Armed Forces and Federal Ministries

The Episcopal Church’s Armed Forces and Federal Ministries provides pastoral care and spiritual support to members of the military and federal agencies. We ensure that Episcopal chaplains are available across the United States Armed Forces, Veterans Administration (VA) medical centers, and federal correctional institutions. We also serve as a crucial bridge between the church and various government entities, facilitating the ministry of Episcopal chaplains in these settings. By endorsing and overseeing chaplains, Armed Forces and Federal Ministries plays a vital role in supporting individuals in service and federal employment, offering them spiritual guidance, counseling, and religious services according to our Episcopal tradition.

Our work is deeply rooted in the church’s commitment to outreach and service. It not only supports the spiritual well-being of individuals in high-stress environments but also ensures that the principles of the Christian faith are accessible to them, regardless of their deployment or station. Through training programs, retreats, and pastoral resources, we work with chaplains to meet the complex needs of those they serve, thereby embodying the church’s mission to nurture and support communities, even in the most challenging circumstances.

Interested in learning more about chaplaincies? Visit our blog, read about the Military Chaplains Just War Education Project, discover the processes for serving, and meet our staff.

AFFM News

• At spring House of Bishops meeting, connection and future church in focusMarch 5, 2024
  Around 125 bishops gathered for The Episcopal Church’s House of Bishops annual spring retreat from Feb. 28 to March 4 at Camp Allen in Navasota, Texas. The Rt. Rev. Wendell Gibbs chaired the meeting while Presiding Bishop Michael Curry continued recuperating at home from recent health procedures.
• Donna Ashley named Episcopal Church canon to the bishop suffragan for Armed Forces and Federal MinistriesDecember 7, 2023
  Donna Ashley has been named the canon to the Episcopal Church bishop suffragan for Armed Forces and Federal Ministries, a member of the presiding bishop’s staff. Ashley served most recently as vice president of advancement at General Theological Seminary in New York City. In this full-time position, Ashley works with the Rt. Rev. Ann Ritonia,… Read more: Donna Ashley named Episcopal Church canon to the bishop suffragan for Armed Forces and Federal Ministries
• A resigned U.S. Marine Corps major, the Rt. Rev. Ann Ritonia is ready for her new deploymentNovember 15, 2023
  On Sept. 30, Ritonia was ordained and consecrated The Episcopal Church’s bishop suffragan for armed forces and federal ministries. The bishop suffragan is a member of the presiding bishop’s staff and is elected by the House of Bishops. Her charge is to recruit, counsel, and advocate for the more than 100 Episcopal chaplains who serve in the… Read more: A resigned U.S. Marine Corps major, the Rt. Rev. Ann Ritonia is ready for her new deployment