Enriching Catechism BecomingLife-long Learners

A Working Definition: 1986 Dept Rel Ed Greek Orthodox Archdiocese - “purpose is to help build up the Church by nurturing every person in personal communion with the Holy Trinity...(through content of Orthodox Faith and Orthodox Life)” The Orthodox Catechist

“To educate every Jewish child and young adult to be active, educated, observant and personally fulfilled members of the Jewish community” Mission of Modern Orthodox Zionist

“You shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and even to the remotest parts of the world” Acts: 1:8

“We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making his appeal through us...” 2 Corinthians 5:20

a believer (Jn.11:25-26; Acts 16:30-31) a follower (Mt.16:24; Jn. 13:15) a learner (Jn. 8:31-2; 1 Tim. 2:15) a witness (Mk. 5:18-19; 1 Peter 3:15) baptized (Acts 2:38,41-42; 22:16) a reproducer ( Mt. 28:19; Jn. 15:8) Discipleship

kleis - from word kaleo (to call) klino (to incline) latin vocacio - to summon “the basic call is to be fully human, growing in holiness so as to fulfill the image of God in us, in which we have been creatd by the redeeming and saving word of Jesus Christ” (Fr. Stanley Harakas - vocation and Ethics) Vocation and Calling

it is as if we are on the Titanic and the priority is re- arranging the deck chairs Current state of spiritual crisis

Some Observations NATIONAL CHURCH ATTENDANCE - LOW SACRAMENRTS OF BAPTISMS AND MARRIAGES ARE DOWN Baptisms (Nationally) dropped from 1987 at 8500 to 6200 in 2011 Marriages (Between Orthodox) dropped from 1987 at 1900 to 1000 in 2011 Marriages (Between Inter-Christian) dropped from 1987 at 3700 to 1500 in 2011 Attendance at Religious Educational Programs low In general our spiritual IQ (if you will) is lower than it ought to be We lack as a church the ability to think critically and knowledgeably and to express this to others A re-prioritization is needed as our Religious Education has become marginalized by other issues: building programs, fund raising, festivals etc.

If a visitor passes by our church they make two critical observations based on how we have presented ourselves - after 2000 years and 200 years in this country - the response is? Your the “Greek Church” “I love your Festivals” Who are we?

Participation in Oratorical Festivals in DOXA Conferences in Bible Studies in Sunday School in Retreats in Young Adult OCF in Adult Discussions - Orthodoxy on Tap Religious Education Participation

Some Statistics When asked about the importance of handing down one’s religious beliefs: Nine in ten parishioners (89%) surveyed feel keeping their children in the Orthodox Church is essential Out of 80% of Church school teachers report that “parents disinterest in their children’s religious education is a major problem Survey showed that only three in ten (28%) struggle withe the ability to talk about their faith Resource: The Orthodox Church Today: A National Study of Parishioners and the Realities of Orthodox Parish Life in the USA By Alexei D. Krindatch, Patriarch Athenagoras Orthodox Institute, Berkeley, CA. (2008).

Survey finds US Jews losing their religion Jews are overwhelmingly proud to be Jewish, yet nearly one in five describe themselves as having no religion according to a Pew Research Center survey yesterday The gap is generational with 32% of Jewish Millenials identifying themselves as Jewish on basis of ancestry, ethnicity or culture - compared to 93% of Jews born in who identified themselves on basis of their faith Americans as a whole not just Jews increasingly eschew any religious affiliation with 22% of all Americans identifying with no particular faith ARE WE ALONE IN THIS STRUGGLE?

Does our Faith have a sustainable future? How do we define sustainable future? Sustainable difference means to deliver greater value to customers (parishioners) than competitors over the long run What is sustaining us as a Faith in the future? And are we investing in this to be competitive? What will our Church look like in years as other denominations are growing exponentially aroud us? After a brief poll from Clergy in Boston Metropolis the consensus was: The Clergy are currenrtly offering a varied Religious Education Program in their parishes The current materials ought to be reviewed Other lesson time for Religious Education other than Sundays was recommended For all Clergy - Catechism was a priority amidst numerous other programs

Text Teacher certification Greater resources Mission trips Re-orient parish priorities Are we effective in passing our Orthodox Faith to the next generation and if not what more can be done?

My small contribution 1. Meet monthly with Religious Education Teaching Staff for their enrichment 2. Yearly Staff Retreat before Ecclesiastical Year begins (Dr. Vrame came this year) 3. Offer multiple teaching liturgies per year (4-6) 4. Offer children’s sermons 5. Address children on religious themes at Afternoon Greek School 6. Have religious Education classes at parishioner’s homes once a month 7. Have Orthodoxy 101 Inquirer’s Class after Liturgy once a month for 1/2 hour 8. Offer Religious Retreats during Advent and Great Lent 9. Hold 15 minute Bible Studies at each Parish Council meeting 10. Encourage Religious Educators to attend DOXA and Oratorical Festivals 11. Offer a Spiritual book of the month to read for the parish 12. Beginning Orthodoxy on Tap with Adults in parish

S - identify our strengths W - identify our weaknesses O - identify our opportunities T - identify our threats SWOT

Considerations: