
.
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
that provides ordained clergy
Clergy
Clergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given religion. A clergyman, churchman or cleric is a member of the clergy, especially one who is a priest, preacher, pastor, or other religious professional....
to minister to the men of the Australian Army
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
.
As of 2006, there are 151 serving regular chaplains (commonly known as "padres
PADRES
Padres Asociados para Derechos Religiosos, Educativos, y Sociales is a Chicano Catholic priest's organization...
") in the Australian Army
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
; these belong to either one of several Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
churches, or to the Jewish faith. The Australian Army Chaplains' Department has two cap badges, for its Christian and Jewish officers. There are also chaplains in the Australian Army Reserve.
Army chaplains, although they are all commissioned officers of the Australian Army
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
and wear uniform, do not carry arms (and are the only officers not to carry swords on parade). At services on formal occasions, chaplains wear their medals and decorations on their clerical robes.
Chaplains in the Australian Army begin their commission as a Captain, and there are five levels or "divisions" for the seniority of chaplains in the Australian Army and Air Force with each division corresponding to a worn rank. The highest "division" is Division 5 who are "Principal Chaplains," of which there are three per service representing the three major Christian denominations: Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
, Anglican, Protestant, and Jewish. The Principal Chaplains of the Army wear the rank of Brigadier
Brigadier
Brigadier is a senior military rank, the meaning of which is somewhat different in different military services. The brigadier rank is generally superior to the rank of colonel, and subordinate to major general....
.
Australian Army chaplains, whatever their rank, are mostly referred to as "Padre
Padre
Padre may refer to:* Partnership for Acid Drainage Remediation in Europe PADRE* An IDE for the Perl programming language, see Padre * A Military Chaplain* A member of the San Diego Padres baseball team...
" by officers and soldiers alike.
Heads of Denominations:
In the Australian Defence Force
Australian Defence Force
The Australian Defence Force is the military organisation responsible for the defence of Australia. It consists of the Royal Australian Navy , Australian Army, Royal Australian Air Force and a number of 'tri-service' units...
(ADF), the heads of military chaplaincy for those Christian denominations and of the Jewish faith that have an official association with the ADF, are also members of the ADF's "Religious Advisory Committee to the Services" (RACS). With respect to the Catholic and Anglican churches, their Bishops are members of RACS and they and the other members of RACS have the status of a two star General (US) or Major General (Australian Army). The current chairman of the RACS is Rev Prof Allan Harman
Allan Harman
Allan Macdonald Harman is an Australian Presbyterian theologian and Old Testament scholar. He has been described as a "well-known and highly regarded figure in Christian and especially evangelical circles within Australia and overseas."...
.