Parish Pulse
A Newsletter for Parish Leaders
|
Archdiocese of Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania
and
Diocese of Chicago and the Midwest
Orthodox Church in America
Vol. 6 issue 1
February 2018
|
|
Welcome to the February 2018 issue of
Parish Pulse.
The following articles appear in this issue:
- Small Parish Forum 2017 Summary
- Ten Principles of Vibrant Small Parishes
- Small Parish Forum 2018 Save the date
- Missions and Mission Statements
- Actions for Breaking Our Insularity
- Modeling Gratitude in the Parish
- Sunday Bulletins Reconfigured
- Confidentiality is Not Secrecy
- Websites? Up to Date? Who Knew!
- Evangelization Practices
- Quick Links
In the future we hope for shorter, more frequent issues!
In Christ,
Joe Kormos
Parish Development Ministry
Archdiocese of Western Pennsylvania and Diocese of the Midwest
|
|
|
Small Parish Forum 2017
Conference Enjoys Record Attendance
|
In its fourth year, the 2017 Small Parish Forum welcomed over seventy clergy and laity attendees. Sponsored by the Archdiocese of Western PA and the Diocese of the Midwest, the 2017 Forum also attracted attendees from the OCA Dioceses of the South, NY/NJ and New England, the OCA's Bulgarian, Albanian and Romanian Dioceses as well as the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA, ACROD and ROCOR. Attendees traveled from as far away as Florida, St Louis and Connecticut.
The theme
"Becoming a Community of Engagement" enabled sessions to focus on a variety of important dimensions of small parish life.
|
Principles of Vibrant Small Parishes
A central task of the 2017 Forum was the creation of a consensus list of ten important “principles of vibrant small parishes”. A starter list of potential principles was discussed in small groups throughout the Forum. Eventually the list was pared to ten. See the full list with explanations
here.
Parishes were then encouraged to consider actions to enliven the principles based on
this starter list
which was provided to Forum attendees.
|
Save the Date: 2018 Small Parish Forum
July 12-14, 2018
|
The 2018 Small Parish Forum is scheduled to be held on July 12-14, 2018 in Rossford OH (Toledo). The host parish is St. George Orthodox Cathedral. (OCA Bulgarian Diocese)
Online registration will open approximately May 1, 2018. Registration will be $100 per person. For more info contact
Joe Kormos lay chairperson.
|
Missions & Mission Statements -- A Key Forum Session
Forum attendees "Engaged with their Parish Future" by exploring what a parish mission and vision statement is, what it looks like and why it is important.
After discussing example mission statements, attendees were challenged to create a mission statement for a hypothetical small parish. To their surprise most created a useful first draft mission statement
in less than 30 minutes
.
Qualities of good mission statements were discussed. One of those qualities is that they answer important questions.
Four in particular:
- Why do we (our parish) exist?
- How do we understand ourselves?
- Who do we serve? Past, present and future “stakeholders”
- What (jobs) does God want us to do? What outcomes do we strive to achieve?
R
ead more
--using your mission statement.
|
The 2018 Forum will continue to develop this topic.
|
Your Parish has been entrusted to you—not to keep—but to care for, to minister from, to strengthen, and to preserve for future generations. You are responsible.
|
|
|
|
Quick Links
Quick access to resources available on the Western PA Archdiocesan web page or in a few cases the Midwest Diocese website.
Parish Finance Articles
Growth & Vision
Leadership
Stewardship
Parish Renewal
Parish Ministry & Education
Evangelization
Communicating Your Parish
Youth
Videos. Podcast & PowerPoint Presentations
|
|
|
|
Breaking Our Insularity
Becoming Part of the Community -- Honoring First Responders
|
|
One problem that plagues many Orthodox parishes is "insularity". The parish/church is located in a community--but the parish, for whatever reason, is not really part of that community.
