Brigadier General Andrew R.
Harewood, a senior chaplain in the
U.S. Army Reserve and Seventh-day
Adventist minister, administered the
oath of office at M. Gilda Roddy's April
17,2023, commissioning service.
Photo: Sheldon Kennedy, North
American Division of the Seventh-day
Adventist Church Sheldon Kennedy,
for North American Division
who have recognized my leader-
ship skills and facilitated a space
for me to grow. In our church there
are few women in leadership. Still, I
have often been invited to sit at the
table. I value this opportunity and
long to see [in the church] a per-
manent structure and placement
where women lead”
“Chaplain Gilda is a great col-
league. She is tireless and passion-
ate about supporting and advocat-
ing for all chaplains,” says Chaplain
Angela Li, NAD assistant director
for ACM. Military and church col-
leagues also affirm that Gilda en-
courages chaplains to focus on the
purpose of their ministry and not
lose sight of the mission of sharing
Jesus Christ with others.
Re-envisioning Ministry Ahead
One challenge of chaplaincy
is the many communities it en-
compasses. Chaplains who serve
FEATURE
[IR Su
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outside of Seventh-day Adventist spaces can appreciate the importance of
engaging in critical listening. It is not enough to say we are “meeting people
where they are”; we must also acknowledge differences in our communities
of service. Gilda engages this topic with incoming chaplains who may notice
differences between service in congregational ministry and pastoral care in
chaplaincy settings.
In the U.S. Army Reserve Gilda will use her skills to move through many
religious and interfaith communities. “Outside the Seventh-day Adventist
Church, chaplaincy occurs in a pluralistic environment,” said Gilda. “As a
chaplain, my role is to provide spiritual care, a safe platform for an individ-
uals spiritual needs and worship traditions. [Thus,] when confronted with
beliefs that do not align with Seventh-day Adventist doctrines, I relate to the
spiritual faith and find that safe space to minister”
“Jesus is our model. Think about it. He spent most of His ministry outside
the synagogue. That is chaplaincy at its core,” Gilda added. “As ministers,
we have individual callings. When God called me to ministry, it was to
minister where the people are. I think of chaplaincy as the work that we, as
Seventh-day Adventists, are going to do as we prepare to usher in Christ's
coming. Certainly the parish has a place, but what about the rest of the com-
munity? As human beings, we inherently long for a relationship with the
Almighty. I encourage our ministers to be involved in their community, open
to community needs, and [ready to] step into the gap to fill them. That's
serving the way Jesus served”
To Be a Faithful Servant
Chaplain Gilda is forging ahead as a faithful servant. When she is asked
about her call to military chaplaincy, the story goes back to that humble
prayer by a young girl from Mauritius who is happy to serve God and coun-
try. “When I was approached with the opportunity to serve as a U.S. Army
chaplain, the calling was clear: this is where I needed to be, growing as a
leader, working to align and enhance systems to connect and advance com-
mon missions and service,” said Gilda.
“When we put our trust in the Creator, understanding that we don’t know
what the end will look like, we can rest assured that we serve a God who
knows the beginning and the end. I don’t have to know where I am going;
by trusting in God, although [my path is] at times painful, I am not lonely,
because God is right there with me. When God calls, God already has a plan.
Here I am! Send me!”
ADVENTIST Gzirrzey