Doing Interfaith Ministry at McMurdo, Antarctica

I know some of you may be wondering what it is like doing ministry, or being a chaplain here at McMurdo Station, Antarctica. 

Chapel of the Snows is interfaith, and serves all faiths.  McMurdo is like a small town.  It is very unlike any typical military deployment, or even any military assignment, because about 90% of the people here are civilians. 

The Air National Guard provides many support personnel, including the Protestant Chaplain for McMurdo Station & South Pole from September through February every year.  The Roman Catholic priests come from New Zealand.

The priests are here for 30 day tours and rotate.  The Protestant Chaplains are here for 60 day tours, so three Protestant chaplains cover the Antarctic six month spring and summer season.
 
I am here for the first phase.  McMurdo is receiving new people almost every day, so the population is currently growing.  We are about 850 people right now.  Soon there will be about 1200 people here. 

There are no chaplains over the winter, but there are lay persons who are winter overs who provide lay leadership and prayer services. 

OK, so what is it like?

Every day the Catholic Chaplain and I start our day meeting in the chapel, and do Morning Prayer together and have coffee. Caffeine and prayer is a great way to start the day!

A Catholic and a Protestant praying together every morning.  Isn't that great?

When I first got here, I had to get many things set up from scratch.  Computer, email, chapel worship supplies, office supplies, make flyers, establish a chapel weekly schedule of events and activities, set up worship services, create flyers for advertising around town, on the TV station, etc. 
 
But the biggest thing is getting out there and meeting the people, getting to know them, and them getting to know you.  So, I go visiting as much as I can.  This has been tough, as the weather has been so cold, wind blowing so hard at times it is difficult to walk from one building to another.

Visiting and talking with people is called “ministry of presence”.  This is the brunt of doing ministry here right now.  Plus counseling, and if there is an emergency or crisis, we are there too.  But right now, as we are still getting to know people and grow the programs here, it is about getting out there and being with the people.

This also entails talking with them at meal times.  The Galley, or Dining Facility is very large and has many round tables.  Every meal I purposely sit with different people, or with someone sitting by themselves.  This way I get to know more people.  They tend to sit in small groups with their co-workers.  So one day I will eat lunch with the fire guys (fire fighters), the next with the supply guys, the next with the medical people, and so forth. 

It also involves juggling different faiths, different cultures, and dealing with people who have a sort of negative view of religion or chaplains.  One day I was visiting in the Crary lab, just walking around saying hello and introducing myself.  Most people are very friendly.  One person blurted out to me, “I am an atheist!”, and turned away.  I said, “Nice to meet you!”

As I walk and visit, many times I will get in good conversations with people, or they will ask if they can meet with me later to talk in private.  So, much ministry as I walk and talk. 

Tomorrow is Sunday, and like most chapels we will have Sunday services.  Roman Catholic at 9:45 am, and Protestant Services, which I lead at 11 am.

Leading the Protestant services in a multi faith environment can be tricky.  There are dozens of denominations, and there is no way I will please them all.  My services are liturgical, so that will not make the Baptists happy.   But I try to involve people, get people to read the scriptures, lead prayers, get musicians to play and share their gifts...and it is amazing how the little community begins to come together!

During the week, three nights a week Yoga classes are led by members of the community here, and the chapel is packed.  They move all the chairs and stretch away! There are also classes we offer during the week, a Baha’i service, as well, AA meets here too.

In three weeks I will go to the Pole (South Pole) to give them a visit and provide services for them.  But more on that later!!