| Parish Health Reflective Articles Available |
|
 Dimensions of a Healthy Orthodox Parish
In our first communique we mentioned that part of our challenge is building healthier, vibrant parishes is to build a common view as to what that means. To do this we need to talk about it. In our parishes and in cross parish gatherings. (Over coffee at lenten Mission vespers?)
To begin the conversation we asked lay leaders from two Diocesan parishes to offer a brief refection on the Dimensions of a healthy Orthodox parish in 21st century America.
In her article, Vicki Jones Parish, council president at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in Overland Park KS, mentions that during any of the fasts of our Church, it is appropriate to ponder the attributes of vitality. After all, we fast to increase our awareness of the fullness of the Church and the feast to come. Our life in the Church is never more acutely proscribed than in a Lenten period.
Anne Marie Gidus-Mecera, Lay Vice Chair at St Gregory of Nyssa, Orthodox Church in Columbus OH notes that "because we live in a society in which Orthodoxy is not the major religion, Orthodox Americans are challenged to work within the framework of our culture to make the Truth accessible to its people"
Finally we are happy to share an invited article form St. Alexis parish in Clinton CT in the Diocese of New England. They offer that "just as a family believes in continuous education, regular income, a structure for getting things done, regular attandance at meal time and leadership based on sound principles, so should a parish family.
Each article offers complementary though compatible perspectives on the topic of what healthy parishes look and feel like -- and how to build them.
Now its your turn. Complete this sentence:
A healthy parish ________. What have they missed? Let us hear from you. |
| On Line Surveys and Info Collection |
|
 Parish Metrics & Clergy Compensation
Each parish and mission should have received a letter requesting you to provide important information on-line. (Many already have.)
Parish rectors and priests-in-charge of Missions can provide 2007 (Year end 2006) Parish Census data by following this link. The on-line survey will guide you through submitting data. The form requests additional demographic information about parishes that can be helpful in understanding the characteristics of our parish faithful.
In addition the Diocesan Council has initiated a committee to review clergy compensation policies for the Diocese. As a first step a survey to understand current compensation levels and practices has been developed. Parish rectors/ mission priests in charge can access the form here. |
| Diocesan Website Under Construction |
|
 New & Improved Version To Be Available......Soon
Our Diocesan website is undergoing a major facelift. The new site will be available... well just be patient. We all have a story about "Orthodox time". (Insert your favorite here.)
In the interim items on the current site may be out of date or awkwardly located. Please bear with us.
For our parish health related materials we have created a crude temporary home. You get there by clicking here. |
| What Are We Studying |
|
Adult Education Covers Various Topics
 One important tool for building good parishes is to connect to one another's good ideas and practices.
Since we receive bulletins from about 15 diocesan parishes, we thought it might be useful to share what parishes are doing in terms of adult education.
Here is a list of topics some have covered in the recent (or not so recent) past: (presented mostly without attribution since our notes didn't in all cases capture which parishes were doing which.)
What have we missed from your parish that others would find helpful? Let us know. |
