Serving the Stranger in Our Midst-Accommodating Wiccan Religious Needs Within the US Air Force

The central question and purpose of my paper is focused on the fact that Chaplains must accommodate the religious needs of Wiccans within the Air Force. "Serving the Stranger in Our Midst" is written to educate and assist in the formation of Chaplains' thinking and response to Wicca practitioners in the military. To do this I provide some historical information about witchcraft, facts about current practices in Wicca (witchcraft), then look at some of the issues faced by our military members who are Wiccan, and finally provide some pastoral approaches to meeting their needs and our obligations for religious accommodation within the Air Force. Pastoral Issues and Concerns for the Chaplains: While these concerns cannot be briefly addressed within the confines of this paper, nor under my own authority as a Chaplain, I raise them here for our mutual awareness and consideration. In a classroom setting with a group of selected Chaplains the issues could be raised for the same purpose of awareness and to address those concerns that can be corrected. I have included this list under the section of discussion questions for Chaplains.Air Force Inst of Tech Wright-Patterson AFB OH is the author of 'Serving the Stranger in Our Midst-Accommodating Wiccan Religious Needs Within the US Air Force' with ISBN 9781423550655 and ISBN 142355065X.