Armed Forces and Federal Ministries
3101 Wisconsin Ave NW
Washington, DC 20016
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.
The Listening Post
“The Listening Post” is a podcast hosted by the Rt. Rev. Ann Ritonia, suffragan bishop for Armed Forces and Federal Ministries for The Episcopal Church.
AFFM News
- Walking Through GriefDescription:Grief touches every life—and every ministry. In this conversation, Bishop Ann Ritonia and the Rev. Janine Driscoll, who holds a doctorate in counseling psychology, reflect on how loss shapes the human spirit, from the battlefield to the bedside. They unpack the difference between healthy grief and complicated grief, and explore how ritual, memory, and faith can lead us toward… Read more: Walking Through Grief
- Facing Suicidal IdeationDescription:Suicidal thoughts can emerge where pain, isolation, and moral injury meet. Bishop Ann Ritonia and the Rev. Janine Driscoll, who holds a doctorate in counseling psychology, discuss how chaplains and caregivers can respond to those in deep distress—with courage, compassion, and clarity. Together they explore risk factors, the power of connection, and how honesty and accompaniment can help bring… Read more: Facing Suicidal Ideation
- Understanding AnxietyDescription:Anxiety is part of the air we breathe—especially for those serving others in high-stress environments. In this opening conversation, Bishop Ann Ritonia and the Rev. Janine Driscoll, who holds a doctorate in counseling psychology, explore the spiritual and psychological dimensions of anxiety: how our images of God shape our fears, how anxiety manifests in the body, and how simple… Read more: Understanding Anxiety