Special Jurisdiction of the Armed Forces and Chaplaincy


The Jurisdiction of the Armed Forces and Chaplaincy is the canonical residence for all chaplains requiring professional ecclesiastical endorsement for the Anglican Church in North America, for the Convocation of Anglicans in North America, and some continuing Anglican groups with loose connection to the world-wide Anglican Communion. It was created in 2007 as the Deanery of the Chaplaincy as part of the Convocation of Anglicans in North America, later becoming the Diocese of the Armed Forces and Chaplaincy in the Church of Nigeria through CANA. When provisions for a "Special Jurisdiction" in the ACNA canons was created in June 2014, the Diocese of the Armed Forces and Chaplaincy was renamed the Jurisdiction of the Armed Forces and Chaplaincy ; and by a protocol agreement between the Church of Nigeria and the ACNA, the JAFC became the entity fulfilling the canonical role of the "Special" Jurisdiction. The founding bishop and first bishop of the JAFC is Derek Jones, affirmed unanimously at the Chaplains first Convocation held in Orlando, FL in 2007.
The Jurisdiction of the Armed Forces and Chaplaincy supports the endorsement and care of chaplains serving in the United States Armed Forces, at the federal and local governments, hospitals, law enforcement and other chaplaincies. There are currently 31 led chaplain parishes in 14 American states, and 4 abroad, 2 in the United Kingdom, one in Germany and one in Japan. The JAFC is also partnered with other ministries to help with their mission.
The JAFC elected on 11 January 2018 two new suffragan bishops, Michael Williams and Mark Nordstrom. Nordstrom had been Vicar General of the diocese since the previous year. The new bishops consecration took place on 12 April 2018, at St. Peter's Anglican Church, in Mountain Brook, Alabama.