One outcome of this 'Calling' model is that the US Military Protestant Chaplaincy Corp has become dominated by 'Christian Evangelicals' who see their 'Calling to Military Personnel' that of seeking the lost for Jesus.
This was witnessed enthusiastically in the Iraq Occupation years where Chaplains sought to win all non-believing military personnel to Jesus. This also included a passion to convert Muslims to Christianity.
President Barack Obama has chosen not to revert to the former situation; perhaps he has been advised by senior Offices who are themselves Evangelical Christians and who have come through the Military in an era where chaplains prioritise soul winning.
Or perhaps it is a cultural heritage. The foundation of the American way of life, with its emphasis on freedom of religion and independence of spirit, may logically lead to letting the 'market place' determine who became Military Chaplains. In this case, those who have enthusiastically responded to the 'Military Chaplaincy Call' of Uncle Sam.
The American Christian scene is very different from Australia's in that the Pilgrim Fathers brought with them an evangelicalism that has continued a perennial influence upon their nation.
By contrast, the Australian Military Chaplaincy has an inbuilt anti-proselytising policy. This has been a thorn in the side of many Australian evangelicals, who ask the question : 'At what eternal cost has this policy been maintained?'
A great many American and Australian Evangelicals hold that the Bible's warnings to Christian leaders hold true; that those who do not seek the lost for Salvation will have the blood of their hearers to account for at the time of reckoning. The Bible is very clear, this is not an idle communication to Christian leaders.
This is a very strongly held theology by many Evangelicals and it influences everything they do, and moreover explains why so many become missionaries in dangerous parts of the world. The 'Calling' becomes enormously powerful in their lives.
It also explains the sorrow they have in their hearts for their fellow Christians leaders from other persuasions who show little such demonstrative concern for 'the lost'.
Evangelicals relate to the idea that when God calls you to do something, it means you're called to a 'higher level' of accountability. ".. to whom much is given, from him much will be required" Luke 12:48. The opposite is true, if you don't have this sense of 'passionate call' …
In Australia, historically, the divide between those who are passionate soul winners and those whose focus is on any sphere other than 'soul winning' has become wider and wider over time. Australian ecumenism has a good history amongst those whose concern is not primarily 'soul winning'.
It is this emphasis on 'soul winning' that create tensions.
A male nurse reservist who has recently returned from a three month stint in Afghanistan, with a first hand account, told this writer that having seen these 'passionate' Padres ministry first hand, he would never want to be in a war zone without them.
Many Australian evangelicals can well understand an American Evangelical military commander who is witnessing his troops under fire, desperately thankful he has a passionate soul-winning chaplain with his people on the ground.
Anything less, with such a theology, would be sacrilegious to the immediacy of such a situation.