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Developing Vibrant Missions: OCA Mission Handbook | Mission Grants & Stipend Process | Parish Criteria | Mission Planting Criteria | Mission Development Process | Mission Development Committee
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Developing and Nurturing Vibrant Missions
OCA Mission Handbook | Mission Grants & Stipend Process | Parish Criteria | Mission Planting Criteria | Mission Development Process | Mission Development Committee
The primary purpose of the Diocese of the Midwest’s Mission planting effort is to deliver growth to the Diocese by planting new Orthodox communities and nurturing them into healthy, vibrant parishes that give Glory to God.

The Diocese is attempting to use a systematic approach to developing missions. That approach aims to conserve the Diocese’ limited resources and accelerate the calendar time from the first establishment of a mission community to it’s maturation into a healthy permanent parish.

Specific elements of the evolving approach include:
  • Selecting high opportunity sites for planting new missions.
  • Harvesting and applying the Diocese’s best experience and insight to remove barriers and take actions that enable growth and health of missions
  • Overseeing direct cash grants and selective training and development to mission communities
  • Identifying unsuccessful mission efforts sooner so as to redirect energies and resources to more fruitful opportunities. 
  • Setting proper expectations and accountability for all involved
Target goals and measures of success of the mission development effort are:
  • A ‘crop’ of 10-15 healthy new parishes is delivered to the Diocese every ten years (1-2 per year) and;
  • Four out of five of the communities that become designated as missions (plants) grow to become parishes of 50 or more persons within five years and;
  • Three out of five of the missions which become parishes grow to a size of 150 persons within 15 years of their initial planting.
  • Parishes that result from the mission program serve a broad cross section of the communities in which they are located.
 







Parish Visit - Sunday, 02/05/2012
St. Nicholas the Wonderworker Church, Columbus, OH

Wednesday, 02/08 to 02/15/2012
Hogar Rafael Ayau Orphanage, Guatemala, Central America

Parish Visit - Sunday, 02/19/2012
St. Herman's Church, Minneapolis, MN

OCF Visit - Friday, 02/24/2012
His Grace, Bp. Matthias meets with OCF at St. Joseph Church, Wheaton, IL

Parish Visit - Sunday, 02/26/2012
Christ the Savior Church, Chicago, IL

Parish Visit - 03/03 to 03/04/2012
St. Andrew Church, Maple Heights, OH
Saturday - Vespers
Sunday- Morning Divine Liturgy

St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, Rocky River, OH
Sunday of Orthodoxy Speaker (Afternoon)

OCF Weekend - 03/09 to 03/12/12
Kent, Youngstown, Akron, OH

Parish Visit - 03/16 to 03/17/12
Theotokos "Unexpected Joy" Orthodox Church, Ash Grove, MO
Vespers - Friday / Divine Liturgy - Saturday

Parish Visit - 03/17 to 03/18/12
St. Thomas the Apostle Church, Springfield, MO
Vespers - Saturday / Divine Liturgy - Sunday

Parish Visit - 03/25/12
SS. Peter & Paul Cathedral, Detroit, MI
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Bishop of Chicago and the Midwest
927 N LaSalle Blvd
Chicago, IL 60610

Phone: (312) 202-0420

Fax: (312) 202-0427

Email:
chancery@domoca.org
webmaster@domoca.org
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