Small Parish Forum 2017 

For clergy and lay leaders from small to medium sized Orthodox churches, the Small Parish Forum is an intimate, conference designed to share helpful, hopeful ideas and tools for stabilizing and strengthening parish life.

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Motivation, Hope, Practical Ideas 

Most Orthodox Churches in North America are small. Some have always been small. Some were once large and for various reasons are now smaller. They need motivation, and encouragement to establish a sense that small parishes can live a Life in Christ without necessarily becoming “big”.
 

Theme: Becoming a Community of Engagement

Just as a clinic is not a large metropolitan hospital with fewer beds, small churches are not immature versions of large parishes. While they think, act and feel different small parishes can worship well, care for one another, serve others, teach and share Christ's love with others. 

Doing so requires capitalizing  on opportunities made possible by the intimacy and close relationships inherent in their modest size and tuning their efforts to their unique identity. And, most critically, small churches can't use their small size as an excuse for inactivity and mediocrity.
 

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The Faculty, Topics and Agenda 

The fourth Small Parish Forum will offer lecture, case studies, discussion, structured workshops and small group conversations -- all structured around providing tools and good practices to help small parishes to be authentic icons of Christian community.

The Forum will help attendees to bring back tools and good practices to strengthen their parishes. The Forum will focus on four aspects of “engagement” that are critical to smaller parishes.

Engage In Worship – Enliven your church’s music and worship for everyone.

Engage with Neighbors – Break insularity from the world by reaching out in service to your neighbors.

Engage Across Generations – Harness gifts, experiences & mentoring across multiple generations to build a community of love.

Engage with Your Future – Hope in a bright future requires leadership, an understanding of your identity as a Christian community and shared, lived values.

Forum faculty have experience with small parishes and knowedge of topics critical to small parish life.

Agenda outline will be available approximately June 15.

Register Early -- Space is Limited

To maintain an intimate setting for thoughtful exchange among attendees attendance at the 2017 Forum will be limited to 65 persons.

Qualify for Free Registration and Lodging?

Small parishes from the Archdiocese of Pittsburgh and Western PA and the Diocese of Chicago the Midwest are eligible for scholarships covering Forum registration and lodging. You must register AND attend.  ContactJoe Kormos, Forum co- chairperson to determine eligibility.

Other OCA Dioceses may also offer cost relief. Contact your Diocesan office to determine eligibility. 

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Who Should Attend?

The Forum is designed for  clergy and lay leaders from small Orthodox & Byzantine Catholic parishes. While targetted toward the OCA's Midwest & W. PA Dioceses, attendance is open to any interested clergy or layperson.

Forum content is fresh for 2017. Past participants  will find many new ideas, topics and speakers.