We are thrilled to share news from Canon Donna Ashley (MA ’06), a cherished former staff member at General Seminary and our previous Vice President for Institutional Advancement. Canon Donna has recently taken on the role of Canon to the Suffragan Bishop for the Armed Forces and Federal Ministries, a position where her commitment to pastoral care and Episcopal values will serve those in unique and challenging roles across military and federal sectors.

In September, Donna hosted an informative Zoom meeting with GTS students, sharing her insights into The Episcopal Church’s diverse chaplaincy ministries within the Armed Forces and federal services. Her warm welcome and thoughtful guidance clearly resonated with our students, nearly half of whom attended to explore potential vocations in military or federal chaplaincy.

Canon Donna’s article, Are You Called to Be a Chaplain?, delves into these ministries, explaining how Armed Forces and Federal Ministries work to support, endorse, and guide Episcopal chaplains across branches of the military, VA medical centers, and federal correctional facilities. She highlights The Episcopal Church’s commitment to serving the spiritual needs of those working in high-stress environments, from service members on deployment to individuals in federal institutions.

For any students, alumni, or ordained clergy interested in exploring these remarkable pathways, Canon Donna’s office is eager to help with discernment. She can be reached at dashley@episcopalchurch.org or 347-908-6453 for those looking to learn more about this calling. We invite you to read her full article below and consider whether this meaningful ministry might be calling to you!

ARE YOU CALLED TO BE A CHAPLAIN? The Office of the Armed Forces and Federal Ministries can assist you with discerning a call to chaplaincy.

Are you feeling called to combine your spiritual vocation with service to others in unique and meaningful settings? Whether you’re still in seminary or already ordained, Armed Forces and Federal Ministries of The Episcopal Church offers numerous pathways to become a chaplain across various branches of the military 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.

For those still studying, explore the Chaplain Candidate Programs, where you can begin your journey alongside your theological education. If you’re ordained, opportunities abound in the Air Force, Army, Navy, and Army National Guard, where chaplains provide crucial spiritual support.

Additionally, roles in the Civil Air Patrol Chaplain Corps, Coast Guard Auxiliary Chaplain Support, Department of Veterans Affairs, and Federal Board of Prisons await those ordained persons eager to extend their pastoral care into the community and beyond.

Contact Canon Donna Ashley at dashley@episcopalchurch.org or 347-908-6453