1. PARISH CRISIS MANAGEMENT GUIDE
2016 Clergy-Laity Congress
Communications Workshops

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

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

4. 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!

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

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

14. 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

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

16. 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.

17. 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)