The Certificate Program in Prison Ministry provides clergy and lay volunteers that are interested in prison ministry with the necessary knowledge and experience to effectively lead and support people in prison. Join OCPM and St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary to be trained by the most experienced leaders in Orthodox prison ministry in the United States.
The program covers all essential aspects of prison ministry and combines theoretical knowledge with practical skills to ensure participants develop an Orthodox approach to the unique challenges faced in correctional settings. Through this program students will also learn how to assist families in coping with the challenges of having a loved one in prison, as well as how to assist clergy by offering guidance to deal with the unique needs that their parish may face because of incarceration. Through the integration of Orthodox principles and practical skills, certificate participants will be prepared to engage in meaningful prison ministry.
Besides gaining experience, graduates will obtain a unique certificate, allowing them to more easily find volunteer or career opportunities in correctional facilities.
St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary is a fully accredited institution of professional Orthodox Christian theological education, affiliated with the Orthodox Church in America. In a rural environment conducive to spiritual growth and academic study, the Seminary nurtures the theological vocations of its students and faculty, who share the unique opportunity of learning and teaching Orthodox theology in the framework of their daily experience of a rich heritage of Orthodox spiritual and liturgical tradition
STOTS and OCPM have a longstanding relationship, because the seminary is uniquely close to a state prison, SCI Waymart, where seminarians participate in a semester internship under the direction of Fr. John Kowalczyk. Over the past four decades, these institutions have grown to a mutually beneficial relationship: inmates are consoled by the frequent visits and services led by the seminarians, and the seminarians are spiritually moved by their encounters with those in prison.
The Certificate Program in Prison Ministry is divided into five lessons, each covering essential aspects of prison ministry, followed by an on-campus residency in the summer.
Lessons are delivered through online zoom lectures, virtual discussions, and practical assignments, to be completed over the course of one semester. The Certificate Program also includes a week-long residency component. To complete the residency, students will need to be cleared by the state prison, SCI Waymart, as a volunteer.
Orientation: January 14, 2025 (Virtual)
Lesson 1: February – Introduction to Religion in the Prison Landscape
Lesson 2: March – The Broken Person
Lesson 3: April – Pastoral Care in Correctional Settings
Lesson 4: May – Family and Parish Trauma from Incarceration
Lesson 5: June – Self-Care and Burnout Prevention (during residency)
(Residency): June 1-7 – Immersive learning experience designed to provide hands-on training, practical application, and in-depth understanding. See more details below.
Application Fee: $50 (non-refundable)
Tuition Fee: $2,800
Residency Fee: $1,000 (includes Meal Plan & Housing) for June 2025
Financial aid may be available. Please indicate your need in your application.
Located just 10 minutes from a Pennsylvania state prison, SCI Waymart, St. Tikhon’s Seminary has long been a training ground for prison ministry in the Orthodox world. During the residency, students will stay at the seminary for one week in June for in-person studies, giving students the opportunity to spend quality time with their instructors.
Students will enter the prison daily as volunteers and shadow instructors as they make rounds, have short Bible studies, and practice “the ministry of presence”, talking with inmates, praying with them, and learning from them. Completing the residency is a requirement of the program. Students will need to pass a background check and clearance by the prison to enter as a volunteer. For this reason, if you are aware of anything in your background to prevent you entering a prison as a volunteer, please note this at the time of your application.
During the residency, students will also have afternoon and evening discussions and lectures and the opportunity to pray at St. Tikhon’s Monastery, which shares the same grounds. Beyond an education, this is an special opportunity for real reflection and spiritual formation.
Fr. Stephen began serving as a Prison Chaplain in January of 1985. He has ministered in every prison security level, including serving 12 years at, ADX Florence, the most maximum-security prison in the U.S., before retiring from the Federal Bureau of Prisons in August of 2010. He joined OCPM as a founding Board Member in 2005 and served as the Executive Director from 2014 to 2019. Fr. Stephen has written training manuals for prison ministry and correspondence volunteers, as well as other theological works on the state of the prisoner. Fr. Stephen is the Proistamenos at St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church in Pueblo, CO.
