FDNY SWEARS IN FIRST FEMALE, GAY CHAPLAIN

[LiberalElite]

http://7online.com/society/fdny-swears-in-first-female-gay-chaplain/541847/

-snip-
NEW YORK (WABC) -- FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro on Tuesday appointed Pastor Ann Kansfield of the Greenpoint Reformed Church in Brooklyn as the first-ever female and openly gay FDNY chaplain.

Kansfield is the department's eighth chaplain, six of whom are Christian and one who is Jewish.

"I'm excited to have Pastor Ann Kansfield join our ranks and assume her important role in the FDNY, providing spiritual guidance and emotional support to our 15,000 uniformed and civilian employees," Nigro said. "She has demonstrated a strong commitment not only to the people of her parish, but of the entire Greenpoint community by running a soup kitchen and coordinating various local programs promoting music, the arts, and mental health. Through her work for and on behalf of others, she's a natural fit for our department and our mission to protect and serve the people of our great city."
-snip-

also posting in GD

[okasha]

1. ...

She sounds like a great lady!

[longship]

2. Two points...

1. Why does a government body need a chaplain? Under the US Constitution that would appear to be a problem.

2. If one is going to appoint a chaplain for a government funded body, I cannot think of a better representative. The conservatives will be undoubtedly clutching their pearls.

In other words, it is a win-win situation. For both liberal theists and non-believers. We both get to laugh our asses off at the the conservative religionists (i.e., the GOP).

BTW, I am a lifelong atheist, but I have long ago given up demonizing all religious people, although ridicule is entirely appropriate.

[LiberalElite]

3. Your response got me wondering -

I looked up chaplains in Wikipedia and there were just a lot of descriptions of the different kinds of chaplains, in the military, in hospitals, even in some corporations. The profession goes way back but there wasn't an explanation as to why we have them in the first place - as if it's automatically understood.

The FDNY has long been a white (and mostly Irish - or Caucasian at least) male institution and they're now trying hard to diversify. Some people here are undoubtedly muttering about the gay/feminist agenda and I say fuck 'em.

[One_Life_To_Give]

4. Aside from the Ceremonial, they are/have been requested

Fire service chaplains I have worked with/known do things like host the annual deceased firefighters memorial service. Give a blessing at various official functions just as the Congressional Chaplain does. But also they are called in the middle of the night to council people. Firefighters are real good while the emergency is in process. Immediately afterward when what they just experienced starts to sink in can be quite different. That is historically part of the Chaplains job. Today it's perhaps better to have a Psychiatrist specializing in PTSD. But for some people that is their preferred councilor.

[longship]

5. Thanks. nt

[Joe Magarac]

6. Very nice, but ...

Why does the FDNY have a chaplain at all?