Rear
Admiral Black is a native of Baltimore, Md. and an alumnus of Oakwood
College, Andrews University, North Carolina Central University, Eastern
Baptist Seminary, Salve Regina College, and United States International
University. He earned Master of Arts degrees in Divinity, Counseling,
and Management. He also has a Doctorate degree in Ministry and a Doctor
of Philosophy degree in Psychology.
Commissioned as a Navy Chaplain in 1976, Rear Adm. Black's first duty
station was the Fleet Religious Support Activity in Norfolk, Virginia.
Subsequent assignments include Naval Support Activity, Philadelphia, Pa.;
U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md.; First Marine Aircraft Wing, Okinawa,
Japan; Naval Training Center, San Diego, Calif.; USS Belleau Wood (LHA
3), Long Beach, Calif.; Naval Chaplains School Advanced Course, Newport,
R.I.; Marine Aircraft Group Thirty-One, Beaufort, S.C.; Assistant Staff
Chaplain, Chief of Naval Education and Training, Pensacola, Florida; and
Fleet Chaplain, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, Norfolk, Va. Rear Adm. Black is currently
assigned as the Chief of Navy Chaplains.
Rear Adm. Black's
personal decorations include the Legion of Merit Medal, Defense Meritorious
Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medals (two awards), Navy and Marine
Corps Commendation Medals (two awards), and numerous unit awards, campaign
and service medals. He was also selected from 127 nominees for the 1995
NAACP Renowned Service Award for his contribution to equal opportunity
and civil rights.
Kay 3 – Who is Rear Admiral Barry Black?
Admiral Black – Well I like the description that the Apostle Paul gives in 1 Corinthians 4:1, where he says, “think of us as servants of Christ and doers of the mystery of God”. So I think of myself in that way, a servant of the people.
Kay 3 – Give me a little of information about your family and background maybe.
ABB – Well, I’m the husband of one wife, the father of three sons, Barry II, Brendan and Bradford. Barry is 24, Brendan, 19, and Bradford, 13. We have lived in Washington D.C. for the past 6 years.
Kay 3 – You are listed as head of the chaplain corps for the US Navy. What are some the responsibilities entailed in that job?
ABB – Well, my primary responsibility is to manage religious ministry throughout the three services. I coordinate this ministry not only for the Navy but also the Marine Corps and the Coast Guard. Probably the most important thing that I do is define reality for the chaplain corps, all the chaplains and personnel that are a part of the various religious ministry teams. By defining reality, I mean ensuring that there are goals that all of the players are aware of and that each individual within the chaplain corps is touched in a substantive way by the corps and is aware of the vision, the mission and the strategic direction. So as a leader, I set goals, mobilize people towards shared objectives, organize people to achieve those goals; I communicate repeatedly with the institution about the progress that we are making; I establish yardsticks to let us know when we are there; I am also in the people development business, trying to make sure that people are better when the leave the three services than they were when they came in.
Kay 3 – With all the training, wars and everything that is going on now, what are some of the things that you deal with on a daily with respect to military personnel and soldiers?
ABB – Well, my primary concern for sailors, marines, and coast guards is for spiritual growth. I am really a pastor to the pastors. I have over 900 active duty chaplains and 400 reserve chaplains that assist me in providing ministry to a diverse group of personnel. We have Islamic chaplains, rabbis, and of course Christian chaplains to provide for the spiritual well being of people all over the world. That means that they assess what the needs are and then seek to make the chaplain corps vision a reality. That vision is to deliver innovative, life transforming service to the people we are called to serve. We believe that by bringing people into contact with a transcendent God, we are able to enable them to experience a metamorphosis that brings positiveness.
Kay 3 – I guess in hearing about the different religions and denominations involved, what comes to mind is the separation of church and state. We have removed prayer from our public schools. Why do we have an office such as the chaplaincy serving in a government agency? Isn’t that a church’s responsibility?
ABB – You know, the separation of church and state does not mean that religion is removed from our national life. We have “In God We Trust” on our money, every inaugurated president takes an oath that includes “so help me God” and a few weeks ago, I offered an opening prayer for one of the Senate sessions. We have the establishment clause of first amendment which says that congress shall not make any laws respecting the exercise of religion but it also says or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. That means that individuals called into harms way, military folk away from the familiar surroundings of their own religious experiences should be able to have a reasonable facsimile of what they had back home. Chaplains are available on a voluntary basis. People are not forced to participate.
Kay 3 – As a Christian, I know that one of the things heard is that the bearing of arms, guns particularly, is a no-no. Especially as a Seventh-day Adventist christian, have you come across people that have a problem with you being in an organization that supports the bearing of arms? How do you deal with those people?
ABB – I have not come across many. But when I do, I remind them by saying, “Thank God that David was not a non-combatant.” Also, obviously someone has to stop the Hitlers, the Saddam Husseins of the world. I also remind them that I as a chaplain am a non-combatant. I am not allowed to carry a weapon. I am allowed to assist people in harms way into having a better spiritual appreciation and to prepare them for possible tragedies. I think most people today are pretty realistic about the necessity of having a government do what is necessary to protect their country. You don’t do that with slingshots and prayers alone.
