“Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.” - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Dear Soldiers, Civilians, Family members, and Soldiers for Life:
As the senior leaders of the United States Army Chaplain Corps, we are adding our voices to the voices of Secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy, Chief of Staff of the Army General James McConville, and Sergeant Major of the Army Michael Grinston, to affirm the importance of taking care of people, of treating every person with dignity and respect, and of caring for the soul of the Army – for each soul in the Army. The Army philosophy is “People First!”
Along with all the other members of our Chaplain Corps, our mission is to care for the individual souls of the Army regardless of their religious commitments or lack thereof – and regardless of anything else that distinguishes them from us. But caring for the diverse souls of the Army must be active, not passive. Caring for the souls of the Army requires us to take action to include others, not merely not to exclude others. Caring for the souls of the Army requires us to love them; and love is always forward moving, outward reaching, and self-examining.
There is much darkness in the world – and that darkness will not recede on its own. We must drive it out together, with light. There is much hate in the world – and that hate will not recede on its own. We must drive it out together, with love.
Our Army’s senior leaders have challenged us to listen to our people, and to engage them: “Ask the uncomfortable questions. Lead with compassion and humility, and create an environment in which people feel comfortable expressing grievances.” We must do this with one another, and for one another. And we must do this for the Army and for our Nation.
As our senior leaders have said, may God indeed bless all of the people of our United States Army: our Soldiers, Families, Civilians, and Soldier for Life retirees and veterans. And may God bless the United States of America.
For God and Country!
Army Chaplain Corps Leaders Tri-signed Letter to the Force [PDF - 298.2 KB]
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