PARISH CRISIS MANAGEMENT GUIDE 2016 Clergy-Laity Congress Communications Workshops

WHAT IS A PARISH CRISIS? Money Personnel/Organization Disaster (Fire, Floods, Hurricanes, Tornadoes) Sexual Abuse Murder or Other High Profile Death

WHY BE CONCERNED? Media Competition 24 x 7 News Cycle Social Media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) Telephone, Telegram, Tell-A-Greek

LIKELIHOOD OF NEWS COVERAGE Parish Greek Festivals – maybe New building or iconography -maybe Holy Week Services – maybe Bishop’s visit – maybe Orthodox faith - maybe Parish Crisis – Absolutely!

ACTUAL NEWSPAPER HEADLINES Man sexually abused by former priest sues Greek Orthodox diocese Greek Orthodox priest charged with possession of child pornography convicted of sex crime in 1983 Greek priest disappears without telling his wife or congregation Westboro Baptist Church to picket shooting victim’s funeral Murder Victim’s Life Celebrated By Family, Friends

ACTUAL NEWSPAPER HEADLINES-2 Greek Orthodox priest pleads guilty in church theft case, avoids jail Church seeks prosecution of former treasurer in suspected theft of $400K Church ex-Treasurer Begins Prison Term Church Member Accused of Embezzling $1M Greek Church Defrauder Gets 25 Years Man who embezzled $2.1M from Greek church sentenced to 25 years

ACTUAL NEWSPAPER HEADLINES-3 Arrest made in arson fire at Greek Orthodox church Fire Damages Greek Orthodox Church Greek community in mourning after church heavily damaged by fire Massive fire engulfs historic church on Orthodox Easter

ACTUAL NEWSPAPER HEADLINES-4 Priest charged with felony theft of more than $110,000 Police respond as parishioners fight at Greek church Greek Orthodox services shut down after 40% priest pay cut Greek Orthodox council moves to dismiss one of its priests

ACTUAL NEWSPAPER HEADLINES-5 Priest Charged With Sex Abuse Enters Guilty Plea; Gets 6 Years Local Priest Arrested For Trying To Have Sex With Underage Boys Top Greek Orthodox priest, 67, resigns over the kinky foot-fetish sex tapes he made with 45-year-old parochial school principal ‘Cake porn’ priest defrocked amid kinky affair

WHY THE GUIDE? Columbus, Ohio Cathedral had incident which received much media coverage Parish Council developed a Manual for handling such events Manual shared with Archdiocesan Council Communications Committee Committee reviewed and edited document with extensive input from various sources

WHAT IS THE GUIDE? Important steps to consider when dealing with media, and other issues during a parish crisis Assistance to develop a crisis management plan to respond to the unexpected Recommendations could apply also to each Metropolis, the Direct Archdiocesan District, and the Archdiocese

MAIN POINTS Have a plan – don’t wait for something to happen, get legal counsel advice, submit to Metropolis Identify individuals for key roles Provide written statements only to media ‘No comment’ is not the best response Refer clergy questions to Metropolis and/or Archdiocese

MAIN POINTS-2 Have an official parish spokesperson Develop a contact database Use email for statements Use parish social media with thought and care Monitor media reporting Control media access Welcome all to worship services, but with rules

MAIN POINTS-3 Continue planned events and meetings Set up a crisis management center Keep parishioners informed Recognize emotions and concerns Get professional help Encourage discussion If necessary, ask bishop to visit Make everyone feel safe

LAW ENFORCEMENT/GOVERNMENT Maintain contact and cooperate with law enforcement and other government agencies Protect any evidence, secure areas

ONLY A GUIDE Situations will vary Don’t be afraid to ask for help – professionals, especially legal counsel, Metropolis, Archdiocese, government, etc. Remember, the parish is the face of Greek Orthodoxy in the city or town where it is located.

TRUTH If you continue in my word, you are truly My disciples, and you will know the truth and the truth will make you free.” (John 8:31b, 32)