Speaker

Fr. Andrew Kearns, aka LCDR Gregory C Kearns, is a priest of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America, under the omophorion of His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of New York within the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.

Under His Eminence’s omophorion he serves as chaplain in the United States Navy, currently serving a military chapel community on Marine Corps Base Butler, Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan. He also supports The Nativity of Our Lord mission parish in Okinawa City, Okinawa, Japan under the omophorion of His Eminence Ambrosios of Korea.

Fr. Andrew’s educational achievements include a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Sociology from Johns Hopkins University, a Master of Theological Studies and Master of Divinity from Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, and a Master of Theology in Pastoral Care and Counseling from the Antiochian House of Studies through Balamand University. His culminating degree program was a Doctor of Ministry in Mental Health Integrated Chaplaincy from Vanderbilt University, where his studies focused on the intersection of mental health and pastoral care. Fr. Andrew’s studies focused on Spiritual and Moral Injury, the Pastoral Care of Pregnancy and Infant Loss, Suicide First Aid, Youth Ministry, and the Ethics of War and Peacebuilding in the Orthodox Tradition. He is a Board-Certified Chaplain with the National Association of Veterans Affairs Chaplaincy.

Ordained in 2011 and entering the US Navy in 2014, Fr. Andrew has served as a priest for 15 years and been a chaplain for 12 years. His assignments have included St. Catherine Church in Greenwood Village, CO, the Metropolis of Denver, Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes, IL, Marine Air Control Group 28 in Cherry Point, NC, Commander Task Force 52 in Manama, Bahrain, Navy Medical Center Portsmouth, VA, and US Naval Hospital Okinawa, Okinawa, Japan, where he currently serves as the Command Chaplain.

Throughout his career with the US Navy and through his studies Fr. Andrew has walked with numerous clergy, staff, and counselees through the painful spiritual injury of Vicarious Trauma. Often these stories are evoked after presentations on Suicide First Aid or Prevention, Post-Abortion Care, Pregnancy Loss or other potentially Spiritually Injurious Events, when priests or staff feel comfortable seeking help for emotions they had been facing alone.