Developing Preaching Cohorts for the United States Navy Chaplain Corps

Submitted by:
Milo Curtis 

A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of
requirements for the degree of Master of Theology in the
Divinity School of Duke University

August 1, 2025

Abstract

 This thesis examines the development of preaching cohorts within the United States Navy Chaplain Corps. Chaplains provide divine services in accordance with the practices and beliefs of their religious organization. Although faithful preaching is a central aspect of many traditions, the Navy does not offer a formal program to develop this essential skill. This thesis identifies hierarchy, ecumenical diversity, and the transient nature of military service as principal challenges to cohort formation. To address these challenges, this study employs the Sinai covenant as a model for building the culture of the cohort and utilizes five key movements from the Exodus narrative to guide an inquiry-based feedback model. The thesis culminates in a detailed outline of eighteen cohort sessions, each structured according to Bloom’s Taxonomy, with the goal of advancing faithful and contextually relevant preaching across the Chaplain Corps. This model offers a replicable approach to vocational formation and preaching renewal in military ministry.