Local clergy team up with chaplains to meet spiritual needs

  • Published
  • By Airman Ashley J. Cass
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. --  Base chaplains and clergy members from the local area met to discuss how to best meet the spiritual needs of Ellsworth Airmen and their families June 21.

The meeting - dubbed Clergy Day - was an event during which local religious leaders were briefed on the base mission, the mission of the chaplain corps, the challenges Ellsworth Airmen face, and the resources that are available to help them cope with those challenges. Those attending also received a tour of the base's chapel facilities.

Capt. Erik Tisher, a 28th BW chaplain, said the day is an important part of maintaining a strong relationship with people who give guidance and support to Ellsworth Airmen and their families outside the gate.

Steven Lindsay, senior pastor at Calvary Baptist Church, who attended Clergy Day for the first time, said the presentations were very informative.

"We received an orientation about what the base chaplains do, and their diversity," Lindsay said. "We learned about the support that is available on base to Airmen and their families, and also a little bit about the mission of the base."

Tisher said there are times when Airmen feel more comfortable consulting with someone not affiliated with the military, which makes it essential to partner with religious leaders in the local community.

"There are so many different faith groups and faith traditions represented at Ellsworth," Tisher said. "There's no way our chaplain corps can represent them all. So, if an Airmen or a family member of an Airman comes to us with a unique need, we need to know who to go to, so that need can be met."

Tisher and Lindsay agreed that an open exchange of information between Ellsworth chaplains and clergy members in the surrounding area is beneficial to everyone.

"I know through interaction with military members in our church that there are unique situations Airmen go through," Lindsay said.

"It's important to network," Tisher said.

Lindsay has been a pastor for more than 30 years, but said he has never worked at a church where he has had as much interaction with military families as he does now.

"I have quite a few military members come to me for help," Lindsay said. "The whole base is in our community, interacting. Today helped me understand some of the pressures those Airmen are under."

Tisher said 21 representatives from churches in the local area attended Clergy Day, and that he thinks the chaplain corps will continue to hold it every year.

"The event went very well," Tisher said. "They now have a better understanding of what we do, so they know how to help support the needs of our Airmen and their families."