1. Metropolis of Boston
Parish Council
Training Seminar
2016

2. Parish Mission Statement

3. Today’s Goals
- To create an identity for ourselves as parish councilors.
- To understand our responsibilities and challenges.
- To learn some strategies for overcoming the challenges.
- To discuss roles, responsibilities and best practices in our parishes.

4. Who Are We and What Do We Do?
We are Christians.
Not only do we believe in Jesus Christ, we also follow Him in every aspect of His life. These things can only occur when we truly know Christ.
We put people and ministry first, above budgets and by-laws.
We bring honor/dignity to ourselves and others (philotimo).
We educate all ages with the wisdom of God.
We serve as agents of healing for the spiritual and physically ill.
We reach out and assist the poor in our own communities and throughout the world.
We help our leaders – clergy and laity – in making the Church work for the benefit of all.

5. Who Are We and What Do We Do?
We are Orthodox.
We come from and are inheritors of the Church and the Faith founded by Jesus Christ Himself and His Apostles. Their faith must be our faith as well.
Like the leaders for any organization, we need to know our “Charter”. For us, the Scriptures serve as the basis for all that we do as Orthodox Christians.
Observing the spiritual discipline of the Church is also a sign of our commitment i.e. fasting, receiving Communion weekly, worshipping regularly, praying daily
We don’t depend only on the priest to educate us in the faith. Being Orthodox means participating classes our clergy offer on the faith of the Church.
We do depend on the Church for guidance and grace, looking for blessings upon ourselves and our families, i.e., sacraments, house blessings, visitations.

6. Who Are We and What Do We Do?
We are Stewards.
Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you have received. 1Peter 4:10
We are managers of the affairs of God on earth. We are entrusted by God with His Church and empowered to share our abilities and talents with the whole Body.
Christian stewards serve God and His Church out of love and gratitude for their gifts knowing that what we DO with WHAT WE HAVE is most important.
We must never lost sight of the fact that the Church belongs to God and that the ministry we do is representing Him to the whole world.
Being generous goes a long way in changing the culture of Church that has fallen into apathy and neglect.

7. Who Are We and What Do We Do?
We are Councilors.
Our mission is spiritual. Our work is holy. Our task is to reflect God to the world.
As councilors, we meet and discuss the affairs and ministries of the Church together so that everyone is informed and able to contribute the good functioning of the parish.
As Jesus had His disciples, and as the Patriarch, Archbishop, and Metropolitan have their councils (synods), so the priest has his own council – of which he is a member – to assist him with the ministry and administration of the Church.

8. Discussion Question
What strategies, committees or programs has your councilor initiated that have yielded positive results?

9. Who Are We and What Do We Do?
We are Co-Ministers.
For we are co-workers (συνεργοί) belonging to God. You are God’s field,
God’s building.
1Corinthians 3:9

10. Who Are We and What Do We Do?
We are Co-Ministers.
Uniform Parish Regulations: The Parish shall establish educational and philanthropic activities to foster the aims and mission of the Parish and to edify its parishioners in the Faith and ethos of the Church.
It is a temptation to believe that the Parish Council simply handles the money and pays the bills. The Council’s primary responsibilities are to fund and support the ministry of the priest and the whole parish.
At the very least, council members should be volunteering for one of many ministries the parish offers: Sunday School, Visitation Ministry, Greeters, Outreach, Internet and website communication/publicity, Soup Kitchen, etc.
The greatest ministry of all is worship in that it feeds us all with the grace and power to fulfill every other ministry. It’s good for parishioners to seeing council members worshipping, bowing, crossing, singing, and participating.

11. ~ Saint John Chrysostom ~
“The most basic task of the Church leader is to discern the spiritual gifts of all those under his authority, and to encourage those gifts to be used to the full for the benefit of all.”
~ Saint John Chrysostom ~

12. Give Leadership Responsibility to Parishioners
Ideally, each ministry pro-gram, activity, or event is headed by a parishioner who is not a member of the Parish Council. Thus the primary role of a Parish Council member assigned to a ministry is to oversee the work and serve as liaison for the Parish Council.

