Orthodox Volunteer Corps

In September 2019, the Department of Inter-Orthodox, Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America convened a pan-Orthodox, national gathering to address the crisis of homelessness. Many of those present discovered that they shared a related interest: The need for an Orthodox Christian volunteer corps. In response, the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America commissioned a task force to explore such an initiative.

Representatives from CrossRoad Summer Institute, Fellowship of Orthodox Christians United to Serve (FOCUS), the Neighborhood Resilience Project, Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC), Project Mexico, St. Basil Academy, and the Department of Inter-Orthodox, Ecumenical, and Interfaith Relations of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America began to meet to develop a new organization. In August 2020, Orthodox Volunteer Corps (OVC) was incorporated, a Board of Directors formed in January 2021, and the IRS approved its nonprofit status in April of 2021. In October 2021, OVC became an official agency of the Assembly of Bishops.