The Orthodox Mission in the Americas

The Orthodox Mission in the Americas recognizes chaplaincy as a serious and sacred ministry of pastoral presence, spiritual counsel, sacramental care, and faithful witness in settings beyond the ordinary parish life of the Church. Chaplains are called to bring the ministry of Christ and His Church into places of particular need, including hospitals, hospices, correctional institutions, law enforcement settings, military contexts, educational institutions, and other public or institutional environments where souls require pastoral care.

Because chaplaincy involves both ecclesial trust and public responsibility, the OMIA does not regard this work lightly. A chaplain must be a man of sound doctrine, disciplined life, pastoral maturity, and good judgment, capable of representing the Church with dignity, clarity, and charity in complex and often demanding circumstances.

Chaplaincy is not merely an honorary title, nor is it simply an extension of private ministry into public settings. It is a recognized pastoral office requiring spiritual sobriety, emotional steadiness, discretion, and fidelity to the doctrine and moral teaching of the Church. A chaplain must be able to minister with compassion without compromise, to speak truth without harshness, and to serve persons in distress without surrendering the integrity of the Orthodox Faith.

For this reason, the OMIA seeks chaplains who understand that this ministry requires both a shepherd’s heart and a disciplined ecclesial mind.

Inquiries regarding chaplaincy may be received from:

• Clergy of the OMIA seeking appointment to chaplaincy ministry 
• Clergy from outside the jurisdiction who are also seeking incardination or canonical affiliation 
• Qualified candidates preparing for service in institutional or specialized pastoral settings 
• Men with prior chaplaincy experience seeking to serve under the omophorion of the OMIA 

Ordinarily, chaplaincy within the OMIA is reserved to clergy in good standing who have demonstrated doctrinal faithfulness, moral integrity, pastoral stability, and obedience to lawful ecclesiastical authority.

Those seeking to serve as chaplains with the OMIA should be prepared to demonstrate:

• Fidelity to Holy Scripture, Holy Tradition, and the moral teaching of the Orthodox Church 
• A life of prayer, sacramental seriousness, and personal discipline 
• Emotional maturity, prudence, and discretion 
• The ability to minister compassionately in difficult and sensitive circumstances 
• Willingness to work under episcopal oversight and jurisdictional accountability 
• Fitness for service in institutional environments, including professional conduct and appropriate boundaries 

Additional qualifications may be required depending upon the nature of the chaplaincy setting, including prior ministry experience, endorsement requirements, training standards, background checks, or compliance with the expectations of the institution in which the chaplain will serve.

The path toward chaplaincy with the OMIA ordinarily includes the following:

Initial Inquiry
The first step is a written inquiry expressing the nature of the chaplaincy interest, the setting in which one seeks to serve, and the applicant’s present ecclesial and ministerial status.

Review of Ecclesial Standing
The applicant’s canonical standing, ministerial history, doctrinal commitments, and moral character will be reviewed.

Pastoral and Ministerial Evaluation
The bishop or his delegates may conduct interviews and request supporting documentation in order to assess the applicant’s pastoral maturity, fitness for chaplaincy, and readiness for public ministry.

Training and Preparation
Where necessary, the applicant may be asked to complete further preparation, mentoring, institutional training, or practical formation relevant to the particular chaplaincy setting.

Appointment or Endorsement
If approved, the applicant may be formally appointed or endorsed for chaplaincy ministry under the authority of the OMIA, subject to the requirements of the Church and any applicable institution.

The OMIA seeks chaplains who will represent the Church honorably and serve faithfully under ecclesiastical authority. For that reason:

• Chaplaincy is not granted merely upon request 
• Appointment is based upon discernment, fitness, and the needs of the Church 
• All chaplains serve under the oversight of the bishop and remain accountable to the discipline of the jurisdiction 
• Public ministry must always be exercised in a manner worthy of the Gospel and consistent with Orthodox doctrine and morals 

Those who believe they may be called to chaplaincy ministry with the Orthodox Mission in the Americas are invited to begin the conversation through a formal inquiry.

Please include the following in your initial correspondence:

• Full name 
• Present clerical or ecclesial status 
• City and state 
• Type of chaplaincy being pursued 
• Summary of ministerial background 
• Relevant experience or credentials 
• Contact information 

Email: morabdiel@outlook.com
Subject Line Suggestion: Chaplaincy Inquiry

All inquiries will be received with seriousness, discretion, and pastoral care.