The Lutheran Military Chaplaincy in the Finnish Defence Forces’ Organisation Today. A Multi-Method Approach

Tiia Liuski,Martin Ubani

doi:10.3390/rel12040243

Abstract

The Finnish military chaplains’ work focuses on supporting the conscripts’ ethical functioning ability as well as overall wellbeing of the people in the Finnish Defence Forces. This article gives the military chaplains an opportunity to tell in their own words what kind of issues relate to their perceptions working as a successful religious professional in this unique context. The research was carried out with a multi-method data, that includes an electronic questionnaire and an interview data. The results show that as the military chaplains commit and integrate well to their operational environment, they are also a heterogenous occupational group and manage their work very self-directedly. They appear to be more chaplains than soldiers or special officers, but it does not cause significant professional conflicts. The military chaplains’ profession should be described more as contrasting than conflicting overall. The intensity of their personal vocation and religiosity varies, but it affects considerably to their work motivation. It can be interpreted that military chaplains hold, in a sense, a double vocation towards their work where there is a clerical calling and a mission to work in a military environment.

Highlights

The purpose of this article is to present empirical results concerning the perceptions of the Finnish Lutheran military chaplaincy (MC) about their work in the Finnish Defence Forces (FDF)
When compared to other professions, MCs are a unique profession group by their occupational requirements as they have studied a degree in theology, performed military service and have a competence to work as a Lutheran or Orthodox chaplain, many have experienced congregational work, too
Understandably, the research in the US emphasises NATO and international operations more than many of the European studies.11. Against this background we will look into what kind of issues relate to MCs perceptions, when it comes to working as a successful religious professional in a changing operational environment

Summary

Introduction

The purpose of this article is to present empirical results concerning the perceptions of the Finnish Lutheran military chaplaincy (MC) about their work in the Finnish Defence Forces (FDF). When compared to other professions, MCs are a unique profession group by their occupational requirements as they have studied a degree in theology, performed military service and have a competence to work as a Lutheran or Orthodox chaplain, many have experienced congregational work, too. The MCs navigate in the hierarchical military structures and changing operational environment, which presents them a need for constant professional development and an ability to adapt to various demands. We wish to bring broader insight to some of the professional complexity that the MC’s face in their daily work

Objectives

Results

Conclusion