The Anglican Church in North America is excited to report on the chaplains’ ordination service that took place on Saturday, January 15 at The Falls Church in Falls Church, Va. During the spirit-filled service, three chaplains were ordained as priests, and one was ordained as a transitional deacon. The Rt. Reverend Martyn Minns, Bishop of the Convocation of Anglicans in North America (CANA), a jurisdiction of the Anglican Church in North America, presided over the ordinations.
“This is a joyous occasion for the Anglican Church in North America. We are blessed to bear witness to the Chaplaincies’ continued growth, and we look forward to the way in which Christ will work through our newly ordained chaplains,†said the Most Rev. Robert Duncan, archbishop and primate of the Anglican Church in North America.
One ordinand was Chaplain (Major General) John B. Ellington, Jr., a member of the United States Air Force. Chaplain Ellington oversees chaplains serving in the National Guard (both Army and Air Force), and is one of four two-star flag officers. General Ellington is the most senior chaplain (Major General) in the Department of Defense still serving on active duty.
The Right Reverend Derek L.S. Jones is the Suffragan Bishop for Chaplaincies for the Anglican Church in North America and serves as the Bishop of the Deanery for the Chaplaincy.
“Chaplain Ellington’s movement to the Anglican Church comes after more than 40 years of significant active ministry. Chaplain Ellington is just one of many experienced chaplains who have journeyed on a ‘Canterbury Trail’ to the historic church and Anglican Faith,†said Bishop Jones.
Brice Ullman, chaplain candidate and second lieutenant in the United States Army, was ordained as a transitional deacon. He currently attends Trinity School for Ministry in Ambridge, Pa. The Rev. Steve Lybrand, a hospice chaplain living in Phoenixville, Pa., was ordained as a priest. Also ordained to the priesthood was Chaplain Charles Woods, a highly regarded and experienced chaplain and colonel with the United States Air Force serving with the National Guard Bureau in Washington, D.C.
Many military and civilian government leaders were present for the ordination. Chaplain (Major General) Douglas Carver, Chief of Chaplains for United States Army; Chaplain (Major General) Cecil Richardson, Chief of Chaplains for the United States Air Force; and General Craig R. McKinley, the Commander of the National Guard and member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), all participated in the service as lectors and for prayers.
The Deanery for the Chaplaincy is the canonical residence for priests and deacons endorsed to serve as Chaplains in the Anglican Church in North America through the Convocation of Anglicans in North America (CANA).
The Anglican Church has over 100 clergy endorsed to serve as chaplains around the world and nearly 60% of those chaplains serve governmental agencies such as the United States Military Services, Veteran’s Administration, and Department of Justice. Endorsed chaplains also serve in hospitals, hospices, law enforcement, education, and industry. Currently, the Anglican Church has three chaplains deployed to combat areas.
The Deanery was established in October of 2007 beginning with one chaplain serving in the United States Army. Within one year, the Anglican Church had 25 chaplains and later celebrated its 40th chaplain ordination in July 2009. The Deanery has more than doubled in size since that time.
For more information, visit www.AnglicanChaplains.org.
