change of command issue #4 - summer 2013

7/30/2019 Change of Command Issue #4 - Summer 2013

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C E N T U R I O N S G U I L D

hange of Command

How do we promote healing of thehidden wounds of war in ourommunities and in our lives what do

we do After the Yellow Ribbon? OnNovember 11 & 12, 2011, the studentgroup Duke Milites Christi, whoseprimary aim is to develop a pastoralesponse to the problem of war and

peace based on a fundamentalonviction that God directs us towards

peaceful resolution of conflict, convened

gathering at Duke Divinity School inDurham, North Carolina to reflect upon

nd explore those very questions. Thegathering had as one of its goals totimulate conversation acrossommunities and develop resourceshat military, academic, and Christianommunities could use in order topproach military members and

veterans as human beings, and tounderstand and heal the unseenwounds of war (including PTSD, moral

njury, and heartfelt grief) and toonsider how we can accept theesponsibility of acknowledging andonfronting the moral fragmentationhat military members suffer as a resultf their experiences in war.

The event drew together practitioners ofll disciplines, from music and the artso theology and mental health, toespond to the challenge presented by

the plight of soldiers and veterans in ourmidst and to invite consideration of howpeople might work together to improveefforts to prevent future tragedies.

In preparation for the event Dr. StanleyHauerwas, Dean Richard Hays, andfour other faculty of Duke Divinity

School contributed illuminatingtheological reflections on video thathelped to frame the event and introduceinitial themes for personal andcommunal consideration. Once theevent kicked off, there were incrediblyengaging presentations. Lt. Col. PeteKilner (ethicist, United States MilitaryAcademy at West Point), gave thekeynote presentation on the Beauty andTragedy of a Combat Deployment and

a break out session on his riapproach to just war and the obligaof military leaders to instill ethictheir soldiers. Gen. Stephen N. Xen(retired Army Brigadier General practicing psychiatrist) and Dr. WaKinghorn (Assistant Professor Psychiatry and Pastoral and MTheology at Duke Divinity School) wpart of one of the plenary panels discussed The Moral Landscape of

and the need for clergy and familiewrestle alongside their loved onereintegrate fully into the communitfaith. Finally, Derek Webb (performartist and activist) gave an interviewMusic, Theology, and Conscienc

well as a rousing musical performto wrap up the event on Saturday nAll of the interview videos, plenabreak-out sessions, and other recordfrom Milites Christi can be downloaat no cost on iTunesU: h

itunes.apple.com/us/itunes-u/milites-chid477245098 for sharing consideration in your local setting. event even made the front page oflocal Durham paper and a numbenational media outlets wrote aboutevents importance for communeverywhere, which you can readtheir site; http://sites.dukeaftertheyellowribbon/media.

A quarterly community newsletter published by Centurions Guild

For God and Country (in that order) Issue #4 - Summer 20

Cards like the one above were distributed

across Dukes campus, with others

emphasizing classroom and community

concerns, with accompanying event

information on the reverse of the card.

After the Yellow RibbonConference Recap by Shawn Storer & Daniel Baker
http://sites.duke.edu/aftertheyellowribbon/media/http://sites.duke.edu/aftertheyellowribbon/media/http://itunes.apple.com/us/itunes-u/milites-christi/id477245098http://itunes.apple.com/us/itunes-u/milites-christi/id477245098http://sites.duke.edu/aftertheyellowribbon/media/http://sites.duke.edu/aftertheyellowribbon/media/http://sites.duke.edu/aftertheyellowribbon/media/http://sites.duke.edu/aftertheyellowribbon/media/http://itunes.apple.com/us/itunes-u/milites-christi/id477245098http://itunes.apple.com/us/itunes-u/milites-christi/id477245098http://itunes.apple.com/us/itunes-u/milites-christi/id477245098http://itunes.apple.com/us/itunes-u/milites-christi/id477245098http://itunes.apple.com/us/itunes-u/milites-christi/id477245098http://itunes.apple.com/us/itunes-u/milites-christi/id477245098


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Change of Com

Oblivion, starring Tom Cruise, might

seem to be just another sci-fiHollywood blockbuster of explosions,blood, and redemptive violence. Yetbehind that veneer of sound and furyis a story of identity, loyalty, andsacrifice.

The basics of the story seem trite: TomCruise's character, Jack, is one of thefew human beings who remain aliveon a ravaged earth. Most of humanitylives in a gigantic space colony that

circles the earth. Earth had beendevastated by an alien invasion, anattack only repulsed by humanity'schoice of nuclear Armageddon. "Itdoesn't seem fair," Jack muses. "Wewin the war, but we have to leaveearth." Jack has two weeks left onearth before he rejoins the colony ashumanity prepares to leave for a

permanent migration to the moon of

Titan.

