In a heritage office at the CFB Esquimalt sits a woman who is anything but traditional.
Lt.-Col. Angela James wears a pressed blue uniform that might see her pass for any other Royal Canadian Airforce member, except for a silver cross pinned to the right side of her shirt. While her uniform reads B次元官网网址淛ames,B次元官网网址� she is known more commonly by another name: Padre.
While some female chaplains might fight for a more feminist version of the name, she is happy being called Padre, the Latin word for father.
B次元官网网址淚 like to be mindful that there are many people who fought in the wars and reached out for the Padre, and asked for their support,B次元官网网址� she says. B次元官网网址淭o know that that heritage was there, and that people reached out with that word and called for help, makes me think that I stand on the shoulders of those people. And I never forget the history of those whoB次元官网网址檝e gone before me.B次元官网网址�
James grew up in London, Ont. in a family devoted to the United Church. She recalls helping her father set up a sound system in their church so sermons could be recorded and sent out to people unable to attend. While she initially never intended to work for the Church, she says God gave her direction that prompted her to attain a Master of Divinity through Emmanuel College at the University of Toronto. She later worked in the North, then enlisted in the military.
At first it was not easy to convince the United Church, which focuses on pacifism, to allow her to join the armed forces, James says.
B次元官网网址淥ne of the key things is chaplains do not carry weapons in the Canadian Armed Forces, thatB次元官网网址檚 how I could reconcile that,B次元官网网址� she says. B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 hold judgment on anyone who does, but those people are doing a difficult job and need someone to hold the hand that holds the sword.B次元官网网址�
When asked how she could condone a military memberB次元官网网址檚 legal right to take a life, James says it has taken a lot of reflection.
B次元官网网址淚 am grateful for people who will stand and do something that I am not capable of doing.
B次元官网网址淚 see that once in a while these things have to be done, and IB次元官网网址檓 wanting to make sure that for those folks that have the gifts and skills to do it, that they also have the spiritual resiliency to face what theyB次元官网网址檙e facing.B次元官网网址�
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As a chaplain, James isnB次元官网网址檛 neutral when it comes to the opinions of her military, but her services are available to anyone who needs them, regardless of faith or nationality. That can result in chaplains being called across borders to serve prisoners of war or even enemies.
B次元官网网址淭he insight and guidance of Padre James enriches the lives of everyone within Maritime Forces Pacific. Chaplains serve at the crux of the Canadian Armed Forces by tending to the moral and spiritual needs of military personnel and their families during times of conflict and peace,B次元官网网址� says Capt. Jason Boyd, CFB Esquimalt base commander.
B次元官网网址淧adre James embodies that dedication to care. Whenever I get the privilege and pleasure to hear her speak, her words always inspire me and give me cause to reflect.B次元官网网址�
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As a female chaplain, she is part of a small group. In the Canadian Armed Forces there are 68,000 serving members, of which 15 per cent are women. Of the 235 padres in the regular forces, 17 per cent are women.
Despite the fact she stands out, James says sheB次元官网网址檚 never faced any problems in the military, and actually feels safer and more welcome than in her civilian life. She also notes that sometimes being a woman has an advantage.
She recalls a time serving in Bosnia, where long-time military members whoB次元官网网址檇 seen a lot of war and genocide came to her to share their experiences for the first time and shed tears.
B次元官网网址淭hey would often say B次元官网网址業 feel like I can do this because youB次元官网网址檙e a woman and I donB次元官网网址檛 have to be tough,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� she says. B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 not always the ideal, we want to believe that people are equal across the board. But at that moment, the way that God had set it up in this form B次元官网网址� I thought, what a gift.B次元官网网址�
James is always pushing for more equality and hopes her two sons donB次元官网网址檛 think twice about it as they grow up.
B次元官网网址淢y hope is that that 17 per cent continues to increase in all trades, so by the time my boys look at the world they can see all the things they can do,B次元官网网址� she says.
