Pastor Barry C. Black, a rear admiral and retiring chief of chaplains of the U.S. Navy, will become the 62nd chaplain of the United States Senate, the upper house of the Congress. It is believed Black’s appointment will become effective after his U.S. Navy retirement on August 15, 2003.

Pastor Black will be the first military chaplain, the first African-American and the first Seventh-day Adventist pastor in the post, which has a two-year term. A graduate of Oakwood College and Andrews University, Black is ending a 27-year Naval career which included three years as chief of chaplains and three years as deputy chief. From 1972 to 1976, he was a circuit-riding pastor and evangelist for 11 Adventist churches in North and South Carolina.

In the Navy, he supervised 1,000 chaplains, as well as pastoral care for Naval members from more than 190 different religious traditions and backgrounds. Black has preached around the world, as well as several times at the Presidential retreat “Camp David” in rural Maryland. He was nominated to that position in April 2000 by then-President Bill Clinton and the then-Secretary of the Navy, Richard Danzig. In March, Black was the speaker for a “Week of Spiritual Emphasis” at the world headquarters of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

“It is a fitting tribute to Chaplain Black as a clergyman and [a] high honor [to] the Seventh-day Adventist Church to have him continue his chaplaincy career as he transitions into this new position,” said Richard Stenbakken, director of Adventist Chaplaincy Ministries.

“Admiral Black has provided spiritual guidance to thousands of servicemen and women during his 25 years of service,” said Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist of Tennessee. “We’re honored he has offered to bring his moral leadership and counsel to the United States Senate.”

Moving to the Senate, Black succeeds Rev. Dr. Lloyd John Ogilvie, former pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Hollywood, California. Another well-known Senate chaplain was Rev. Peter Marshall, about whom a noted motion picture, “A Man Called Peter,” was made.

Along with his Adventist education, Black holds a master of arts degree in counseling from North Carolina Central University, a master of arts in management from Salve Regina University, a doctorate in ministry from East Baptist Seminary, and a doctorate in psychology from the United States International University.

According to the Senate Web site, “in addition to opening the Senate each day in prayer, the current Senate chaplain’s duties include spiritual care and counseling for senators, their families, and their staffs—a combined constituency of over 6,000 people—as well as special Bible study groups, discussion sessions, and prayer meetings, including a weekly Senators’ Prayer Breakfast.” The Senate Chaplain’s office was first established in 1789 when that body held its first meeting in New York.