AMERICAN ORTHODOX CATHOLIC CHURCH (AOCC)

Established October 23, 1970

Feast of St. John of Capistrano

Fifty-Five Years of Chaplain Ministry

P.O. Box 7323, Knoxville, TN 37921

_____________________________

Bishop V. P. Travis, Jr. – Endorser

bretttravis@comcast.net

Phone: 865-661-1418

Overview

The Ordinariate of the Armed Forces and Chaplaincy (OAFC) is the central unifying endorsing agency for the AOCC. This document outlines the process and procedures for ecclesiastical endorsement for ministries in all six branches of the military and the VA / DOD civilian chaplaincy, specifically, pastoral counseling, and clinical education, by which the AOCC affirms and recognizes individuals who attain the necessary levels of theological and ministerial competence. It sets forth criteria for the extension of calls and appointments to ministries in chaplaincy, pastoral counseling, and clinical education, hereafter referred to as the Ordinariate of the Armed Forces and Chaplaincy (OAFC). Additionally, it presents guidelines for American Orthodox Catholic Church Ordinariate of the Armed Forces and Chaplaincy (OAFC) programs in affiliated or recognized social ministry organizations.

Note: We also provide career guidance for AOCC members wishing to enlist into the military as Religious Affairs Specialist, formerly called, Chaplain assistants MOS-(56M) and all other branches of the military.

As the Patriarch of the American Orthodox Catholic Church of North America (AOCC), it is my pleasure to welcome you to the website of the Ordinariate of the Armed Forces and Chaplaincy. This is an initiative designed to share with you something of a unique specialized ministry of our beloved Communion. The Ordinariate is a diocese composed of all the AOCC Chaplains serving in the United States Military, all the civilian chaplains serving the VA / DOD / BOP / Homeland Security and many other civilian chaplaincies and their families. The Ordinariate has one appointed Archbishop and one associate endorser, who oversees the OAFC specialized chaplaincy ministries pastoral care of chaplains, recruiting, episcopal visits to military bases, civilian agencies, confirmations, retreats, administration of accessioning of priests and endorsements.

I have a passion to serve our American military and families, and to provide the best qualified Orthodox chaplains to provide religious support to our Nation. I served in the US Army in Vietnam as a radio operator for the harbormaster. I have seen a lot of combat operations, and I have suffered with many a Soldier dealing with combat stress. I have also served as a priest, chaplain and bishop in my community over 36 years. God has called me to establish a global presence of ministry by a continuing support to provide Orthodox chaplains into every branch of the military. In short, we are here to support our Orthodox Soldiers, Airman, Seaman, Marines, Space Force, Coast Guard and DoD personnel. We understand the broader scope of Orthodox chaplains serving in uniform. We open our arms to every baptized believer at the Eucharist and the many who wish to come. We turn no one away as Christ himself never turned not one person away but drew them into His care.

We support six branches of the military: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Space Command, and Coast Guard. We also host all the Reserve and National Guard branches of the military. All our chaplains complete an Association of Theological Schools (ATS) training and are confirmed members of the local parish endorsed by the AOCC Chaplaincy Board to serve beyond the local parish as a specialized ministry to our military forces. The AOCC military chaplaincy program and mission is to take the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to every Soldier, Sailor, Marine, Airman, Space Force and Coast Guard, National Guard and Reserve personnel and AOCC families.

AOCC chaplains have been ministering since we intentionally established our presence on Friday, October 23d, 1970. For over fifty-five years, we have faithfully served and will continue to provide ministry to the military in years to come. Our new endorsing bishop is Chaplain (LTC) Brett Travis. I have known Bishop Travis for over thirty-years, we came up through the priesthood together. I consecrated and appointed him bishop on December 6th, 2024. He was appointed the Ordinariate of the Armed Forces and Chaplaincy and also the Diocese of Knoxville and Region of Southern Appalachia.

I have served on endorser staffs since 2007 and served in the military for thirty-seven years. Enlisted, 1971, on active-duty US Air Force during the Vietnam War. Upon my discharge, entered Kentucky Army National Guard, I attended University of Kentucky ROTC, graduated top 5% of my class and became a 2LT in U.S. Army Medical Service CORPS 1977. After active-duty assignments at Brook AMC, Texas and Ireland Army Hospital, Ft. Knox, Kentucky, I joined the Kentucky ARNG to complete my seminary degree, became chaplain, then entered active duty as an U.S. Army chaplain from 1989-2008. I served 22 years on active duty and served at the highest levels of military leadership as USCENTCOM /USSOCCENT Command Chaplain (Forward) 2001-2002 down range and understand the stress and strain military men and women experience from having deployed into combat.

