LCC Military Chaplains: Who They Are and Where They Serve

CANADA – Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC)’s involvement in military chaplaincy continues to grow through its pastors who serve the men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). They are the boots on the ground in terms of mission and ministry for our soldiers, sailors, airmen, and their families. They serve alongside our troops at various bases across Canada and are often deployed to bases around the world.

While relatively small in number compared to the total number of chaplains in the CAF, Lutheran chaplains are by no means insignificant in terms of the positive impact they have on CAF personnel and their families. 

“They may be few in number, but they are recognized as punching well above their weight,” says Rev. Donald Schiemann, LCC’s Dean of Military Chaplains. “They provide a valuable service to the men and women of our Canadian Armed Forces.”

LCC has a total of nine Regular Force chaplains and six Reserve Force chaplains. While this report highlights a selection of their work across the nation and around the world, it does not include updates from every chaplain currently serving. In addition to LCC chaplains, this report features two pastors serving as chaplains of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, working alongside their LCC counterparts here in Canada.

Maj. Rev. Gerson Flor

Canadian Element North American Aerospace Defense Command (CANELEMNORAD)

Peterson Space Force Base

Colorado Springs, CO, USA

Padre Flor continues to serve as Senior Lutheran Chaplain to the Canadian Armed Forces. In August 2024, he started in a new position with the Canadian Element in NORAD in Colorado Springs, where he supports over 300 military families spread across nine American states and Greenland. 

Flor has regularly supported congregations of LCC’s partner churches in Belgium and in Colorado. In July 2024, his wife Guislei received the Formation Europe Commander’s commendation for her contributions to the Canadian Community in Mons, Belgium. The Flors celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary in July 2025 and are expected to remain at their current posting until August 2027.

LCdr Rev. David N. Jackson, CD

Senior Fleet Chaplain, Canadian Fleet Atlantic / Royal Canadian Navy

Canadian Armed Forces

Halifax, NS

Padre Jackson serves as the Senior Fleet Chaplain, Canadian Fleet Atlantic. In this role, he supervises Fleet Chaplains in His Majesty’s Canadian Dockyard Halifax and ensures chaplains deploy in His Majesty’s Canadian Ships (HMCS) on operations and exercises at sea. He also serves as an advisor to the Fleet Commander, Canadian Fleet Atlantic. Jackson is also currently fulfilling the responsibilities of Senior Base Chaplain as a secondary duty, overseeing the Base Chaplains in Halifax in the absence of a permanent appointee. 

In November 2024, he deployed to Nicosia, Cyprus, for one week as part of a military ceremonial contingent supporting a Veterans Affairs pilgrimage, participating in remembrance ceremonies marking the 60th anniversary of Canadian UN Peacekeeping in Cyprus. In February 2025, Jackson deployed to South America to join HMCS Margaret Brooke for a leg of her sail on Operation Projection from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to Montevideo, Uruguay. 

He also continues to serve locally as the Vacancy Pastor for St. Andrew’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Halifax.

Capt. Rev. David Gallas, CD

Mental Health Chaplain, Canadian Forces Health Services Atlantic

Canadian Armed Forces

Halifax, NS

Padre David Gallas serves as the Mental Health Chaplain at the military medical clinic in Halifax, providing spiritual and psychotherapeutic care to military members. Working alongside social workers, mental health nurses, psychologists, and psychiatrists, he counsels military members struggling with guilt, shame, grief, and fear. Gallas received his therapeutic credentials from the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario. In addition to his mental health chaplaincy work, he assists Padre Jackson at St. Andrew’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Halifax.

Capt. Rev. Chad Miller

Chaplain, 408 Tactical Helicopter Squadron

Canadian Armed Forces

Edmonton, AB

Joining the Canadian Armed Forces in 2004, Padre Miller transferred from the Air Combat Systems Officer (ACSO) trade to the military chaplaincy in 2018 via the Subsidized Education for Entry Level Masters program (SEELM), a program which subsidizes the prerequisites for serving as a chaplain (i.e. seminary education and two years parish experience). In July 2024, Miller was posted to Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Edmonton and completed chaplain training from September 2024 to May 2025. He currently serves as unit chaplain to 408 Tactical Helicopter Squadron, as well as to a number of other units located at CFB Edmonton.

Capt. Rev. Vincent Moore

Chaplain, 41 Signal Regiment

Canadian Armed Forces

Edmonton, AB

Padre Moore is in the process of completing his Chaplain Basic Qualification Course, anticipating completion in 2026. As members of 41 Signals Regiment have become more familiar with him, he has been increasingly able to provide chaplaincy support to personnel in Edmonton, Red Deer, and Calgary. This work has been both fruitful and deeply rewarding.

