Women in military ministry

Sentinel staff

Over the past winter, The Mary Baker Eddy Library presented a series of programs called “Paths of Peace in Crisis.” The final segment featured Chaplain (Lt. Col.) (Ret.) Diana James and Chaplain (Col.) (Ret.) Janet Horton. They were the third and fourth women ever to serve in the United States Army military ministry.

When James joined the Army’s 1,300 male chaplains, there were only three women on the force. At that time, the women didn’t seem to have a place or a purpose, but through pioneers like James and Horton, today a woman’s place at the chaplain’s table is secure. The third panelist, (2nd Lt. USAF) Samantha Larson, isn’t yet on active duty, but she acknowledged that her way had been prepared by the women who had gone before her.

Larson is affiliated with the United Church of Christ. Horton is affiliated with the Church of Christ, Scientist, and James is with the Church of God in Christ, the largest Pentecostal church in the United States. Horton and James spoke of each other with great respect and affection. They stressed that their work was to meet the spiritual needs of soldiers without denominational bias, responding to the soldier’s religious tradition, not their own. They also told of experiences that were not so pleasant.

Horton described being spat on by a soldier and how her instant prayer led to healing and reconciliation. “God can make a situation of peace, because God always has that answer of peace if we listen,” she said. Speaking of her colleague, Diana James, Horton said, “What I loved about Diana was that she had such a sense of dignity so that when she got in the tough situations, it was the spiritual dignity that she expressed that brought out the dignity in the people she met.”

James said that the two of them were like sisters, supporting each other in the ranks. Speaking of her experiences, she said of God, “He can give you peace in the midst of anything! And I’m a living witness! . . . God can do everything!”

The series grew out of a desire to present peace as something more than a contrast to war—as a power, an activity, and a pursuit worthy of focusing on in its own right. To listen to the program, go to the Library’s streaming video archive at marybakereddylibrary.org/events/past/video-archive.

Sentinel staff

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Testimony of Healing

Love heals

April 30, 2012

Contents

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit