RELIGIOUS MINISTRY FACILITY

One of the most important areas with which you will be concerned is the religious ministry facility (RMF). The RMF, whether afloat or ashore, is the center for worship. As an RP, you should always keep in mind that the RMF is a reflection of the sea service personnel we serve. Built from stones, steel, glass, and wood, the RMF is the heart and cornerstone of the naval community because it is the place where people of all religious, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds can assemble to worship.

An RMF contains areas that are referred to in technical terms that every RP must be able to use and understand. The three primary elements in an RMF are:

1. Worship center

2. Religious education center

3. Administrative office

In the following paragraphs, let take a look at each of these elements.

WORSHIP CENTER

As its name implies, the worship center is a building provided for worship and proclaimed to welcome all people for the free exercise of their religion. Because worship centers are intended to be used by all faith groups, they are designed for multiple uses. Each worship center must be meticulously cared for and made suitable for the active participation of all naval personnel and their families.

A worship center may have several distinct sections: the nave, choir, narthex, aisle, chancel, baptistery, chapel, sanctuary, and sacristy. As an RP dedicated to religious program service, you should be familiar with all of these sections.

Nave

The nave is the main body of the worship center. As the area reserved for the worshipers, the nave consists of the central open space, including the side aisles, that extends to the rear of the facility.

Choir

As its name implies, the choir is the section set aside for a musical choir. Some RMFs make use of a choir loft, either in the sanctuary or at the entrance, in which both the organ and the musical choir perform. Modern architecture will often try to place the choir where it can be seen by the congregation without obstructing the congregation view of the sanctuary.

Narthex

The narthex is the vestibule, or porch, at the entrance of the church. It is separated from the nave by a wall, railing, or screen.

Aisle

The aisle is the architectural division of the worship center on either side of the nave. It can be separated from the worship center by a series of columns or pillars.

Chancel

The chancel is the area of the worship center assigned to the officiating clergy. The chancel includes the area around the altar, and may even include the choir area.

Baptistry

The baptistry is the part of the worship center reserved for the administration of baptism. ^Many baptisteries are located in the front part of the worship center. Depending on the particular faith group practices, the baptistry can be very large, to provide an area for immersion, or very small, to accommodate a small font used for pouring water.

Chapel

The chapel is a small room or area reserved for special purposes, such as the reservation of the Blessed Sacrament, a shrine, or a small place for service.

Sanctuary

Literally, a sanctuary is a holy place. In the RMF, the sanctuary refers to the worship area. Today, the elevated center of liturgical ceremony is placed closer to the worshiping community.

Sacristy

The sacristy, or vestry, is a room or annex of the worship center where finishings for the altar are kept and the ministers vest and prepare themselves. Often located near the altar, the sacristy houses the vesting table, the articles used in the service, and the sacrarium. The sacrarium is a basin or sink equipped with a separate drainpipe that goes directly to the earth for dispsal of water used for sacred purposes, such as the washing of chalices or altar linens.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION CENTER

The religious education (RE) center is the building, or area, where training and development take place. The center may include classrooms, library, common rooms, nursery, kindergarten, kitchen, supplies, and often a great room or community room. The RE center is not just for weekend purposes; it should be routinely available for community involvement projects, command training, secular program development, and an endless variety of civic projects.

ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE

The administrative office is located in the building or area where the day-to-day administrative processing takes place. The administrative office consists of the reception area office of the chaplain(s), counseling area, and other chapel staff offices.