Jack's role on earth is simple enough:he is a repairman of drones. It isn't aflashy job. The drones protecthumanity's energy-collectingmachines from alien attacks. Therearen't many aliens around anymore,but there's enough of them thatdrones are constantly being blown upor damaged. That's where Jack comesin he repairs the drones. He

performs a simple if noble service tohumanity. He keeps the energyflowing.

Or so he thinks. The movie turnswhen Jack is captured by the aliens,and we discover that all is not as itseems on the planet earth.

All is not as it seems in our liv

either. The enemy must always seen as other; as different, savaginferior, and thus unworthy of liAnd in casting another as enemy, wcast ourselves as heroes.But what happens if we are nheroes? What happens if the enemisn't as alien as we thought? Whhappens if the enemy turns out to us? What happens if the enemy is m

As an Army veteran aconscientious objector, as a son career Air Force officers and Christian pacifist, my loyalties oftcome into conflict; my identsometimes fractures. Oblivion tells tsame story, and ends with the samchoice: sacrifice of the old life, anrebirth in the new.

OblivionMovie Review by Nate Wildermuth

n one of the event sessions: Exploringhe Moral Landscape: Military, Theological,

and Academic Intersections Dr. WarrenKinghorn challenged those gathered inGoodson Chapel with these comments:Beyond hiding behind PTSD as a wayof describing ... veterans' experiences,universities, churches, religious

communities, and families need to listenopenly and attentively, without pressingfor voyeuristic details, or expectinganything in particular. We need to findways to help veterans narrate andexperience their participation in combatas the properly human and morallyaden activity that it is. This sounds

easy, but it is not. Listening - reallyistening - to combat veterans is a hardhing to do. It is costly and many of thehings which our culture does ostensiblyo support combat vets are, in the end,

ways of not listening to them.

The greatest praise that can be offered ofthe After the Yellow Ribbon event is that it

cultivated a place where Kinghorn's

challenge was taken up through trnarration, listening, reflection,prayer. After the Yellow Ribbon enwhat it called others to do. Hopthe seeds sown by presenters, andand scattered by participants,continue to bear fruit in commuwhich seek to minister to veteran

heal the wounds of war fforming communities markedChrist's love and friendship - realisten to and walk with those retfrom combat on the long - anddifficult - journey home.

~Shawn T. Storer and Daniel BakerCatholic Peace Fellowship were gparticipants in the After the Yellow Revent. Find out more about CP

www.catholicpeacefellowship.org

This icon of St. Martin of Tours was

commissioned specifically for Duke

Divinity & After the Yellow Ribbon and is

available as a prayer card on our website.
http://www.catholicpeacefellowship.org/http://www.catholicpeacefellowship.org/


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hange of Command

About Our Sealby Zach Cornelius

Centurions Guild is anofficial co-conspiringcommunity ofCONSP!RE Magazine,andguest edited issue#14, on Nonviolence:http://bit.ly/13oJg3U.Contact us for freecopies of any issue ofCONSP!RE Magazine.

As they say in FortBenning, Follow Mtwitter.com/centurionsguildLook forour icon:

Search CenturionsGuild on Facebook toLike us and receiveupdates, news, andheadlines that we haveour eyes on. We try tokeep our focus on theUS military, war,

peace, and religion.

NEW WEBSITE!

In 2012, we organized a

Helpers Unite Crowd-

funding campaign to help

create a new logo and

website. The designfirm

Cross and Crown did a

wonderful job and we are

very happy with the results.

Watch us grow at

CenturionsGuild.org

Blogging

We are currentlydeveloping content foronline blogging,including a space to

find articles fromChange of Command.If you would like to seethe mess we havecompiled so far, go tocenturionsguild.org/blog

Genesis

Make sure youregetting the whole story!If you havent already,check out all four issuesof Change of Commandby going to:centurionsguild.org/resources/changeofcommand

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Olive Branches

In both talons reside olive brancheswhich are an ancient sign of peace. Foreach Centurion, and our organization,peaceful means is the only way to alasting peace.

The Sword and Shovel

Above the Eagle is the sword andshovel. We dual meanings with these

components. First, we see it as the stateof our world one which ischaracterized by violence but also thereare those working to build peacefulcommunities by providing forthemselves and others. Secondly, weseek to illuminate the biblical

proclamation to turn weapons destruction into tools of agricultuThat is, means of destruction be turninto means that provide life.Our Motto

Pro Deo Et Patria (For God aCountry) is the motto of the UnitStates Military Chaplaincy. We slighamended this motto by adding In S

Ordine (in that order). We strive, wiall our actions as a group, to place Gfirst and subordinate all other interesWe do not shy from our love country, but try to love God first aneverything else thereafter.

Completed in 2012 with the help of designfirm Cross and Crown, our seal is

intentionally designed to emulate our owncountry's Great Seal. The Centurion Seal iscomposed of five main symbols. The symbolsof our seal tell an alternative story to the sealit resembles. It is the belief of Centurions thatour highest duty is to obey God first. Simplyput, our efforts are for God and Country, in

that order.