Maj. Rev. Vic Morris

Chaplain, 2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group (2CMBG)

Canadian Armed Forces

Petawawa, ON

Padre Vic Morris leads the chaplain team for 2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group (2 CMBG) in Petawawa, Ontario. 2 CMBG is composed of several combat units that train and operate together as a battle group. This year, the brigade focused on training and readiness in preparation for deployment on Operation Reassurance from June to December.

Morris deployed with the team to Latvia, where he leads the chaplain team as part of Canada’s commitment to North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

In 2025, Morris received his Doctorate of Ministry from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis.

Capt. Rev. Sean Smallwood,

Base Chaplain, Canadian Forces Base Suffield

Canadian Armed Forces

Suffield, AB

Padre Sean Smallwood is posted to CFB Suffield, where he currently serves as the Base Chaplain, serving troops from the Canadian Armed Forces and the British Army Training Unit. In 2024, he supported primary reservist recruit training for units based in Calgary and Edmonton and served as an interim instructor for chaplains on their final training phase at the Canadian Forces Chaplain School and Centre at CFB Borden, Ontario. This March he was temporarily deployed to Joint Task Force North in Yellowknife to support operations, and will be posted to CFB Edmonton in August.

Maj. Sye Van Maanen, CD

Deputy Division Chaplain, 3rd Canadian Division Headquarters / Joint Task Force West Headquarters

Canadian Armed Forces

The three Brigades under the supervision of Deputy Chaplain Operations (DChap Ops) in 3rd Canadian Division are: 38 Canadian Brigade Group (Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Northwestern Ontario); 41 Canadian Brigade Group (Alberta and the Northwest Territories); 39 Canadian Brigade Group (British Columbia).

Padre Van Maanen plays a key role in ensuring that chaplains across these brigades receive the training, resources, information, and supervision they need to care for those within their Area of Responsibility. The essential role of chaplains is continually affirmed by their utilization within units and commands.

In addition to supervision, Van Maanen remains focused on recruitment and retention—an increasingly urgent task as the CAF continues to face a deficit in trained chaplains. He is often called upon to help cover units and support Basic Military Qualification courses.

Lt(N) Rev. Erik Trovall

Chaplain, HMCS Malahat, Victoria, BC

and Saanich Peninsula Legion Branch #37, Sidney, BC

In August 2024, Padre Trovall completed his Chaplain Basic Qualification Course and currently serves as Unit Chaplain aboard HMCS Malahat in Victoria, BC, as well as with Saanich Peninsula Legion Branch #37 in Sidney, BC. Over the past two years, Trovall has facilitated Sentinel training courses—including initial, refresher, and ongoing support—presided at unit weddings and baptisms, officiated Remembrance Day ceremonies, and provided chaplaincy support for the local legion branch on the Saanich Peninsula. He also continues his full-time ministry at Peace Lutheran Church in Sidney, BC.

Maj. Rev. Phillip Washeim

Brigade Chaplain 39 Canadian Brigade Group (CBG)

Canadian Armed Forces

Victoria, BC

Padre Washeim recently joined the 39 Canadian Brigade Group (CBG), a Reserve unit based in Vancouver, as Brigade chaplain in July of 2025, after having served as the Senior Primary Reserve Chaplain – Royal Canadian Air Force for over two years. He is returning to the Army to oversee the chaplains of the 39 CBG and looks forward to further service in the Canadian Armed Forces. As a parish pastor, he expresses thanks for the willingness of the people of Redeemer Lutheran Church in allowing him to serve in this manner.

Capt. Rev. Gregory Lutz

Chaplain,

17 Wing Winnipeg

Canadian Armed Forces

Denwood, Alberta

Padre Lutz was posted to Winnipeg in the summer of 2024. He serves the 17 Wing pilots and air crew, quite often flying in military planes ministering to the air crew. Lutz is currently serving as Acting Wing Chaplain for 17 Wing Winnipeg and is posted to CFB Wainwright for the summer of 2025 in order to help train new soldiers as they prepare for deployment.

Capt. Rev. Dr. Dusan Tillinger

Chaplain, CFB Borden

Canadian Armed Forces

Borden, ON

Padre Tillinger joined the CAF in 2017 as Windsor Regiment Chaplain where he participated in a blessing of guidon—a special unit flag—and EX CAMP WORTHY in Petawawa. He received an appointment to become the Training Brigade Lead Chaplain (an Extra-Regimentally Employed Appointment) in 2024. As the Windsor Regiment Chaplain, he also participated on many changes of command. He also practiced ministry of availability and presence there. In November 2024, Padre Tillinger started his Reserve Employment Opportunity (REO) as a chaplain at CFB Borden. Currently he takes care of Basic Military Qualification students, Canadian Forces Recruiting Group, and Transition Group. From September 2025 he is also appointed to lead a Protestant Chapel in Canadian Base Borden.

Lutheran Church–Canada is grateful to God for providing faithful chaplains to serve the men and women of our Canadian Armed Forces. Learn more about our Canadian Armed Forces Chaplaincy.

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