Officers' Christian Fellowship

Officers' Christian Fellowship (OCF) is as of 2009 a 15,000 member organization—made up of U.S. Military officers—growing at 3% per year represented at 80% of military installations. It is a Christian parachurch^[1] organization founded in 1943.^[2] The organization's goal is to glorify God by uniting Christian officers for biblical fellowship and outreach, equipping and encouraging them to minister effectively in the military society.^[3] The Military Religious Freedom Foundation alleges OCF is involved in improper proselytization.^[4] Despite this, journalist Jeff Sharlet reports that the Obama administration sees no significant problems with this organization or its activities.^[5]

Origins

It developed out of a World War II-era Bible study group that had formed and met in Washington, D.C. Originally founded as the Officers' Christian Union in 1943, it changed its name to Officers' Christian Fellowship in 1972. One of the Bible study group's members was General Hayes Kroner who became the OCF's first president. By 1947 after a year of evangelization at West Point and Annapolis, it had added to its membership forty-one army cadets and naval mid-shipmen. It was these members and other working officers rather than a professional staff who would assume the responsibilities of ministry and outreach .^[6]

History

Its president from 1954 until 1972 was lieutenant general William Kelly Harrison Jr..^[7]

See also

• Christians in the military
• Armed Forces Christian Union

Further reading

• More Than Conquerors: A History of the Officers' Christian Fellowship of the U.S.A., 1943 to 1983. Robert W. Spoede. OCF Books, 1993. ISBN 0913991023.

Notes

1. ^ Air Force Chaplains Interfacing with Para-Church Groups Fahner,David W. APR 1986
2. ^ "American Evangelicals and the US Military, 1942-1993" AJ Trevino. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 1998
3. ^ [1]
4. ^ http://www.tampabay.com/opinion/columns/article483665.ece
5. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PriLtIfeAOk "The Crusade for a Christian Military: Are US Forces Trying to Convert Afghans to Christianity?". Democracy Now. Jeff Sharlet et. al. ‎Broadcast 5/6/09.
6. ^ American Evangelicals and the US Military, 1942-1993. Anne C. Loveland. Louisiana State University Press, 1997. ISBN 0585300062. pp.28-29
7. ^ "Leadership and the Christian Officer; the Basis of Successful Leadership". http://www.ocfusa.org/articles/harrison_leadership_success.php. Retrieved 2009-07-10. ^{[dead link]}

External links

• Official site
• Naval OCF site
• Air Force OCF site
• [2]