Q: How do I charter a chapter?

A: 1) Adopt the OCF model constitution; 2) Identify a Spiritual Advisor, Faculty Advisor, and chapter officers; 3) Have desired Spiritual Advisor request a letter of blessing  from his hierarch; 4) Submit contact information for both Advisors and chapter officers, your chapter constitution, and hierarchical letter of blessing to the OCF office at Hellenic College in Brookline. Once this paperwork has been filed, you will receive official notification of your chartering.

Q: Why should I charter our chapter?

A:  You must charter your chapter to enjoy the full benefits of the OCF community. The greatest advantage is being connected to the ocf.net community. Only chartered chapters are given access to a chapter page. This chapter page automatically connects you to all of the other chapters across the country.

Q: Does our OCF have to charter even if you already have our information in the directory?

A: Yes. Directory information is only one component of the community. OCF is also concerned that the individual chapters share a basic identity and uniformity. Chapter chartering is the closest process we have to ensuring this.

Q: Why does our clergy or lay advisor need to request a letter of blessing?

A:  OCF is an Agency of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of North and Central America and requires all Spiritual Advisors (clergy or lay) to be appointed by a local Assemblyof Bishops hierarch. Advisors affiliated with non-Assembly of Bishops  jurisdictions will be handled on a case-by-case basis. Please contact the North American office if this is your situation.  Download Sample Letter Requesting Hierarchichal Blessing    

Q: What if we don't have a priest?

A:  All OCFs should try to involve a local parish priest in their chapter meetings. If you do not have a local chaplain, please contact us at info@ocf.net, and our network of regional chaplains will help you identify and contact a chaplain.

Q: Our OCF chapter has been around for a long time. Do we have to amend our constitution?

A:  Yes. The new  model  OCF Constitution ( As of September, 2008) contains highlighted sections that all OCF chapters must comply with for the sake of organizational uniformity and IRS regulations