Methodist Minister Revd Mike Parker is about to take up the post of Chaplain-General for the British Army.

An army padre for 20 years, he’s clear that to be able to offer pastoral care, spiritual support and moral guidance in that role, serving alongside the military community, is a huge privilege, and a unique opportunity to serve God.

He’s fascinating about the theology of army chaplaincy, and about his own experiences seeing operational service alongside his soldiers in Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan, and what that means to him and to them, particularly at what Mike calls ’the pointy end’…in the most harrowing and intense of situations.