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.
The 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