36: Like-Minded, Military-Focused Ministries

C: A Brief History of OCF

The desire for community with those who share their military lifestyle and Christian values led to a Bible study in a Washington, D.C., home that continued for several years. In [December of] 1943, at the urging of the British Officers’ Christian Union (OCU), leaders incorporated OCU in the United States and was renamed Officers’ Christian Fellowship (OCF) in 1972. This chapter provides a short overview of OCF’s 75+ year history. The full OCF Handbook can be viewed and downloaded at www.ocfusa.org/handbook. Send thoughts or questions to contact@ocfusa.org.

B: Constitution & Bylaws

This chapter is a reading of the OCF Constitution and a summary of what is found in the OCF Bylaws. The full OCF Handbook can be viewed and downloaded at www.ocfusa.org/handbook. Send thoughts or questions to contact@ocfusa.org.

A: OCF Foundational Statements & Thoughts (Summarized)

STATEMENT OF FAITH STATEMENT OF PARTICIPATION PURPOSE VISION MISSION PILLARS (CUE LINES) DISTINCTIVES GUIDELINES FOR OCF MEMBER CONDUCT (OCF Bylaws) GUIDELINES FOR OCF LEADER CONDUCT (OCF Bylaws) OCF FOUNDATIONS GRAPHIC The full OCF Handbook can be viewed and downloaded at www.ocfusa.org/handbook. Send thoughts or questions to contact@ocfusa.org.

37: OCF’s Home Office

Our ministry is run and coordinated from OCF’s Home Office, a name harkening back to when OCU communication and accounting was accomplished in the basement of Buck and Louisa Buxton’s home. The Home Office is where most member inquiries are handled and where we respond to your requests for materials to support local fellowships and conferences. Think of the Home Office as a small nerve center that helps connect OCF members to one another by doing things like managing the OCF member database, providing linkups between members, and working to keep the online OCF Directory up to date. The full OCF Handbook can be viewed and downloaded at www.ocfusa.org/handbook. Send thoughts or questions to contact@ocfusa.org.

36: Like-Minded, Military-Focused Ministries

INITIATE THE CONNECTION Since OCF operates within the larger body of Christ’s church, our leaders in the field should be aware of like-minded parachurch ministries who are laboring nearby and should be the initiators of coordinating and supporting relationships. The full OCF Handbook can be viewed and downloaded at www.ocfusa.org/handbook. Send thoughts or questions to contact@ocfusa.org.