We, the participants of the forum of military chaplains, held on October 10-11, 2024, in pursuance of the decision of the Council of Evangelical Protestant Churches of Ukraine (hereinafter – the CEPCU) of June 26, 2024, thank God for the ministry entrusted to us and the inspiring community and rejoice in His faithfulness and guidance in the development of the chaplaincy ministry.
The goal is to 1) present the chaplaincy ministry to church and external audiences, 2) involve Ukrainian chaplaincy in the international community, 3) coordinate and present joint decisions and documents,
We have worked out and agreed on the “Recommendations for the regulation of the chaplaincy ministry of the Evangelical Protestant Churches of Ukraine: on the ethics and appearance of the chaplain” (attached);
We have developed and approved the document “On Worship in the Field” (attached).
Given the importance of the ministry being performed, we agree:
- to approve at the next meeting of the Council a Coordinating Council that would include a representative of each association of churches that performs chaplaincy service;
- on the elaboration by the Coordinating Council of a draft Strategy for the development of chaplaincy ministry and its approval by the decision of the RECCU in cooperation with the Interfaith Council for Military Chaplaincy under the Ministry of Defense and the Military Chaplaincy Service of the Armed Forces of Ukraine;
- on holding an interfaith chaplaincy forum in October each year (on the occasion of the Day of the Military Chaplain);
- about the development of a service manual for chaplains of Evangelical Protestant churches-members of the ROCU;
- on the development of proposals for legislative regulation of the status and ministry of a volunteer chaplain.
We continue to work together for victory and a just peace!
October 11, 2024
Kyiv
