Military chaplains, and their 'parishioners' are being supported in prayer in November. 

Defence Sunday is held annually on the Sunday nearest to Remembrance Day (11 November) and is set aside as a request from chaplains for support of their work and the people to whom they minister.

This year, it comes just a month after the Royal Australian Navy's centenary celebrations, where the entire community saw the Navy on show in Sydney Harbour.

The Rev’d Andrew Nixon, Principal of Youthworks College, was a former Lieutenant Commander in the RAN. He says, ‘These celebrations are important for me as I spent nearly 14 years full time in the navy as an officer. I loved it. I jumped at the chance to become a Chaplain in the Navy Reserve. Being a Chaplain, either full or part-time is a fantastic opportunity to share the gospel of the Lord Jesus as we serve the wider community. There are so many significant conversations with people who are thinking about life and death issues.’ Mr Nixon, who was also Executive Director of the Connect 09 program, cites connection as a key. ‘Defence Chaplaincy puts you in relationship with people who just wont connect with the church otherwise. It may not be for everybody, but for those who are up for it, it is an incredible opportunity., 

‘Sharing your life is an important part of being a chaplain’ says Tim Booker who was a former chaplain with the Third Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR) and now Rector of Guildford Anglican Church. He is still amazed at the amount of trust that exists between soldiers and their chaplain. ‘This kind of trust, which generally develops quickly in the military environment, takes a very long time to develop between the community at large and the local minister’ adds Tim.

They are joined by Kevin Russell, the Director-General Chaplaincy and Archdeacon to the Air Force.

"Defence Sunday is important. Australian service personnel continue to put themselves in harm’s way and a number have died. Others suffer physical, psychological and spiritual injuries.  Our church has a responsibility to provide ongoing pastoral and spiritual care to serving military personnel. The greatest support that the church can provide to its chaplains engaged in this mission is prayer and the understanding that Defence Chaplains are their missionaries" he says.