Javascript Menu by Deluxe-Menu.com
 
 
   

Parish Health & Admin: Better Meetings | Five Practical Suggestions for Parishes | Reorganizing Parish Ministries | Growth and Decline in Our Parish | Commonality: Growing Parishes | Differences: Growing Parishes | Replacement Reserve | Parish Vision
< Back
Parish Health and Administration
Better Meetings | Five Practical Suggestions for Parishes | Reorganizing Parish Ministries | Growth and Decline in Our Parish | Commonality: Growing Parishes | Differences: Growing Parishes | Replacement Reserve | Parish Vision
Replacement Reserve Analysis

Orthodox Christians love their temple -- no matter how elaborate or modest.

Unfortunately many Orthodox parishes are unprepared for funding the true long term cost of ownership of their facilities. Whether the parish facilities are new or ancient it behooves the parish to take a serious look at undertaking a well thought out, comprehensive "Replacement Reserve Analysis". See article
Reducing Risk of Misconduct
Various documents associated with good practices for avoiding the risk of sexual misconduct in parishes can be found here.
Parish Council Webinar

Midwest Diocese Parish Development Ministry leader Joseph Kormos recently delivered a webinar titled Revamping Parish Councils -- and Parish Council Meetings. The session covered:

  •     Roles Responsibilities of PC – an Updated view
  •     Good practices of Parish Councils
  •     Good practices of Parish Council Meetings
  •     Using facilitation in parish council meetings.
  •     Meeting Problems and potential remedies 
Click here for archive recording
Click here for slide download
Growth and Decline in Your Parish
Is your parish showing signs of decline? Fewer worshippers at Divine Liturgy? Smaller church school? Atrophy of once vibrant ministries?

What, if anything, can parishes do about the above?

For those not satisfied with slow decline the following are some thoughts about building urgency for a stronger parish.

Read more
Growing Parishes Are Not All the Same
The recently held Parish Health Summit was one of the few structured Diocesan gatherings in recent memory where priests came together to openly discuss parish life. The environment and agenda was vastly different from Diocesan Assemblies and Clergy Convocations. Summit attendees participated in workshops and exercises designed to openly and fairly describe the strengths and challenges of their parishes.

Read more

Areas of Commonality-- Growing Parishes
The Diocese of the Midwest recently held a Summit for parishes that had demonstrated growth over the past five to ten years.

There was a universal feeling among all present that "our parish is far from a model parish." Warts and imperfections in parish life abounded. Yet, as one listened it was hard not to feel that, in an aggregate sense, the collective insight of those assembled could be used to describe a composite view of good Orthodox parish practices.

1. Ethnic Diversity
None of the parishes in attendance was dominated by a single (traditionally Orthodox) ethnic group.

read more
A Toolbox for Parish Vision Casting


Some call it "strategic planning". Others refer to it as "vision casting". Still other parishes examine critical priorities as part of their stewardship efforts.

Whatever label you put on this effort you will want to carefully consider how you reach out to the parish to engage them in the discussion. For helpful tools click here.


Reorganizing Parish Ministries
if your parish is in the midst of re-thinking your set of parish ministries --adding new and replacing old this article about Holy Trinity Parish in Overland Park KS may be of interest to you.

Read article
Miscellaneous Articles

Tip 1. Get a New Sign
Tip 1. Get a New Sign
Tip 1. Get a New Sign

In preparation for the launch of the Parish Health Ministry we visited each Deanery. Here are some practical impressions left by these visits. By Joseph Kormos

Read article


Looking to be prepared for an anticipated clergy retirement? This article provides insights from four senior priests on what qualities they would look for in  new parish.
Parish Financial Best Practices Manual Available
The parish council at Holy Trinity parish in Overland Park KS recently developed a best practices manual for answering these questions.

The document has been posted here for your review.
Your Parish Budget

You can discern a lot about a parish's sense of excellence, its vision and its priorities from its budget. What does your parish budget say about your parish community? Read article
 







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
  Powered by Orthodox Web Solutions

    


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
 News | Announcements
 All