The Clergy Family Initiative

The Clergy Family Initiative Fact Sheet

  1. Our Purpose:  to create, support and affect the Archdiocese network for Clergy, Clergy Families, lay leaders and ministry professionals to enhance ministerial excellence and a healthy Clergy family.
  2. Our Goal: to create more comprehensive programs for Clergy families, Clergy teams, and parishes, based on our research.
  3. To Provide greater financial knowledge and advocating for best practices for pastoral and lay leaders to continually enhance plans for Clergy support in meeting economic challenges.
  4. To help our Priests to offer their whole selves to Christ even more profoundly – for them to continually be growing healthier and stronger spiritually, physically, mentally, and financially.
  5. To understand and communicate that financial pressures undermine the effectiveness of the Priest.
  6. To offer Ministerial Excellence Grants to eligible Clergy, up to $10,000.
  7. To continue to offer assistance and supportive programming to Clergy and Clergy families, adapting to needs in a proactive manner.

As of January 2024, 104 Clergy have received Ministerial Excellence Grants, for a total of $1,029,000.00. In addition, the Clergy Family Initiative ministered to Clergy families who were severely suffering due to the Pandemic, offering $250,000.00 in CovAid Grants, for a total of $1,279,000.00.

 

“It has been shown that this program benefits the financial health and well-being of the Priest and his family, and by extension, their parishes and parishioners.”
  - His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America

 

 

The Clergy Family Initiative, a ministry of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Benefits Office, is pleased to announce the launch of the first-ever Parish Council Nominee Training Video Series.

These programs, made possible through a generous grant from the Lilly Endowment, will be used by Parish leadership as part of the mandatory Parish Council Nominee Training -- as mandated by the regulations of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.

The goal of the series is to have each Parish Council Nominee better understand the challenges that our Clergy face and how they, the Council Members, have a direct role in assisting the Priest in his ministry to the flock entrusted to him.

 

We invite you all to view the Clergy Family Initiative video of your particular Metropolis.

View the Training Videos »

We encourage the beloved Clergy of our Archdiocese to apply for the Clergy Family Initiative Financial Literacy and Grant Program.

Apply »

It is our heartfelt prayer that, as Parish Lay Leaders, you will learn more about the ministry of your Priest, and his personal challenges, and the need to grow as co-workers in sharing the Ministry of Christ.

 

Additional Information

The Clergy Family Initiative

The Clergy Family Initiative Brochure

The Clergy Family Initiative Endowment Fund Brochure

The Clergy Family Initiative Fact Sheet

Useful Links / For More Information

It has been shown that this program benefits the financial health and well-being of the priest and his family, and by extension, their parishes and parishioners."

His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America

 

The Clergy Family Initiative Objectives

Our program is multipronged and designed to accomplish six objectives:

  1. To educate our Laity on the unique challenges our Clergy and their families face and how those challenges can impact their ministry.
  2. To educate our Clergy on recent data from within our own Archdiocese on the personal, educational, and financial challenges our Clergy face.
  3. To provide research for Clergy, Presvyteres, and other Church Staff.
  4. To discuss the importance of managing personal and Parish finances, leading to an understanding of how efficient management both leads to healthier and more vibrant Parishes.
  5. To review our Ministerial Excellence Fund and the grant process associated with our Lilly Endowment Grant.
  6. To establish a community of Clergy support throughout the Archdiocese and its philanthropic ministries.