One parish, St Mary Magdalene in Fenton MI, works hard to reach out and be a part of their local community. Among the actions taken is to host first responders and their families for a blessing of fire engines and a fellowship cookout.
|
|
How many items can your parish leadership list as ways to be more a part of the place that your parish lives? What are we called upon in this time and in this place to do to fulfill our mission in the place our parish is located?
A start...
- Hosting ESL classes
- Block party for neighborhood
- Offering the opening prayer at city council meetings.
- Participating in local clergy associations and hosting meetings.
- Offering parish hall as a polling place
- Shop local merchants
- Directional signs -- All are welcome.
- Personal Financial management course for neighbors
- Sponsor community service clean-ups
- Food pantry
- Job skills courses
Other suggestions? Let us know?
What should be your parish's next step on "breaking insularity"?
|
|
Modeling Gratitude in the Parish
Say Thank You Often
|
|
1 Thessalonians 5:18 tells us to “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
We once read a quote from a Bishop of another denomination to the effect:
'I have found the essence of good stewardship and it is gratitude. I wish I had understood that earlier in my life.'
Gratitude is a two way street. When we offer our pledge for the coming year we say "thank you" to God for the many blessings we've received. Our pledges and offerings help to establish a relationship with God by uniting the Giver, the gift, and the grateful recipients. Every Eucharist is a service of Thanksgiving.
In addition parishes --priests and lay leaders -- need to acknowledge and thank parishioners collectively and personally for their presence, their prayers, their commitments and the ministries they perform. Do servers, singers, council members, bakers, greeters, teachers, webmasters, decorators, donors, cleaners, ministry workers et al sense their time, talents, gifts and experience are appreciated? Let them know.
Say "Thank You!" often. Parishes should model gratitude.
|
|
Sunday Bulletins Reconfigured
|
|
Some years ago we noted the uneven quality of written parish communications --particularly many parish bulletins. In response we wrote two articles –one about
bulletin formatting and
another about content. We think the articles are still useful.
Recently a retired priest, after studying bulletins from more than a few parishes also lamented the state of parish communication. We asked for his thoughts.
In brief:
Clergy laity collaboration+ Tell Stories + Personal reflection+ Vernacular + Avoiding boiler plate + Make it readable
and
interesting. Not merely informational.+ Broaden distribution.+ Build connections.
His reflection...
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The Sunday Bulletin: An Opportunity for Real Outreach
A bishop, much loved by me, once told me "Father__ , do something about your bulletins. They're boring!" Thus motivated I tried to make improvements, and, frankly I was not always successful.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Your Challenge...
Can you identify and
implement at least one thing about communication in your parish that can be improved?
|
|
Inviting the Unchurched
Build Trust -- Ask Questions -- Be Open
"Go out into the highways and lanes, and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled."
Luke 14:23
|
|
We've all heard that the most potent method of church growth is to simply invite people
(FRAN: Friends Relatives, Associates, Neighbors) to church. Nonetheless doing so is not always easy.
A Basic Approach
Discussing a potentially uncomfortable topic like "church" with a non-church going person --even a friend --usually requires, among other things, taking it slowly.
Read more ... concerning: 1)basic approach; 2)key practices; 3)tips for conversations; 4) conversation starters.
|
|
Action Question
When inviting becomes a part of parish life it becomes easier to invite.
How can your parish begin to help parishioners to feel confident and comfortabe in inviting others to church?
|
|
Breaking News: Websites Need to Be Up to Date
Nothing Says "Stay Away" Like an Out of Date 'Front Door'
|
|
Go to a Diocesan or Jurisdiction listing of Parish websites. See how long it takes you to find a similar out of date item.
Note to Webmasters
It is now (past) time for Nativity Services Schedule headlines (for whatever year) to be replaced with something more timely!
|
|
Confidentiality is NOT Secrecy
Motivation is Key
|
|
As the Orthodox Church in America transitions to a proportional giving model for funding the work of Dioceses and the National Church many parishes are rethinking stewardship on a local level.
One question/topic that often arises concerns the issue of maintaining confidentiality of parish donation records. We find that a good deal of confusion on this topic exists even among clergy.
