Gallery contains 1 image
×
Photo 1 of 1
Military chaplains meet for 37th annual international conference
Eighty-seven senior military chaplains and distinguished guests from more than 25 NATO Ally and partner nations gathered in Athens this week for the 37th International Military Chiefs of Chaplains Conference (IMCCC), hosted by the Hellenic National Defence General Staff. The annual forum brings together the world’s top military religious leaders to strengthen cooperation, enhance interoperability, and advance the shared mission of supporting service members and advising commanders across diverse operational environments.
Photo by: U.S. European Command Public Affairs
Eighty-seven senior military chaplains and distinguished guests from more than 25 NATO Ally and partner nations gathered in Athens this week for the 37th International Military Chiefs of Chaplains Conference (IMCCC), hosted by the Hellenic National Defence General Staff. The annual forum brings together the world’s top military religious leaders to strengthen cooperation, enhance interoperability, and advance the shared mission of supporting service members and advising commanders across diverse operational environments.
This year’s conference centered on the theme “The Essence of the Character and Mission of Military Chaplains,” highlighting the enduring role chaplains play in spiritual care, ethical leadership, and the moral dimension of military operations. Over four days, participants engaged in academic sessions, policy discussions, and multinational working groups focused on the evolving challenges facing chaplaincies worldwide.[KS1] Countries participating in the conference include Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Canada, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Netherlands, Norway, Norway, Poland, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom, and United States.
U.S. Army Maj. Gen. John L. Rafferty Jr., chief of staff, U.S. European Command, delivered opening remarks commending the assembled chaplains for their commitment to strengthening the moral and spiritual readiness of their respective forces. He emphasized that in an era of rapid geopolitical change, chaplains’ unique insights into culture, belief, and human behavior remain essential to supporting commanders and service members across the full spectrum of military activity.
The IMCCC traces its origins to 1990, when the USEUCOM Chaplain’s Office convened the first gathering of NATO’s senior chaplains to explore ways to better support those affected by conflict. Since then, the conference has expanded significantly in scope. Today, it serves as a key venue for:
- accelerating religious affairs interoperability,
- strengthening international relationships through religious key leader engagement,
- advancing spiritual readiness for warfighters and families,
- improving advisement to commanders on the impact of religion in theater, and
- promoting international religious freedom and freedom of belief.
A highlight of the week was the gala dinner keynote delivered by Mary Gunderson, deputy to the Ambassador‑at‑Large for the State Department’s Office of International Religious Freedom. Gunderson emphasized religious freedom is both a universal right and a strategic necessity, noting “when individuals are free to live according to conscience… societies are more resilient.” She underscored the vital role chaplains play in this space, telling attendees, “Your work… is not adjacent to international religious freedom. It is integral to it.”
Gunderson also reflected on the moral authority chaplains carry through service and sacrifice, drawing on historical examples such as the Four Chaplains of the USAT Dorchester. She highlighted the unique diplomatic role chaplains often play, bridging defense, diplomacy, and faith in ways strengthening alliances and build trust across borders.
USEUCOM Command Chaplain U.S. Air Force Col. Christian J. Chae, emphasized the enduring value of the IMCCC and the spiritual dimension of readiness. “Spiritual endurance fuels operational readiness,” Chae said. “Our cooperation as military religious leaders directly strengthens the readiness and spiritual resilience of our warfighters and their families. The IMCCC remains the largest annual gathering of international military chaplains, and the relationships built here enable higher‑quality advisement to commanders on the complex religious dynamics that shape both personnel and mission.”
The 38th International Military Chiefs of Chaplains Conference is scheduled for 2027, continuing the long‑standing tradition of collaboration among the world’s military chaplaincies.
-30-
About USEUCOM
U.S. European Command is responsible for U.S. military operations across Europe, portions of Asia and the Middle East, the Arctic and Atlantic Ocean. USEUCOM is comprised of more than 65,000 permanent military personnel supported by rotational forces and DoD civilians working closely with NATO Allies and partners. For more information about USEUCOM, visit www.eucom.mil.
