Parish & Church Life

Toward a Better Understanding of Our Priests and Presvyteres

Center for Family Care

September 26, 2019

Pastoral ministry can be extraordinarily rewarding and fulfilling. And, pastoral ministry is difficult. This reality is supported by a growing body of social science research. Drs. Rae Jean Proeschold-Bell and Sarah LeGrand, as part of the Clergy Health Initiative at Duke University, found that clergy suffer from higher rates of hypertension, obesity, depression, arthritis, and asthma than do most other Americans. Read More
A New Year, a New Harvest: Renewal through Orthodox Christian Community

Center for Family Care

August 31, 2019

It’s about that time…the time for New Year’s resolutions: new beginnings, new goals and new inspiration. I am not talking about watching the ball drop in Times Square or counting down to midnight with your friends and family. I am talking about the Ecclesiastical New Year we just celebrated on September 1. Read More
The Clergy Family Life: Q&A with Rev. Fr. Conan Gill

Religious Education

March 11, 2019

Rev. Fr. Conan Gill answers questions about juggling parish responsibilities while raising five children with his wife in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Read More
From Expectations to Mutual Love: The Relationship of the Clergy and Parish Family

Religious Education

March 5, 2019

Both clergy and laity have expectations of one another. Some are holy and right; others are unrealistic and misguided. Unfortunately, many remain unspoken until conflict arises, sapping energy and life from the parish family. Rather than reacting to conflict arising from unmet expectations clergy and their families and parish families have of one another, let us consider an alternative path, one of open and honest dialogue about expectations that will bear the fruit of mutual understanding and trust. Read More
Marketing Jesus: Sharing the Good News in a Digital Age

Department of Religious Education (DRE)

December 28, 2018

Marketing is a standard practice in today’s business world but is often an afterthought within the Church. Our Church is certainly more than a business, but there are ways in which we operate that require business techniques every day (accounting, fundraising, leadership and more). Read More
Landmark Survey: Women's Ministry, Service and Leadership

Adults

February 9, 2018

How and why do women rise to high levels of service in the Church? Is a seminary education necessary, useful or problematic for women who want to serve? How do women’s paid and volunteer careers intersect? Read More
Educating the Orthodox Heart through Liturgy and Prayer

Department of Religious Education (DRE)

October 24, 2017

Our liturgical life feeds our personal prayer life and vice versa, not only through our weekly participation in the Divine Liturgy but also within the rhythm of the Church year with its many fasts and feasts. Our Church calendar helps orient us toward God’s acts of salvation in our Faith’s history and in our own individual faith history. Read More
"Bring It On Home" - God's Creation, That Is! Using Nature to Enhance Your "Little Church"

Department of Religious Education (DRE)

August 31, 2017

We all have moments that stick with us. Some of them remain ingrained in our hearts and minds for dramatic reasons—these are the life changers, for better or worse. Some are subtle yet profound. Those remain with us in a different way, shaping our perspective, causing us to reflect from time to time. Read More
Bringing Orthodoxy to America Panel Discussion

Outreach and Evangelism Ministries

November 7, 2016

Panel Discussion including His Grace Bishop Athanasius (Akunda), Father Evan Armatas, Father Theodore Dorrance, Father Barnabas Powell, and Father Luke Veronis. Bringing Orthodoxy to America: A National Missions and Evangelism Conference was held from October 3-5, 2016 in Portland, Oregon. Read More
Utilizing Media to Make Disciples and Invite Guests - Father Barnabas Powell

Outreach and Evangelism Ministries

November 7, 2016

Fr. Barnabas Powell offers guidance and insight on utilizing the various media outlets available to their full potential in communication our message and bringing people to Orthodoxy at the 2016 Missions and Evangelism Conference - Bringing Orthodoxy to America. Read More
Removing Obstacles in Parish Growth and Leadership - Father Evan Armatas

Outreach and Evangelism Ministries

November 7, 2016

Father Evan speaks on the importance of removing barriers/obstacles to growth and offers a number of planning and evaluation tools for parish leadership and ministry at the 2016 Missions and Evangelism Conference - Bringing Orthodoxy to America. Read More
The Commission for Orthodox Missions and Evangelism / Planting Parishes - Father Theodore Dorrance

Outreach and Evangelism Ministries

November 7, 2016

Father Theodore outlines the process of planting the parish of Beaverton, Oregon and nurturing it to a full-fledged parish, supported 100% by stewardship, with a parochial school, large bookstore and vibrant ministries. From the 2016 Missions and Evangelism Conference - Bringing Orthodoxy to America Read More
Keynote: Bringing Orthodoxy to America - Father Luke Veronis

Outreach and Evangelism Ministries

November 7, 2016

Keynote Address by Fr. Luke Veronis at the 2016 Missions and Evangelism Conference - Bringing Orthodoxy to America. Read More
Opening Remarks on Missions and Evangelism - His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco

Outreach and Evangelism Ministries

November 7, 2016

Introductory remarks and welcome by His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco to the 2016 Missions and Evangelism Conference - Bringing Orthodoxy to America. Read More
Stewards of the Gospel

Church Leadership

November 7, 2016

As Orthodox Christians, we have been given a sacred trust. We have received the treasure of the Gospel – the Good News of Jesus Christ. With this sacred trust comes the great responsibility to share it. Read More
An Extended Family in Christ

Department of Religious Education (DRE)

October 24, 2016

These relationships that we foster within our respective churches can teach us so much about who Christ yearns for us to be. In the parish, we are surrounded by people who share our same values, which is hard to come by otherwise. Though we are all fallen and struggling with sin, we are able to work together as a team and encourage each other toward salvation. Read More
Creating a Church that Reaches Out and Welcomes the Non-religious

Praxis

October 15, 2016

The fastest growing segment of our population, religiously speaking, are those who no longer consider themselves to be affiliated with a religion. To put it bluntly, people are leaving the churches of their parents and grandparents. They are no longer associating themselves with any specific faith tradition. Read More
Beyond Secularism

Praxis

October 15, 2016

Keynote Address of His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America at the "Speaking to Secular America" Conference. Read More
Will They Come Back?

Outreach and Evangelism Ministries

October 15, 2016

Much is being written and said about outreach to the “un-churched” and the “de-churched.” Many positive and creative ideas, programs and resources have been developed, and more are currently being developed. These efforts at bringing people to the local church may be broadly focused or they may be efforts of a local parish in its own community. Whatever the scope of our efforts to educate, inform and bring home the un-churched and dechurched, the critical variable in this equation will always be the local parish. Read More
Our Mother, The Church

Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries (Y2AM)

June 20, 2016

Young people keep leaving the Church, and most of us are very concerned about this. This week, Christian explores this phenomenon through Attachment Theory and suggests that perhaps the Church is losing her young people because she has failed to be there for youth in the way that they need. Read More