His Grace Bishop Ioan Casian participated

at ICCMC consultative meeting

Thursday, October 5, 2023 His Grace Bishop Ioan Casian participated in the consultative meeting of the ICCMC (Interfaith Committee on Canadian Military Chaplaincy). ICCMC is a multi-denominational and multi-religious organization created more than two decades ago.

His Grace Bishop Ioan Casian represents the CCOB (Canadian Conference of Orthodox Bishops) within the ICCMC and handles the verification of the applications of all those who wish to apply for the position of Chaplain in the Canadian Army from the Orthodox Church in Canada.

The members' meeting was held in hybrid mode (in person and virtually).

The meeting began with a short moment of meditation. The presentations of the participants followed. Several accounts followed regarding the situation of chaplains in the Canadian Army.

During the dialogue that followed ICCMC members expressed their appreciation for what has been done over time through ICCMC regarding the relationship between the military, churches, religious communities and traditions, and the Canadian authorities.

It was proposed to review the committee's history and ICCMC current Handbook and adapt it to the current context. The methodology to accept new ICCMC members was also addressed. In this sense, the issue of the responsibility of each church, community or religious tradition related to the chaplains who represent them was discussed.

During the exchanges, some of those present expressed the feeling that over time the ICCMC has evolved from a consultative function to a reactive one, i.e. from being able to actively participate through counseling to formulating certain institutional directions in its field of competence and authority to be a body that receives decisions at the same level rather as a fait accompli without the opportunity to have expressed its point of view and the result of experience coming from different religious traditions.

It was mentioned that in the context of today's secular society, the atheist position is increasingly taken as a reference of neutrality, which for some members does not seem to be the most objective position.

A methodology was finally proposed to be able to reach a face-to-face meeting early next year that would address all these issues and allow for in-depth reflection on these observations and the organization in general to bring about the necessary improvements.

The meeting ended in an atmosphere of cordiality and hope for future things to be accomplished.

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ICCMC supports chaplains in the unique context of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). The ICCMC is the body through which the various churches, communities and religious traditions across Canada lend their support to CAF and also represents and reflects the work of chaplains to member communities. The Committee is the means of communication between the various churches, communities and religious traditions in Canada, the Government of Canada and the Office of the Chaplain General.