Chaplaincy

Description

The Committee for Chaplaincy is responsible i) for endorsing Orthodox Christian chaplains for work with the Armed Services; ii) endorsing Orthodox Christian chaplains for work within institutions; iiI) for working towards a single, unified process of endorsement for military chaplains of all jurisdictions; and iv) for working towards a single, unified process of endorsement for institutional chaplains of all jurisdictions. The Assembly serves as the Endorsing Agent for Military Chaplains of the Albanian Orthodox Diocese of America, the Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Diocese of the USA, Canada and Australia, the American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese of North America, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, the Romanian Orthodox Metropolia of the Americas, and the Serbian Orthodox Church in North, Central and South America. The Assembly serves as the Endorsing Agent for Institutional Chaplains of the Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Diocese of the USA, Canada and Australia, the American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese of North America, and the Romanian Orthodox Metropolia of the Americas.

Membership

Metropolitan Nicholas (GOA) - Chairman
Archbishop Daniel (UOC)

Committee Liaison

Fr. William Bartz, Facilitator

Military Chaplaincy Appointed Council

Fr. William Bartz, Appointed Council Chair and Endorsing Agent
Fr. Frank Miloro, Appointed Council Member (ACROD)
Dn. Andrew Rubis, Appointed Council Member (Albanian)
Fr. Bratso Krsic, Appointed Council Member (SoC)
Fr. Ionel Satnaoianu, Appointed Council Member (Romanian)
Fr. Antonie Poposki, Appointed Council Member (Bulgarian)

Institutional Chaplaincy Appointed Council

Fr. Steven Voytovich, Appointed Council Chair and Endorsing Agent
Fr. William Bartz, Assistant Endorsing Agent
Fr. Edward Pehanich, Appointed Council Member (ACROD)
Fr. Ionel Satnaoianu, Appointed Council Member (Romanian)
Fr. Antonie Poposki, Appointed Council Member (Bulgarian)

Terms of Reference

What is to be accomplished

  • Identify and catalogue all Orthodox Christian Chaplains in the Armed Services of the USA (ongoing)
  • Determine the procedure and the schedule by which the Assembly may assume SCOBA's Endorsing Agency status vis-à-vis the Department of Defense
  • Cultivate the unified process of endorsement by the Assembly for all Orthodox Christian military chaplains of all jurisdictions, consistent not only with Department of Defense regulations, but also with Canonical Orthodox practice and the pastoral competencies necessary for the Chaplains to accomplish their mission
  • Recommend to and obtain from the Assembly the process for endorsement of Orthodox chaplains for work with the Armed Services; implement this process on an ongoing basis
  • Identify and catalogue all Orthodox Christian Institutional Chaplains in the USA
  • Implement the unified process of endorsement by the Assembly for all Orthodox Christian institutional chaplains of all jurisdictions, consistent with Canonical Orthodox practice and the pastoral competencies necessary for the Chaplains to accomplish their mission

How it is to be accomplished

  • Contact all Chancellors of the jurisdictions/presences and obtain information on Military and Institutional Chaplains
  • Identify and contact relevant officials in the Department of Defense in order to ascertain proper procedures
  • Identify and contact relevant officials in the various institutions in order to ascertain proper procedure on an ongoing basis

With whom it is to be accomplished

  • Chancellors and all endorsing agents who have served in that capacity.
  • Current Military Chaplains, some of whom (retired or not) should be included as advisors to the Committee
  • Current Institutional Chaplains, some of whom (retired or not) should be included as advisors to the Committee