A Memorable Visit from the Netherlands
In 2022, thanks to the newly developed chaplaincy program and endorsement of Humanist Canada, Capt Marie-Claire Khadij became the first military humanist chaplain of the Americas. Only three other countries currently have military humanist chaplains: The Netherlands since 1964, Belgium since 1999, and Norway since 2017. (Note that the Australian Navy also has Maritime Spiritual Wellbeing Officers).
Marie-Claire established virtual connections with her international counterparts as soon as she became a military humanist chaplain. One was with Major-General Hans DeCeuster, Chief Humanist Chaplain of the Belgium Armed Forces, who visited her and Nic Bruzzone, chair of the HC Chaplain committee in Ottawa in December 2022, to share his expertise. His visit was a great encouragement to Marie-Claire, as it was the first time she had met another military humanist chaplain in person.
More recently, on 31 July 2024, Colonel Erwin Kamp, Chief of the Humanist Chaplains of the Dutch Armed Forces, landed in Ottawa. He had organized this trip specifically to pass on the experience and expertise of Dutch humanist chaplains to Marie-Claire and Martin Frith, who is not only the President of Humanist Canada but also sits on the Interfaith Committee on Canadian Military Chaplaincy (ICCMC) as the humanist
representative.
Many meaningful exchanges took place. Marie-Claire and Martin learned more from Col Kamp and about how, 60 years ago, the first five humanist chaplains enrolled in the Dutch Armed Forces. They found out about the early successes and challenges. It was fascinating to hear that our current experience shares remarkable similarities with their experience 60 years ago.
They also learned more about their training program for all humanist chaplains in the Netherlands, which provided invaluable insight to Marie-Claire who is currently also the HC Chaplain Training Coordinator, not only for military humanist chaplains, but for all HC humanist chaplains.
On 1 Aug, the office of the Chaplain General (OCG) of the Canadian Armed Forces welcomed Col Kamp, Humanist Canada President Martin Frith and ICCMC representative, to exchange and learn more about the lessons learned by Dutch humanist chaplains in 60 years of history.
Of course, Marie-Claire and Martin took Col Kamp around the National Capital area to see the sights. They were joined by LCol Askew as a representative of the OCG, who graciously took them to visit the Diefenbunker and Mādahòkì Farm.
One of the highlights of the visit was the Humanist Canada members’ gathering on 1 Aug at the Brasserie Metropolitain in Ottawa. Over 30 HC members gathered, along with Wendy Sewell, Assistance Defence Attaché from the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, for some social time and to greet Col Kamp among us. It was a fun time with plenty of laughter, connection, and acknowledgement of the 60 year anniversary of the military humanist chaplaincy in the Netherlands.
As a thank you, Col Kamp gifted Humanist Canada with the symbol of Humanist Military Chaplains in the Netherlands. Because they were founded before the international symbol of humanist chaplains was created, this is the symbol they chose at the time. The star and the flower symbolize that humanists find meaning between heaven and earth.
When it came time to part ways, it was an emotional moment. From a Dutch military humanist chaplain perspective, this trip was an opportunity to look back at its origins, remembering the challenges and joys of the genesis, and how far they have come. From a Canadian military humanist chaplain perspective, it was looking to a future where humanist chaplains have a place with other spiritual/faith traditions in providing chaplain services to those who wish to access it.
“I hope for close cooperation in the future, shares Col Kamp, so that we can work together to further professionalize humanist chaplaincy in the Armed Forces.”
Humanist Canada is extremely grateful to Col Kamp and the Dutch humanist military chaplaincy for a formal visit that provided Humanist Canada with insights that will help guide and inspire the journey of the HC chaplaincy program for years to come.