Brookline, MA - “Offering Our Orthodox Faith to Contemporary America”

Continuing a tradition of promoting excellence in theological education, Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, the Department of Religious Education of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese, and the National Forum of Greek Orthodox Church Musicians will cooperatively host a Tri-Level Educational Institute on the campus of Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology on Thursday, August 7 through Saturday, August 10, 2003. This year’s institute will focus on the theme of the 2002 Clergy-Laity Congress held in Los Angeles, California, “Offering Our Orthodox Faith to Contemporary America,” providing attendees with the choice of three levels of participation: (1) the Primary Theme, (2) Continuing Education for Clergy, and (3) Church Music.

According to Rev. Dr. Frank Marangos, Institute Chairman and the Director of the DRE, “more than 150 adult participants from across the United States attended the previous Institute in 2001. The lectures and workshops of this year’s Institute will examine the theological, liturgical, scriptural, pastoral and administrative issues surrounding the primary theme of Offering Our Orthodox Faith to Contemporary America. It is intended for adults, religious educators, clergy, choir directors/members, church musicians and those wishing to learn more about Byzantine chant.”

Tri-Level Program – The Summer Educational Institute will provide attendees with the choice of three levels of participation. Participants may register to atten workshops from one or more of three concurrently running programs.

Adult Program - Workshops will be offered by Orthodox theologians on the Institute’s primary theme. Topics will include “Orthodox Identity and the Contemporary World,” “The Challenge of Faith in the 21st Century,” “Preaching to a Postmodern Audience,” “Saints of the Future,” “The Parish as Healer and Reconciler of God’s People,” “Canons and Church Governance,” “Scripture and Worship,” and several other topics of interest.

Clergy Program - Workshops will focus on personal and pastoral issues and concerns such as: “Interfaith Ministry,” “Crisis Intervention and Responding to Needs,” “Confronting Drug and Alcohol Problems in the Parish,” and “Clergy Self and Family Care.”

Music Program - Workshops, practicums and plenary sessions will focus on the use of English in singing, directing and English composition of Orthodox Church music. Training in Byzantine chant will also be offered within the Church Music program. The Church Music program is sponsored by Leadership 100 and the National Forum of Greek Orthodox Church Musicians.

Full registration ($225) includes the Institute classes, 3 nights’ accommodation, and 7 meals. Accommodations are in the Polemanakos dormitory of Hellenic College-Holy Cross. Dormitory rooms are limited and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Commuter registration ($125) includes the Institute classes and all meals for individuals who wish to commute from their homes or from area hotels.

The Institute will begin with a chapel service and community dinner on Thursday, August 7th at 5 p.m. The keynote address, given by Elenie Huszagh, J.S.D., President of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA, will follow at 7:00 p.m. The Institute will conclude with Divine Liturgy on Sunday, August 10th. A special educational program for clergy will begin on Friday morning, August 8th with a keynote address by His Eminence Metropolitan Methodios of Boston entitled, “The Pastoral Epistles: Building a Foundation.” The Church Music program will begin with a keynote address by Archimandrite Ephrem Lash, Abbot of the Monastery of Saint Andrew in Manchester, England, entitled, “The Challenges of English and Orthodox Hymnology.”

The brochure, registration form, and updates may be viewed and downloaded from the Institute Web Site at: http://www.hchc.edu/summerinstitute/siframeset.htm or may be accessed through the Department of Religious Education website at http://www.religioused.goarch.org

Contact: Rev. Dr. Frank Marangos

For further information and/or to obtain a registration form,
contact the Department of Religious Education at (800) 566-1088.