Story by Megan K. Mertz | Photography by Erik M. Lunsford | Fall 2022
In May, Chaplain (Rear Adm.) Gregory Todd was promoted to chief of chaplains for the U.S. Navy, supervising the 1,100 chaplains who minister to nearly 650,000 personnel and their family members in the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. Todd’s interest in military chaplaincy began in the seminary. After graduation, he spent several years serving in both a parish and the Navy Reserve before making the leap to active duty, where he has been ever since. Todd and his wife, Teresa, have five daughters and four grandchildren and attend Immanuel Lutheran Church in Alexandria, Va.
How did you become a military chaplain?
A: While attending Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, a friend told me about a chaplain candidate program where I could join the Navy part time and learn about naval chaplaincy. It was kind of like ROTC for seminary students. Since I had grown up in Seattle and loved the sea, I was intrigued. During the summer, I attended the basic chaplain training course and, quite frankly, wasn’t that impressed. It was too much about classroom work and policy. But the next summer, I attended a Marine Corps course. We spent two weeks living in the field with Marines, learning how to function and minister in an austere environment. I loved it! I saw it as an opportunity to bring the Gospel into an authentic, rugged and sometimes edgy environment.
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Bethany Lutheran Church
1011 Ulatis Drive
Vacaville, CA
(707) 451-6675
mychurch@gobethany.com
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