13. Role of the Parish Council Member as Liaison
While it is not necessary to lead a ministry, we contribute to it through participation and proper funding
- Assist in organizing and improving the ministry
- Recruit and develop leadership for the ministry
- Monitor each ministry’s progress & intervene when necessary
- Support and encourage the ministry’s workers
- Assisting with budgeting through the Council
- Acknowledge work & progress both privately and publicly

14. How Do We Manage the Parish?
Uniform Parish Regulations (UPR)
of the
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
And a parish’s own by-laws which are in harmony with and supplement the UPR mentioned above.
Uniform Parish Regulations: Article 15 Section 1
The Parish is the local Eucharistic community of the Church in a given
locality; organized under the jurisdiction of the Archdiocese whose ecclesiastical authority is its canonically consecrated Hierarch. Locally, the Parish is headed by a canonically ordained and duly appointed Priest. The assignment of such appointed Priest shall bind the Parish to the Archdiocesan Regulations, Uniform Metropolis Regulations and Uniform Parish Regulations with the same force and effect as if the
same were formally approved and adopted by the Parish.

15. Discussion Question
What is the primary role of the priest?

16. UPR Important Aspects to Understand
Article 17, Section 1, Clergy
The Priest by virtue of his canonical ordination and assignment heads and administers the Parish and exercises on its behalf the priestly duties, which consist in shepherding the Parish entrusted to his care, directing its orderly life, preserving its unity and keeping it faithful to its divine purpose.

17. UPR Important Aspects to Understand
Article 17, Section 1, Clergy
He shall sanctify his parishioners through the administration of the sacraments and the performance of all other prescribed services of worship. He shall also proclaim the Gospel and impart knowledge of the doctrines, traditions, canons and disciplines of the Church.

18. UPR Important Aspects to Understand
Article 17, Section 1, Clergy
Further, he shall guide the growth and progress of the Parish in the Christian life through the performance of his pastoral duties.
Priests are accountable to their respective Hierarch and will submit a report of their ministry to him at least annually.

19. UPR Important Aspects to Understand
Parish Council members are accountable to their priest, parish general assembly, and hierarch for conducting the affairs of the parish, keeping with the mission, aims and purpose of the Church.
The Parish Council must also understand and adhere to the Archdiocesan Regulations (UPR), as well as federal, state, and local statutes which apply to the parish.

20. The Challenge of the Millennials
Millennials (today’s 18- to 30-year-olds) are leaving the Church in record numbers … and more than 60% are not returning. Studies say they are the LEAST religious generation EVER. Of course, this is far from new information.

21. The Challenge of the Millennials
But a new study uncovers key findings that help reveal unique characteristics about the Millennial generation, plus practical ways churches can connect with and engage today’s young adults.
The following are five questions to ask yourself and your team as you pray and plan to reach this unique group:

22. 5 Things Millennials Wish the Church Would Be
1. Is our church real or relevant, authentic or pretentious?
Millennials are looking for authenticity. Unfortunately, a lot of churches today are striving to win over young adults by being relevant. Consider what Leadership Journal Managing Editor Drew Dyck identifies as the potential point of connection:
“Millennials have a dim view of church. They are highly skeptical of religion. Yet they are still thirsty for transcendence. But when we portray God as a cosmic buddy, we lose them (they have enough friends). When we tell them that God will give them a better marriage and family, it’s white noise (they’re delaying marriage and kids or forgoing them altogether). When we tell them they’re special, we’re merely echoing what educators, coaches, and parents have told them their whole lives. But when we present a ravishing vision of a loving and holy God, it just might get their attention and capture their hearts as well.”

