Communities pass through multiples stages on their journey to becoming a parish of the Diocese.

The goal of the process is enable controlled, deliberate maturation of new communities, moving them from exploration to full parish status in ten years or less.

The following is a brief description of the process: (A diagram outlining the process is shown below)

Inquiry
Communities enter into the Diocese' mission program via a written inquiry from a local group, request from a Deanery or sponsoring parish, or as a result of Mission Development Committee planning and target lists.

The local dean and local parishes affected, both OCA and Non-OCA and
are contacted. A target area for the community is proposed. Availability of resources is assessed. if all seems worthy the process moves to the next step.

Mission Exploration/Synaxis
This stage is anticipated to take up to six months and involve a local group of 8-10 persons.

Activties include:

• A meeting with the core group is held

• Agreement on the Target Area and projected location

• Prayer and fellowship meetings for discernment of the potential for a mission

• Occasional service (Reader’s, Typica, etc.)

• Sponsorship (Deanery, “Mother parish,” etc.)

• Assertive personal contacts with Orthodox and non-Orthodox people in the target area )

• Close contact with Mission Department and department training of supply priest and core leadership

• Supply priest develops vision and basic resources with Core Group

• Regular reports to the Mission Director

• Development of a proposal for the episcopal blessing of a Mission Station

Developing Mission
This stage is anticipated to take up to two years and involve a local group of 20 persons.

• Temporary location (rental or “borrowed space”) within the target area is arrenged with episcopal and Mission Department approval

• Supply priest

• Weekly or bi-weekly Divine Liturgies (sometimes augmented by Readers’ Services)

• Development of children’s (Sunday School and youth program) and adult education (Inquirers’ Classes, Outreach educational events, etc.)

• Development of intentional outreach strategy including training of laypersons (meeting the criteria of the Mission Department)

• Mission Department training of prospective priest to be assigned

• Bi-annual reports to the Mission Department with application for funding as necessary

Full Mission
Within 2 years of the beginning of the Mission station period the community is expected to advance to the status of a full mission. The community should now be atl least 15 households. The target from this point until achieviement of parish status is five years -- with ten years as a maximum.

Activities include:

• Name given by Archbishop

• Priest assigned (in conjunction with training by Mission Department)

• Development of full liturgical cycle

• Development of full educational program for all ages

• Ongoing implementation of intentional outreach strategy according to criteria of the Mission Department

• Lease or own building in a location approved by the Archbishop and Mission Director with consultation with the Dean

• By-laws given by the Archbishop

• Diocesan and OCA assessments due

• Mission Council and organizational structure

• Bi-annual reports to the Mission Department with application for funding as necessary

Parish
The final stage in the process is the attainment of full parish status. The criteria for achieving this status are shown here.

 

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