The Bald Eagle

The first symbol is that of the baldeagle. America's Great Seal was first

designed with the bald eagle shortlyafter the conclusion of theRevolutionary War. We respectfullyborrow this proud symbol.

Shield

Our shield represents the foundationof our group. On it, we proudlydisplay the first two Greek letters inChristos; the Chi (X) and Rho (P) areone of the earliest symbols used forChrist. Our faith, represented by our

Commander's initials, serve as afoundation for our work.Traditionally a shield in a coat ofarms are used to identify one'sallegiance. So we, without reservationor purpose of evasion, stake ourallegiance in the Son of God.
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Change of Com

Meet a CenturionNational Guardsman Jason Vance

grew up as a preachers kid and knewrom an early age that I wanted to be inull-time ministry. I started attending

Great Lakes Christian College with thentention of getting a degree in Christian

Ministries. My church backgrounddidnt really have a lot to say about themilitary, good or bad. It was just anotherprofession people could choose.

My first experience with the militarywas when I visited my girlfriend (nowwife) during her drill weekend. She wasn a public affairs unit in the Michigan

Army National Guard (MIARNG) and itwas rifle marksmanship weekend. Myuriosity and masculinity went intoverdrive; I thought it was the coolesthing ever. During that visit, her Firstergeant told me they had an open seatn a free six month vacation to Bosnia

f I wanted to join.

Without knowing anything aboutpacifism or just war theory, violence inhe military just seemed like part of a

ob. I knew it shouldnt be reveled in;ut if it was for a good cause, I didntee a problem with it. I couldnt shakehe crazy idea of this unexpecteddventure, so I enlisted and trained forhe quickest MOS the unit needed, 71-Ladmin specialist). It didnt feelontradictory to my path toward

ministry, just an addition to it.

After a fairly uneventful deployment (asfar as my faith journey is concerned), Ireturned to Bible college to finish my

degree and met a new professor. Thisprofessor challenged my allegiance tothe way of the cross and my willingnessto kill for my country. This started a twoyear process of debating, struggling,and wrestling with the concepts ofpeace, love, and allegiance. The finalstraw came when I tried to write aresearch paper to defend my ownmilitary involvement.To my dismay, by the end of theresearch I realized that I could no longer,

with a clear conscience, participate inthe military system.

Unfortunately, I didnt know what to doabout the rest of my militarycommitment, because I also took myoath seriously. When I originally heardthe words Conscientious Objector, Ithought it was only something doneduring the draft for Vietnam. I had noidea I could still apply for this status.

My commander and entire unit wereshockingly supportive of my decision,because they had seen me go throughthis two year transformation. Theydidnt agree with my decision, nor didthey make it easy on me, but they stillrespected me as a person. After Isubmitted my entire CO application tomy commander and agreed that Iwanted to go through this long process,he told me of an alternative method tobe released from service. He knew I hadbeen talking about seminary, so he said Icould be honorably discharged if I wasenrolled as a divinity student.

I applied to the Anabaptist MennoniteBiblical Seminarys Master of Divinityprogram. When I received myacceptance letter, I presented a copy tomy commander. Two months later, I wasturning in all my gear and shaking

hands and saying goodbye. This is tfastest Ive ever seen the militaprocess any kind of paperwork! Up

reflection, I believe they made me through the entire CO application to show sincere I was, but then found tquickest way to release me withomuch fanfare. They did not want to the first unit in the MIARNG since tVietnam War to have a soldier file fConscientious Objection under thcommand. I was honorably dischargin 14 June 2006 from the Michigan ArmNational Guard. Now I strive to bepeacemaker in all aspects of my life.

~ Jason Vance is a National Guard veterand the latest member to join our ranks. lives with his wife Rhonda in Lansing, Mwhere he works for Habitat for HumaniAt press time, they were still in the hospiawaiting the arrival of their first child!

Contribute:Centurion's Guild is sponsored by TSimple Way, a not-for-profit corporatiunder section 501(c)3, for financpurposes. To make a tax deductibdonation, send checks made out to TSimple Way, being sure to inclu"Centurion" in the memo line, and mail to

The Simple Way

PO Box 14751

Philadelphia, PA 19134

Contact:http://[email protected]

(215) 821-7882

CENTUR IONS GUI LD:Logan Mehl-Laituri - Army Veteran

Zach Cornelius - Former Air Force

Reservist and Cadet

Jason Vance - National Guard Vetera

Nate Wildermuth - Ranger & West

Point Cadet

Centurions Guild - For God and Country (in that order) Change of Command Issue #4 - Summer 20
mailto:[email protected]?subject=Newsletter%20%232%20inquirymailto:[email protected]?subject=Newsletter%20%232%20inquiryhttp://centurionsguild.org/http://centurionsguild.org/

change of command issue #4 - summer 2013

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