Spiritual and Existential Care in the Belgian Military – Reform, Research, and Spiritual Fitness
| Friday, May 22, 2026 |
| 12:07 PM - 12:08 PM |
Speaker
Lieutenant, Phd Candidate Pawel Cecha
Researcher
Belgian Defence, Royal Military Academy In Brussels, Uclouvain
Spiritual and Existential Care in the Belgian Military – Reform, Research, and Spiritual Fitness
Abstract Document
Poster Abstract
This paper explores spiritual and existential care in the Belgian military through three complementary perspectives.
First, it outlines the historical background, tracing the establishment of Belgian military chaplaincies in 1927, their recognition following the First World War, and their subsequent evolution. Special attention is given to the inclusion of moral counsellors in 1991, reflecting both societal pluralism and the shift toward professionalized, multidisciplinary well-being support within Defence.
Second, it examines the ongoing reform process launched in 2019. This reform seeks to harmonize the status of all convictional chaplaincies, strengthen interdenominational and interprofessional collaboration, and improve interoperability with other well-being services. It safeguards freedom of belief and institutional neutrality while reinforcing the integration of chaplains into Defence structures as both proximity caregivers and expert advisers.
Third, it presents the SpExCare I Project, initiated in October 2024 at the Royal Military Academy. This three-year research initiative aims to develop a Belgian-specific model of spiritual fitness, combining literature review, interviews, and survey analysis. The project investigates individual, relational, and organizational dimensions of spiritual resilience, with the objective of producing assessment tools, educational resources, and practices tailored to the Belgian military context.
Taken together, these perspectives demonstrate how Belgium is positioning itself at the forefront of integrating spiritual and existential care into contemporary military health and resilience frameworks, both nationally and within NATO.
First, it outlines the historical background, tracing the establishment of Belgian military chaplaincies in 1927, their recognition following the First World War, and their subsequent evolution. Special attention is given to the inclusion of moral counsellors in 1991, reflecting both societal pluralism and the shift toward professionalized, multidisciplinary well-being support within Defence.
Second, it examines the ongoing reform process launched in 2019. This reform seeks to harmonize the status of all convictional chaplaincies, strengthen interdenominational and interprofessional collaboration, and improve interoperability with other well-being services. It safeguards freedom of belief and institutional neutrality while reinforcing the integration of chaplains into Defence structures as both proximity caregivers and expert advisers.
Third, it presents the SpExCare I Project, initiated in October 2024 at the Royal Military Academy. This three-year research initiative aims to develop a Belgian-specific model of spiritual fitness, combining literature review, interviews, and survey analysis. The project investigates individual, relational, and organizational dimensions of spiritual resilience, with the objective of producing assessment tools, educational resources, and practices tailored to the Belgian military context.
Taken together, these perspectives demonstrate how Belgium is positioning itself at the forefront of integrating spiritual and existential care into contemporary military health and resilience frameworks, both nationally and within NATO.
Biography
Graduated from the Orthodox Theological Seminary and University in Fribourg, Switzerland, with a Master's degree in inter-Christian studies specializing in neuroscience of religion and bioethics. Since 2014, ordained as an Orthodox priest, actively serving in his parish in Brussels. Serving as a reserve officer in the medical component of the Belgian Defense, holding a researcher position within the Total Force Fitness Department. Currently pursuing a Ph.D. studies in Religious Sciences at the Catholic University of Louvain-la-Neuve in Belgium, focusing on the historical and sociological reconstruction of Belgian military chaplaincies. Supplementing the academic journey, garnered experience in the private sector business arena. Appointed as a principal advisor in the Representation of the Ecumenical Patriarchate to European Institutions. He speaks French, English, Polish, Russian and Ukrainian.
