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Parish Health Ministry Notes & Information
Diocese of the Midwest, Orthodox Church in America
Issue: # 2/8 December , 2007
Brothers & Sisters,
As we talk to priests and laity in the Diocese two topics concerning parish life seem to come up often. Improving Parish Communications. Improving Stewardship -- primarily financial but extending to all forms of Christian stewardship and discipleship.
Materials and information on financial stewardship are planned for some time after Jan 1.
On the communications front we have recently completed two articles on improving parish bulletins. Other materials are under development. We preview these articles in this issue of Parish Pulse along with other topics of interest.
Please help us grow the circulation of this publication by asking parish leaders to subscribe or by submitting their addresses to us.
As always we look forward to your feedback.
In Christ,
Joe Kormos,
Parish Health Facilitator, Diocese of the Midwest
513-683-1911
Parish Health Ministry
The Diocese' "Parish Development Engine"
The Parish Health Ministry is a new effort of the Diocese of the Midwest. Click here to learn more.
Join Our List
Diocesan Website Features Videos
An eight minute video profiling the Saturday Lunch Program at St. Gregory of Nyssa parish in Columbus OH can be found by clicking the link above
A new ten minute video titled "Introduction to Orthodox Evangelization". Prepared under the guidance of Fr John Matusiak reminds us of the Gospel imperative to "Go forth and make disciples of all nations..." The video can be found here.
THE POWER OF THANK YOU
While traveling recently a priest invited us to worship with his parish and give a brief talk after liturgy. We asked, "What should they hear?" The answer was simple. "Tell them they're doing a good job!"
The suggestion surprised us - since we knew little about the parish. Then we recalled a teacher who returned to the classroom after thirty years away from teaching. Overwhelmed by the vast differences in tools, texts and technology she was certain that she was useless -- and the principal "totally" hated her. (Note the student lingo.) This led to longer hours, undue stress, even depression. Then one day the school secretary (the school's "nerve center") mentioned "Mrs. ___, everybody around here thinks you're a great teacher - and a great hire for our school."
Life totally changed. She relaxed. She took things in stride - seeing new promise in her students - and becoming an even more effective teacher!
The moral? Saying thank you and acknowledging a good job is a powerful action -- even from those without first hand knowledge. Priests need to hear it. Lay persons need to hear it. Parishes need to hear it. And (apparently) its OK to come from the bottom.
So we'll offer a thank you to all the clergy, laity and parishes in our Diocese that work so hard - sometimes 3 steps forward and 2 ½ back- to build up the Body of Christ in your city or town.
And, thank you to our entire Diocese for endorsing this Parish Health Ministry for another two years!
IMPROVING PARISH COMMUNICATIONS
New Articles Focus on Parish Bulletins: Content and Layout
Having offered opinions on good and bad qualities of parish websites we're now ready to take on another area of parish communications. The Sunday Bulletin and its companion piece the Parish Newsletter.
A priest in our Diocese recently attended a workshop on church communications. When he shared the workshop handouts with us it didn't take long for this statement to catch our attention:
"The bulletin is the second most important piece of Christian literature after the bible."
Oh my! As Orthodox we could offer...
to finish reading this article dealing with bulletin/newsletter content click here
To read the companion article dealing with improving formatting and layout of newsletters and bulletins click here
MUSIC AND ORTHODOX WORSHIP
Liturgical Music Workshop Huge Success
An enthusiastic crowd of 80 persons attended a workshop titled "Heaven and Earth! Music and Orthdox Worship" on Saturday December 1 at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in Parma OH.
The workshop was presented by David Drillock, retired Professor of Liturgical Music at St Vladimir's Seminary and currently chairperson of the OCA's Department of Liturgical Music and Translations.
The workshop, which included brief presentations on the development of various forms of liturgical actions and music liturgical development, practical tips for improving the ministry of choral singers as parish leaders, significant time to practice proper technique and learn new music, concluded with the group singing at vespers.
Attendees represented almost all parishes in the Cleveland deanery as well as non-OCA parishes. Attendees came from as far away as Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and Tennessee.
CLERGY COMPENSATION POLICY FEEDBACK NEEDED
Policy to Be Adopted at 2008 Diocesan Assembly
At the 2007 Diocesan Assembly the Clergy Compensation Committee presented a draft of a new clergy compensation policy for Diocesan parishes.
Feedback is being requested from parishes and deaneries.
Read more here.
The proposed policy can be found here.
AUDIT GUIDE AVAILABLE
Please Use It!
The new Diocesan Finanacial Audit Guidelines were delivered at the Diocesan Assembly. We'll try not to sound amazed, but, we've been told by a number of parishes that:
1. They used it.
2. They liked it and it was helpful.
So we feel confident in recommending that all parishes follow these guidelines in preparing financial audits for 2007.
We're sure the document is not yet perfect. Pass your improvement suggestions to parishfacilitator@midwestdiocese. org.
WINTER YOUTH RETREATS IN DIOCESE
If you are looking for opportunities for youth programs over the holidays or dinner winter months we are aware of three such activities.
• A Youth Retreat for ages 13-19 will be held at Archangel Michael Orthodox Church in Braodview Hts OH. More info can be found by phone at 440-526-5192 or email vai this link
• St John the Forerunner parish in Indianapolis will host a Winter Youth Retreat for aninth grade and older from Saturday December 29 toTuesday Jan. 1 at Camp Riverdale in Southwestern Indiana.Click here to register
• The Chicago deanery will hold its Winter Youth Camp from February 8-10 at Edwards YMCA Camp in East Troy WI. For info contact Fr Steven Hryciniak.
THE CORINTHIANS ARE COMING
Beginning in January a three part series exploring the the first and second books of Corinthians as an insight into modern parish life -- good and bad -- will be presented in Parish Pulse and on the Diocesan website.
MISCONDUCT GUIDELINES
Feedback Solicited
Noting the availability of new materials to guide parish implementation of the OCA Sexual Misconduct Policy, the Diocesan Council has asked us to recommend what information should be provided by parishes to the Diocese to establish that they are in compliance with the policy.
Our initial thought would be that parishes should indicate compliance with at least a subset of the items shown on the Parish Implementation Checklist.
You may have different thoughts. Feel free to let us know. This topic will be discussed at the next Diocesan Council meeting in May.
Other materials can be found here:
Parish Risk Manual
Frequently Asked Questions
Thank you for reading these letters and for the many encouraging comments.
In Christ,
Joe Kormos, Parish Health Facilitator
Diocese of Midwest
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