23. 5 Things Millennials Wish the Church Would Be
2. Is our church clear in our visual messaging?
One of the key ways your church can convey authenticity is by ensuring that what a person sees, hears, and experiences when he or she walks into your worship service is consistent with the messages heard or communicated in the service. This study refers to this consistency between experience and messaging as visual clarity.
“Visual clarity is huge,” says a researcher. “We walked into a few churches that didn’t have good signage, and we just wandered around. We weren’t sure where to go—and Millennials don’t want to ask. We just want to go in and experience the space without having to ask someone, especially if it’s our first time at church.”
In our church bulletins, we should not use codes, acronyms, or personal names unless we explain them for guests, and make connecting with them foolproof.

24. 5 Things Millennials Wish the Church Would Be
3. Is our church setting a place of action or rest?
One of the ways churches can help point people to God regardless of their facility’s architecture is by bringing nature into the church setting. Millennials say nature helps them connect with God and it helps provide an antidote to a need they voiced in the Making Space for Millennials research—the need for respite.
“Our culture is highly fragmented and frenetic, and there are few places to take a breather and gain much-needed perspective. Ironically, most churches offer what they think people want: more to do, more to see. Yet that’s exactly the opposite of what many young adults crave when it comes to sacred space.”
So, millennials prefer traditional architecture, authenticity of message, and a feeling of rest/separation from the world when they do come to church.

25. 5 Things Millennials Wish the Church Would Be
4. Is our church “being” Jesus?
At Clear River Church where 80% of the congregation is 39 years old and under, activity takes a backseat. “We don’t do a lot of activity,” says Lead Pastor Tony Ranvestel. “We call people to follow Jesus; that’s our primary activity. If you follow Jesus, this leads to serving and justice.”
All who attend worship are encouraged to become members and join a small group. That’s it. No mandatory missions, membership in sub-groups like Philoptochos or GOYA, and no commitment to serve on a council or committee.
This is a difficult point for the Orthodox because “being like Jesus” means serving. We need to understand that millennials were not raised to serve but to be served. So, bringing them in, creating relationships, and offering them what no one else can – an experience of God – will still lead to participation and works of ministry.

26. 5 Things Millennials Wish the Church Would Be
5. Is our church helping Millennials find mentors?
Millennials don’t feel the same sense of obligation to attend church that previous generations may have. At the same time, being part of a faith community can provide young adults with exactly the mentorship and guidance they crave from older adults.
Research shows that young adults who
remain involved in a local church beyond their
teen years are twice as likely as those who don’t
have a close personal friendship with an older
adult in their faith community (59% vs. 31%
among church dropouts).

27. Discussion Question
What ministries/programs or culture have you seen in your parish or other parishes that have attracted young adults?

28. How Do We Respond As a Church?
Effective ministry to Millennials means helping young believers discover their own mission in the world, not merely asking them to wait their turn.
It also means calling out Millennials to share their knowledge about how to navigate life in this digital age. The term “reverse mentoring” describes the reciprocal sharing between young and established leaders. The older generations need to be mentored by the young as much as the reverse.
We need to open our minds, hearts, pocketbooks, and facilities to them to show us what they need the church and the faith of Christ to be in their own lives.

29. How Do We Respond As a Church?
Listening, Vision and Empowerment
Our parishes need to listen to our young people and provide them with opportunities to question and express doubt.
People can only be empowered by a vision they understand.
Understanding is enhanced by participation. Millennials don’t feel committed to traditions. They may alter the way things have been done for a very long time.
Participation produces empowerment.

30. How Do We Respond As a Church?
Modeling, Cooperating, Supervising, Parting
I do it. You watch me do it.
I do it and you do it with me.
You do it and I watch you do it.
You do it and I do something else in parish ministry.

31. Closing Thought
The parish operates most effectively in an atmosphere of peace, love, and unity. That is our highest goal.
Taking care of the finances and physical church are certainly important aspects of the parish council’s job but parish council meetings should give at least equal time to the true mission of the church: saving souls.
When that task is done well, the whole Body benefits.

32. Thank You for Your Service to Christ’s Church.