In his many roles, Fr. John Kowalczyk is the Co-Director of Training and Spiritual Care at OCPM. He graduated from St. Tikhon’s Seminary (1975), Marywood University (M.S. in Religious Education) (1981), and the Moscow Theological Academy (Candidate of Science in Theology) (1996), receiving full Privileges for group psychotherapy from Farview Hospital and Medical staff (1994). He currently serves as the Contract Chaplain at S.C.I. Waymart’s Forensic Treatment Center and since 1987 has completed over eight thousand Preliminary Religious Assessments on forensic inmates for the Treatment Team.
Fr. John Parker is the Dean of St Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary. He earned his MDiv from Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry in Ambridge, PA. After serving for a brief period as curate at Holy Cross Episcopal Church on Sullivan’s Island, SC, He and Matushka Jeanette, along with their two sons, embraced the Orthodox Faith in 2002. Fr John earned his MTh at St Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary in Crestwood, NY, in 2004, and his DMin in 2018. He served as rector of Holy Ascension Orthodox Church in Mt Pleasant SC from 2003-2018. Fr. John has a passion for evangelization; his heart for Prison Ministry began during those years in South Carolina through many jail and prison visits, and continues to this day.
Nicholas has served as the Executive Director of OCPM since 2020. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Pittsburgh in 2012 in Journalism. His career has been at the crossroads of ministry and creating the administrative structures necessary for good ministry to thrive. His prior experience includes being a development officer at Charlotte Rescue Mission as well as several Orthodox organizations. Under Nicholas’ leadership, OCPM has grown from a small ministry of a few charismatic individuals into an institution of the Church that is constantly striving for maximum impact, efficiency, accountability, and leading the discovery of best practices in this ministry.
APPLICATIONS FOR SPRING SEMESTER 2025 ARE NOW CLOSED. PLEASE CHECK BACK IN SEPTEMBER FOR INFORMATION ON THE SPRING 2026 PROGRAM.
To apply, fill out the form below. At the time of submitting an application, candidates will additionally need to submit:
The prison ministry certificate program equips students with the knowledge, skills, and spiritual foundation needed to effectively minister to people in prison from an Orthodox Christian perspective. Our hope is that this credential makes it easier to gain access to volunteer or contract opportunities at jails and prisons around the country. This certificate will prepare you with methods and techniques in prison ministry. However, it does not guarantee a position in prison ministry.
This program is ideal for mature individuals who are either currently involved in prison ministry or are looking to begin at an advanced level. If you’re just starting out, this program will provide you with a roadmap to get started and practical techniques to apply once you’re active. For those already engaged in prison ministry, the training will offer advanced approaches and techniques, along with dedicated time with instructors to refine your methods and explore further advancement in your ministry.
Earning a certificate in prison ministry from St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary in partnership with OCPM, can enhance your effectiveness in ministering to people in prison, provide you with a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by the people in prison and their families, and open up opportunities for volunteer or professional roles within churches, correctional facilities, or community organizations focused on caring for those in prison.
While this program offers an excellent credential, it does not necessarily lead to future employment opportunities.
This program trains you on how to minister to people who are in prison. It does not offer a path to institutional chaplaincy or train you in the administrative aspects of institutional chaplaincy. Likewise, this program does not provide CPE credit.
This program will teach you techniques and approaches, along with offering consultation from faculty that is tailored to your specific situation. However, there is no one-size-fits-all solution in prison ministry. You will need to develop and implement your own ministry within your local context. The program includes guidance on best practices for doing this, as well as situational consulting with the faculty.
Students will stay in dorm rooms available on the campus of St. Tikhon’s seminary. All rooms are furnished with a bed, desk, and closet.
For more details, visit the St. Tikhon’s Seminary Student Life Overview.
Currently, online classes only are not an option for this program. OCPM offers many other training options for free. However, for the context of each cohort, preparing all students for the residency is a vital portion of the program.
Online classes are conducted live with instructors on Zoom. They are typically from 7:00pm EST until about 9:00pm. Sessions include lectures and discussion, as well as talks from guest speakers. Each class will reflect on assigned readings and cover new topics. Writing assignments will be given after each class.
Some financial assistance may be offered in the form of scholarships or a payment plan. However, the application process is competitive and financial aid is not available for every student. If financial aid is a requirement for your attendance, please indicate when you email your application materials.