The following insights may be helpful...
The book "
Good and Faithful Servant - Stewardship in the Orthodox Church" contains a compilation of many fine practical and theoretical articles about Orthodox views on Stewardship.In the book's final article, editor Anthony Scott offers valuable insight on parish practices associated with confidentiality of donor information.
"In many parishes a conspiracy of silence tyrannizes the entire process of giving. Never discuss money. Never reveal what one's self is giving. Never speak to anyone else about giving. Never sensitively and diplomatically announce a major gift publicly.
Do not allow to those responsible for the stewardship ministry the necessary access to parishioner giving on a need to know basis
. Some clergy proudly announce they do not know or wish to know what anyone is giving lest it create a bias in clergy care. If this is the case perhaps they should not know how often people volunteer or attend church either for fear of favoritism. One parish assigns numbers to families like anonymous Swiss bank accounts so as to preserve
absolute secrecy
. Other parishes mandate by General Assembly that the parish financial secretary be a non parishioner and that he or she alone is to know what people give. All of this reveals a profound
confusion between confidentiality,
which is necessary in a fallen world
and secrecy
which does not exist in the kingdom of God. The Holy Trinity, the Angelic Powers and the communion of the Saints are all witnesses to the most 'private' thoughts of each person. All that we think and do is done in community."
A View from Scripture
Continuing on the "confidentiality vs.secrecy" topic, we recommend the online article
Should Giving Always Be Kept Secret? in which the author offers sound scriptural views on the topic.
A few:
- "Acts 2:45 tells of Christians selling possessions and giving to the needy. Did other people know who had done this? In many cases, the answer would be obvious... These people knew each other. "
- "Acts 4:32-35 tells us about more people liquidating assets. Most names, which would mean nothing to us, aren’t recorded, but they were surely known at the time."
- "...some givers were named even for our benefit. Acts 4:36-37 tells us that Barnabas sold a field and brought the money to the feet of the apostles. If Barnabas was looking for status and prestige, his motive was wrong. (Emphasis ours) But it’s certainly false to say that it was wrong for others to be made aware of his gift, because Scripture itself reveals it!"
- "Jesus says, “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). Here we are commanded to let men see our good deeds—and not to hide them. Giving is a good deed, isn’t it? This passage and Matthew 6 balance each other. There’s a time for giving to be seen, but only at the right time and for the right reasons."
- "Numbers 7 lists the names of donors to the tabernacle. First Chronicles 29 tells exactly how much the leaders of Israel gave to build the temple, then it says, “The people rejoiced at the willing response of their leaders, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the Lord” (1 Chronicles 29:9).
Neither author advocates publishing donation lists, embarrassing or pressuring those who are lesser participants in stewardship opportunities, or honoring donors for the purpose of stroking large egos. (As we once long ago uncomfortably witnessed as a hierarch gushed torrents of praise upon a deep pockets donor.) And, we can all agree that the line between good and poor practice may require some discernment.
Nonetheless any good development professional knows that estimates of future giving need to be built from an understanding of past giving. As a result occasions arise which, for practical purposes, selected leaders
need to know who has supported the parish in the past and how current efforts are progressing. Averages, statistical breakdowns, aggregates and anonymous info are often not enough.
A few such instances might include:
- Who could be called upon to speak publicly about their personal stewardship journey, and the joys of gratitude and generosity-- in hopes of motivating or inspiring others to extend themselves?
- How do we launch our campaign? Who might provide an anchor donation for this new parish effort? In what areas of parish life have they most resonated in the past?
- How well are we communicating our stewardship message to new parishioners or young families or parish veterans.
Be sensitive and diplomatic -- and mindful of the line between appropriate confidentiality and unnecessary secrecy.
|
|
Thank you for taking the time to review this issue of Parish Pulse.
Your feedback is welcome. As always let us know about future topics of importance.
In Christ,
Joseph Kormos, Parish Development Ministry
|
|
|
|
|
|
|