Kay 3 – What are some of the challenges that you face everyday as a Christian and as a chaplain?
ABB – Well, the biggest challenge is to keep Chaplain Barry Black in line.
Kay 3 – (laughing) Doesn’t Mrs. Barry Black do that?
ABB – (laughs) She tries. She’s been working at it for a while. But that’s a big challenge. The reality is that we all have internal struggle regardless of our position. The second challenge is ensuring that I’m truly making a difference in the lives of people in a way that would glorify God. Matthew 7 says “by their fruits ye shall know them.” So the litmus test for the effectiveness of any leader is “where are the fruits?” Where’s the beef? Just making sure that the vision we spoke about is a reality and being allied with God is a big part of the goal. There are so many distractions that we need to make sure that people know about the transforming power of God.
Kay 3 – Focusing
on family a little, when officers are called overseas or into any conflict,
how do you prepare them and their families for the fact that they might
not return?
ABB – Well, I think many military family members, similar to the
families of police and firemen, by nature of the work, I think they understand
the possibilities that exist. We raise our hand and swear to defend the
constitution of the United States and that’s a pretty serious oath.
However, the boundaries of the battlefield are not what they used to be
and I think that there is enough reason for anxiety right here in the
continental United States so that going overseas is not as big a challenge
as it used to be. I visited some troops in Afghanistan a few weeks backs
and it’s interesting that they were more concerned about their loved
ones back home than they were for themselves. They are very aware of the
possibilities here also. So, it’s a two way street where the soldiers
and there families are concerned.
Kay 3 – As a Christian what is your take on the whole situation with the World Trade Center, Afghanistan, Israel, Palestine and everything that’s going on?
ABB – I think that there’s the temptation when we are faced with any military challenge to look at it in eschatological or apocalyptic terms and to say the end of the world is coming. I’m sure that was said during WWI and WWII. I see war from a theological perspective. James talked about it in chapter 4 verses 1 and following. He basically said that it’s your passions that make war with your members. So that says that the prelude to war is an internal trouble within individuals and it spills over. He says you covet but you don’t possess. You kill and envy but you don’t possess. I think it’s that internal turmoil and an attempt to impose one’s will on others that is the root cause of war. When you want the whole world to dance to your music, you’re going to have to impose that will. I think that America has been very good at standing for freedom and trying to defend it.
Kay 3 – Do soldiers come to you for specific counseling like marriage counseling or anything of that nature?
ABB – Well not as much as they used to before I became a 2 star admiral. But they still do, which is a compliment actually. I’m glad that they see me as approachable. There will always be problems that sailors and soldiers will have. But I’m lucky in that I can delegate responsibilities to some other qualified personnel. Because I have a Ph.D. in Psychology, sometimes they do come to me for specific things. Some of the problems that I deal with may be interpersonal relationship challenges, problems with another person on the job, certainly the marital challenges that we all face. I don’t know very many married people who don’t encounter some wind sometimes that you just have to sail through. Then there are questions about personal aspirations, spirituality, how to pray, fast, journal. These are questions that I look forward to answering. I also address these issues sometimes in my preaching.
Kay 3 – Speaking of preaching, how do you balance your speaking engagements, career and family life successfully?
ABB – Well, I usually try to set aside two weekends a month for my family. I write it into my schedule but it usually ends up being one weekend a month. Somehings get bumped sometimes. Someone will call me and say that they saw in a vision that I had to come and speak at their event. I usually tell them that when God gives me the same vision, then we’ll be in great shape (laughs). I’m told by my schedulers that we average about three invitations a day during a normal work week. So, I obviously can only respond to a few of those. Also, my family will travel with me sometimes. My wife is very good at ensuring that she’s by my side whenever I go to any place exotic – Germany, France. You know. She feels as if the Holy Spirit is speaking to her and saying that she MUST go along. She does travel with me as well as my son. I think they enjoy the nomadic existence of military life. There’s an excitement in traveling and meeting new people. So that’s the plus to the negative.
Kay 3 – Excellent. Hey, I hear that you are retiring soon. What do you plan to do during your retirement?
ABB – I’ve had about 10 job overtures so far. Two of them are to be presidents of universities, professors, this and that, pasturing churches. I firmly believe in Proverbs 3:5,6. Trust in the Lord and He will direct your path. I still have a year to go and God has always made His will clear to me. I believe He will do so at the right time. So although I’ve had attractive offers, I’m waiting for Him to speak and I’m sure He will. If you have an offer though, I’ll consider it (laughing).
Kay 3 – Oh man, I’m not up there yet! Any last words of wisdom?
ABB – Well,
I think it’s all about glorifying God. 1 Corinthians 10:31 says
that whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God. We were placed here
for His glory and that should be the focus of each individual’s
life.