Reverend Deacon Elwood “Woody” Chambers
Bio and Faith Journey

Reverend Deacon Elwood “Woody” Chambers was born on May 13, 1946, in Hamilton, Ohio, to Audrey and Gordon Chambers. His faith journey began early in life within the Methodist Church, where his parents dedicated him to God and committed to raising him in a Christian environment. Beginning at the age of five, Woody faithfully attended Sunday School each week through his formative years. This early instruction laid the moral and spiritual foundation that would guide his life and ministry.

Woody’s mother had fourteen brothers and sisters who were all faithful Christians. They represented a wide range of Christian traditions, including Methodist, Pentecostal, Baptist, Church of Christ, Church of the Nazarene, and Catholic. From time to time, his aunts and uncles invited him to attend services at their respective churches. These experiences allowed Woody to observe the practices and teachings of various Christian denominations, broadening his understanding of the Christian faith and shaping his spiritual discernment in later years.

After graduating from high school in 1964, Woody attended Ohio State University, studying chemistry for two years before joining the Ohio National Guard during the Vietnam War era. His military training took place at Fort Knox, Kentucky, and Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Following his training, Woody began his professional career as a chemistry technician at Procter & Gamble. He later worked at Emery Industries in Cincinnati and Xerox Corporation in Rochester, New York, while continuing his studies in chemistry at the University of Cincinnati and the University of Rochester.

 While living in Rochester, Woody met Cathy Carmella, who had been raised in the Catholic faith. They were married on April 4, 1970, at Hope Lutheran Church in Rochester, New York. Woody and Cathy welcomed their son Mark in 1972 and their daughter Janine in 1974. They raised their children in the Lutheran Church and remained active in church life, teaching Sunday School and serving on the church council and various ministries.

The couple later moved to Fairfield, Ohio, near Woody’s hometown, after he accepted a position at The Kroger Company’s headquarters in Cincinnati in the field of information management. During his time at Xerox, Woody had transitioned into information systems work as a systems analyst, which led to his career in information management.

In 1980, Woody joined Access Corporation in Cincinnati and was later transferred to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to establish a new office. There he served as National Account Manager for Westinghouse Corporation. In 1985, he joined Lockheed Formtek in Pittsburgh, managing the account for 3M Company. A few years later, he was recruited directly by 3M to lead a special project in electronic content management from a sales and marketing perspective. In 1993, Woody founded Document Imaging Solutions LLC, a company focused on developing content management systems.

 Throughout these years, Woody remained deeply involved in church life. However, by the late 1990s he began to sense that something was missing in his spiritual life.

 In 2002, Woody and Cathy traveled to Anchorage, Alaska, during Holy Week. On Good Friday evening, while walking after dinner, they encountered a small Catholic church with a sign announcing, “Stations of the Cross at 7:00 PM.” Curious about the devotion, Woody suggested they attend. During the seventh station, reflecting on Christ falling the second time, Woody experienced a profound moment of spiritual conviction and was deeply moved by the presence of the Holy Spirit. This experience became a pivotal moment in his faith journey.

After returning home, Woody began attending Mass at various Catholic parishes and soon discerned a call to the Catholic faith. Woody quickly became deeply involved in parish life. Encouraged by several deacons, he pursued formation through the Lay Pastoral Ministry Program (LPMP) at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary and School of Theology (the Athenaeum of Ohio) in Cincinnati. During his studies, he served extensively within the parish, including as Master of Ceremonies for Holy Week liturgies for ten years, presiding over Stations of the Cross during Lent, assisting at Good Friday services, coordinating and training acolytes, and teaching parents preparing for their children’s baptisms. He also helped lead the “Catholics Coming Home” program, providing instruction on the teachings of the Second Vatican Council and encouraging those who had fallen away from the Church to return.

As part of the LPMP program, Woody was required to develop an outreach ministry beyond the church. Partnering with a Catholic friend, Dick Steineman, he helped serve homeless men in the Troy, Piqua, and Tipp City, Ohio areas. The program provided temporary housing and part-time work opportunities, while Woody also served as a spiritual mentor and guide. His commitment to this ministry continued for nearly ten years.

After completing the LPMP program, Woody applied to the Permanent Diaconate program and was accepted as one of 32 candidates selected from more than 115 applicants.

Later, after moving to Powell, Ohio, Woody became active at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, where he co-coordinated and trained more than 100 acolytes and served as a lead acolyte for special liturgies.

During this time, Woody was introduced to a bishop of the Syrian Orthodox Church in Columbus, Ohio, who operated a soup kitchen ministry serving the homeless. Woody’s longstanding commitment to serving the homeless—which he had demonstrated for nearly a decade prior to moving to Powell—was a significant factor in his attraction to the Syrian Orthodox Church. The church’s outreach to those in need resonated deeply with his sense of vocation and desire to continue this form of ministry.

In addition to his calling toward service, Woody’s decision to convert to and participate in the Orthodox faith stemmed from his appreciation for the profound focus on prayer and praise embodied in the Orthodox liturgy. He was inspired by the tradition’s emphasis on glorifying God, the prophets and apostles, the martyrs, and the faithful departed at every Divine Liturgy. This rich spiritual environment provided a sense of depth and continuity that Woody found especially meaningful.

Through study, worship, and service within the Orthodox tradition, Woody deepened his theological formation. After several years of study and participation in Orthodox liturgical life, he was ordained a Deacon in the Syrian Orthodox Church, serving primarily as a catechetical Reverend Deacon and teacher within the community.

In 2024, Woody founded Reverend Faith Outreach, a nonprofit ministry in Columbus, Ohio, dedicated to serving the homeless, the poor, and those struggling with addiction. The organization provides spiritual care, food, clothing, and encouragement to those in need. Today, Reverend Deacon Woody Chambers remains actively committed to this outreach ministry while continuing his spiritual service and dedication to Holy Trinity Orthodox Church.