My civilian pastoral experience includes serving as Southern Baptist pastor in Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Louisiana, Hawaii. Then as priest in Maryland, Alabama, Florida, Germany, Belgium, Tacoma, Washington and North Carolina. My highest military awards include Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, and Meritorious Service Medal (5-OLC). Order of St. Barbara, Order of Silver Spur, The Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels, Tennessee State Chaplain of Sons of the American Revolution.

I am a member of the National Conference to the Military of the Armed Forces (NCMAF-2023) and Endorser for AOCC Chaplains Dec 6th, 2024 (OAFC). The appointed Bishop’s role and staff comes through having served in the armed forces and civilian chaplaincy understanding the language, culture assignments and serving in times of war to better relate to those serving in military uniform today. The 20th and 21st century chaplaincy has seen more long-term wars and combat than any other century which requires a chaplain to understand chaplaincy trauma, traumatic Brain Injuries and post-traumatic stress in military personnel and their families.

The AOCC Ordinariate is designed by its nature to minister to our military and VA / DOD civilian personnel in times of daily ministerial stress and national crises. We have developed both an experienced and volunteer staff to assist the appointed Bishop to handle all contingencies domestic and abroad. A staff is trained and ready to assist our chaplains in times of emergency at home and in cases of emergencies regarding natural disasters from flood and ice storms, search and rescue, and humanitarian aid overseas. Our military men and women spend months to years on deployments and assignments leaving behind their family members who make considerable sacrifices, including risk and separation from loved ones, to do the things that our Nation asks them to do. Military spouses are a vital element in sustaining the forces down range. I am proud that by God’s grace and often in the-midst-of turmoil we can witness to the presence of our Lord who even in darkness brings peace such as the world cannot give. May he continue “to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

I am proud of our chaplains. We presently have chaplains serving in the military National Guard, Reserve components and chaplains serving in prison, hospitals and homeland security. We actively recruit potential men seeking to minister to those in uniform and try our best to work with seminaries discerning the call to military ministry as well. We also support women in roles of commissioned ministry and in un-ordained roles as chaplains, Christian counselors, women’s ministries, etc. Please contact us for further information.

Our chaplains come from all over these United States and from our six regional areas in the U.S. We are also grateful to parishes that allow their clergy to take time for duties to serve in the Reserve and National Guard gaining valuable ministerial experience as part of their parish ministry. They learn how to relate to the many different cultures, multi-ethnic people groups and other denominational chaplains getting a well-rounded ecumenical education. Once they have served their time in the military chaplaincy, they are ready to serve in a local AOCC parish as a vicar, rector, church planter, or other leadership position. I bid your prayers for them always and for the chaplains of all denominations and faiths serving in the Chaplaincy as well as our own.

We have many other areas of chaplaincy ministry as stated above and are always willing to speak to those interested in serving God in those areas outside the local parish. One must be a member of a local AOCC parish to begin the process of entering the mission field as a chaplain.

I am grateful for the time you have spent reading about our chaplaincy programs. We thank you for visiting this window into our life and ministry. Many ask how they can become priests and serve in our military or other chaplaincy specialties. I pray you will contact us here at our offices in Knoxville, Tennessee. I am eager to speak with you about what God is doing in your life. To quote the Collect for the Feast of All Saints, “we are knit together into one holy Parish, the mystical Body of Christ.” Come join us!

Father Wayne Lewis is the associate pastor of Emmaus Abbey Church, Knoxville and associate endorser for the OAFC. He holds a master’s degree from Colorado Theological Seminary. He is a retired (E-6) RP1 from the U. S. Navy having spent a total of 26 years of combined military service in the U. S. Navy, U. S. Army, Kentucky Army National Guard and Army Reserves. He is a Marine combat veteran deployed down range Helman Province as a chaplain assistant from 2007-2008.

He is a National Christian Counseling Association (N.C.C.A.) Licensed Clinical Pastoral Counselor in private practice in Knoxville Tennessee. His duties within the OAFC are to help direct the administrative application and assessment process for newly endorsed AOCC chaplains. He was ordained a priest April 22, 2017, in Tullahoma, Tennessee. His duties will be to provide spiritual formation, education & training for deacons and priests and to execute his office in overseeing the administrative duties of the Diocese of Knoxville & Region of Southern Appalachia and Ordinariate of the Armed Forces and Chaplaincy.