The Clergy Family Initiative

The Clergy Family Initiative

 

About the Clergy Family Initiative:

The Clergy Family Initiative, a Ministry of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, received a three-year, $1,000,000 grant from the Lilly Endowment in 2016. Known as the National Initiative to Address Economic Challenges Facing Pastoral Leaders, to create research-based programming to raise awareness in our Archdiocese regarding the unique challenges our Clergy and their families face. The program also provides need-based financial grants to our Clergy. A second, three-year $1,000,000 grant was awarded for the years 2020-2022. The second Lilly Endowment grant allows the beginnings for research and focused programs for Clergy, Presvyteres, and other Church Staff.

The Clergy Family Initiative became part of the Archdiocese Benefits Committee (ABC) infrastructure in 2019. The ABC is a Clergy-led entity that oversees Clergy benefits programs.

Leadership 100The Clergy Family Initiative gratefully acknowledges the generous contributions of Leadership 100 for our Ministerial Excellence Grant Funds.

 

Clergy Action Points:

  • Apply for the Financial Literacy and Ministerial Excellence Programs. Clicking here will route Clergy and Presvyteres to the Clergy Couple Care webpage, where they can create a secure sign-in and access the application along with other useful resources specific to them. https://goaclergycouple.org/
  • Learn more about the Dave Ramsey Program  www.daveramsey.com
  • Learn more about the Pete the Planner Program www.petetheplanner.com
  • Contact Fr. Al Demos directly ([email protected]) to ask questions and begin the process of Application for financial literacy training and the Ministerial Excellence Grants
  • View the Parish Council Nominee Training Video Series! You are valued!

Lay Leadership Action Points:

  • Pray for your priest and his family!  “The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” (James 5:16)
  • Pray for the Orthodox Church and for Priestly vocations to increase and flourish!
  • View our two-part introduction to our Parish Council Video Series, beginning with your own Metropolitan's personal greeting and request, here: Parish Council Nominee Training Video Series
  • View our research-based, interactive PowerPoint presentation which summarizes the results of our national Clergy survey in 2016, for Parish Council discussion. Download it, here: Resource/Discussion Slide Deck for Parish Council Training Video
  • View the Train the Trainer video presentation. In an effort to educate our Lay Leadership on the difficulties that many of our Priests are facing, we created the Parish Council Nominee Training Video Series as noted above. However, your parish Priest may not be the best person to conduct the Parish Council training, due to his modesty in the description of the difficulties that Clergy often face; thus this introductory 8-minute video is intended for the Lay Leadership who will be conducting the Parish Council training. It demonstrates how to best present the two-part video series to your Parish Council, Lay Leaders, and Parish Community. We invite you to view it! 
  • Donate to the Clergy Family Initiative! This is a good way to remember a beloved Priest who has fallen asleep, donating funds in his memory, or to engage an entire parish in a joint expression of support for our beloved Clergy. 
  • Request a speaking engagement for your Parish. We have three Program Presentations Offered to Orient the Church on the Clergy Family Initiative available.
  • View a Snapshot of a Clergy's Life

 

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.