wfn.org | ABCUSA: POTTER NAMED AIR FORCE CHIEF OF CHAPLAIN SERVICE

[RICH.SCHRAMM@ecunet.org]

AMERICAN BAPTIST NEWS SERVICE 
Office of Communication  
American Baptist Churches USA 
P.O. Box 851, Valley Forge, PA 19482-0851 
Phone: (610)768-2077 / Fax: (610)768-2320 
Web: www.abc-usa.org
Richard W. Schramm, Director 
 E-mail: richard.schramm@abc-usa.org

LORRAINE POTTER NAMED AIR FORCE CHIEF OF 
CHAPLAIN SERVICE
by Laura Alden, American Baptist National Ministries
 Chaplain (Brigadier General) Lorraine K. Potter, an 
American Baptist-endorsed chaplain originally from 
Warwick, R.I., has been named U.S. Air Force Chief of 
Chaplain Service. The first woman chaplain to achieve the 
rank of general officer in any of the armed services, Potter 
assumed the position on April 6.  On May 24, 2001, she 
was confirmed by the U.S. Senate for promotion to Major 
General.
 Potter is the featured speaker at the American 
Baptist Chaplains and Pastoral Counselors Luncheon on 
June 21, an invitational event held prior to the American 
Baptist Biennial Meeting in Providence, R.I.
 As the Chief of Chaplain Service Potter advises the 
Air Force chief of staff on all matters pertaining to the 
religious and moral welfare of those in the Air Force and is 
responsible for establishing a program that meets the 
spiritual needs of its members.  She also leads the Air 
Force Chaplain Service, which comprises approximately 
2,200 chaplains and enlisted support persons from the 
active and air reserve components.
        Chaplain Potter is not unused to "firsts" in her 
ministry.  In 1971 she was the first woman ordained by 
American Baptists in Rhode Island.  She was the first 
woman chaplain in the Air Force.  In 1992, when she was 
promoted to colonel, Potter became the first woman 
chaplain in the Department of Defense to achieve that 
rank.
 Potter notes that while she realizes she has 
broken new ground in ministry, "there was nothing 
pioneering about being a woman in ministry.  My mother 
is a lay minister with the American Baptist Churches; she'd 
been doing ministry since she was 18 years old."
 Since her commissioning in 1973 Potter has 
served at every installation and command level within the 
Department of Defense-wing, major command, 
headquarters USAF and secretary of defense.  She has 
served in the U.S. as well as overseas; from 1997-1999 
she was Command Chaplain, United States Air Force in 
Europe.  During this time the U.S. military engaged in 
peacekeeping efforts in Bosnia as well as relief and rescue 
work among refugees and non-combatants from Africa.
 Potter says she looks forward to the challenge of 
leading the Air Force Chaplain Service as it continues to 
complete its mission of providing Air Force people and 
their families the opportunity to exercise their 
constitutional right to freedom of religion.  Her expressed 
goal is to provide high-quality ministry anytime, anyplace.  
"I am proud to be part of this diverse, pluralistic, 
multicultural, multi-ethnic ministry," she says.  "My call is 
to be a 'fellow traveler' with those challenged by the 
frailties and struggles of life-offering hope and the 
presence of God."   
 In addition to numerous military service awards 
Potter has been recognized by American Baptists.  In 1983 
she received the American Baptist Outstanding Military 
Chaplain Award.  She also has been honored by the 
American Baptist-related schools she attended, with an 
Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Keuka College, 
Keuka Park, N.Y, in 1984 and the 1999 Outstanding 
Alumnae of the Year from Colgate Rochester Divinity 
School, Rochester, N.Y.
 More than 600 American Baptist-endorsed 
chaplains and pastoral counselors serve as National 
Ministries missionaries in the U.S. and around the world.  
Dr. George Langhorne, who directs the Chaplaincy and 
Pastoral Counseling Services office for National 
Ministries/The American Baptist Home Mission Societies, 
expressed the denomination's well wishes and continued 
support to Potter in her ongoing ministry: "Chaplain Potter 
is a deeply spiritual and exemplary chaplain who brings 
great credit upon herself, her family, the Air Force and 
American Baptist Churches USA.  We pray for God's 
blessing on her new ministry."
       For more information about American Baptist 
chaplains and pastoral counselors visit 
www.nationalministries.org.

MEDIA NOTE: Chaplain Potter will be in Providence, R.I., 
on June 21 and is available for interviews in the morning.  
Local media with a press pass may attend the luncheon event 
at noon at the Rhode Island Convention Center, Room 553. 

WFN0531A

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