Jonathan Butler’s journey from social studies teacher to bioethics instructor, and Army Chaplain, began long before he even came to seminary. The Lord tends to equip us little by little as we seek after him with hearts of obedience. This is something that Butler, a former graduate of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, knows well. It was in 2003 that he decided to step into vocational ministry and enrolled in the Master of Divinity program at TEDS.
Butler admits he wasn’t sure what he was getting himself into when he started the MDiv. “It was a challenge,” he says. “I think the MDiv prepared me in a lot of ways for difficult things that are just part of ministry. I gained some wisdom through it.”
Butler fondly remembers his time in the MDiv program at Trinity. The school’s focus on Scripture and the counseling classes he took prepared him well for his ministry. He was also part of a local church, Edgewater Baptist, which has ties to TEDS. His congregation had been praying for him for years. He believes that having connections in both the academic and church communities is ideal.
In discussing his role as a military chaplain, Butler highlighted the diverse set of pastoral skills required. “Chaplaincy involves a lot of pastoral skills,” he said. “You’re not just joining the military and wearing the uniform, you’re serving alongside servicemen and women. This role involves counseling, preaching, and teaching. Moreover, being part of the military institution means interacting with people from different faith backgrounds.” The MDiv program at TEDS equipped him for this pastoral role and also prepared him to share his faith with those who weren’t believers.
Although Butler felt well-prepared for his ministry as an army chaplain, his journey led him back to TEDS more than a decade later. His role as a chaplain presented him with a variety of opportunities, one of which was to become a bioethics instructor for the army. When it came to choosing a school for the necessary qualifications, Butler once again chose TEDS.
Butler recalls one faculty member in particular who remembered him upon his return. “I was glad to see my former church history professor, Dr. Manetsch. What an encouragement it was when he prayed for me as I was beginning another program at TEDS over a decade later!”
Even though he wouldn’t have him for any classes this second time around, it demonstrated the impact faithful leaders can have on someone’s life, even in just one office visit.
Butler returned to TEDS not only for its excellent academic study but also for the community that had nurtured his faith a decade later. He describes the campus as more of a family environment than anything else.
While working toward his Masters of Arts in Bioethics, Butler came to understand the crucial role of bioethics. “Bioethics is important to me because it is important to all of us. Matters of life and death apply to everyone,” he said. Upon graduation, he reflected on the significant impact the program had on his current profession and worldview.
Others would benefit from this program if they are faced with questions of faith and medicine, science, and technology. I think that’s all of us. As Christians, we are called to watch out for the ‘least of these’ (Matthew 25:40).
Jonathan, now a bioethics instructor, contemplates faith and medicine on a daily basis. “My hope is that I can make connections with all kinds of people and bring honor to the name of Christ.”
Currently, he is utilizing both of his degrees in his role, which combines chaplain ministry with an emphasis on teaching bioethics. His journey from a social studies teacher to an army chaplain, and finally to a bioethics instructor, is a testament to God’s guidance. Each step of the way, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School played a crucial role in equipping him for ministry. Who could have foreseen such a path? Yet, it is clear that the Lord guided him through it all. Butler concludes, “Now here I am years later, and I’m able to see how God’s prepared me.”
Jonathan Butler has been an Army Chaplain since 2009 and has been deployed to Iraq, Kuwait, and Afghanistan.
The views presented are those of the Interviewee and do not necessarily represent the views of the DoD or the Army.