# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1938_S159
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

Missions in General 159

Your Commission found it was its duty to endorse qualified
pastors for the services. It also took steps to notify the Chief of
Chaplains (Army) and Head of Chaplains’ Division (Navy) that
henceforth all applicants from our church-body were to be en-
dorsed by the Commission. Communications are on file from
both departments that henceforth only such men would receive
consideration as have been endorsed by the Commission.

The Commission set up rules according to which applicants
may be endorsed. The rules are as follows:

A. General Rules

1. Every pastor desiring a chaplaincy in the Army or Navy
must first apply to the Commission for a proper application form
(1 A) before making application to the War and Navy Department.

2. After receipt of application (Form 1 A), properly filled out,
the Commission shall investigate the applicant’s character, ability,
family background, ecclesiastical standing, adaptability, sound-
ness of doctrine and Biblical practise.

3. If such investigation leads to favorable results, the can-
didate shall be directed to apply to the respective Government
authority for a commission, whereupon the necessary endorse-
ment will be forwarded by Synod’s Commission.

4, After the candidate has received notification of his ap-
pointment by the Government, the Commission will issue a eall
to the applicant as a representative of Synod in the Corps of
Chaplains.

5, The acceptance of the call from the Commission implies
acceptance of the regulations of the Commission for the super-
vision of Synod’s representatives in the Corps of Chaplains.

B. Regulations for Chaplains

The following are the requirements for appointment in the
military services of the Government, and the Commission will not
make any requests for waivers of the Government’s requirements,
except in rare cases.

The applicant must

1. Be between the ages of twenty-three and thirty-four.*

2. Be an ordained minister with two years’ experience.

3. Be physically sound.

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* Applicants for a commission in the Army Reserve Corps may have
attained the age of forty-two.