2023 Parish Development Forum 

1:00 PM EDT Thursday July 13 2023 thru Noon July 15

For Orthodox clergy and laity the Parish Development Forum is a conference which provides an opportunity for discussion of timely topics and discovery of practices used by healthy, vibrant Orthodox parishes.

Co-sponsored by the Western Pennsylvania, Midwest, and the Bulgarian Dioceses of the Orthodox Church in America, the 2023 Forum will be a 2-1/2 day in-person only conference held at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church Parma, Ohio 44134.

Theme: Our Parish and the Future 

At the tenth Forum attendees will face forward -- actively considering what it will take to build a brighter parish future.  Attendees will collaborate on The 2030 Project -- a set of structured, facilitated discussions designed to share experiences and identify the key behaviors, skills and "new muscles" parishes will need to thrive amidst future societal, cultural, demographic and technological trends.  In depth discussions will include:

• Healthy Clergy-Laity Dynamics,  
• Attracting and Integrating Converts intoYour Parish/Sharing the Faith
  
• Connecting Your Parish to the Neighbrhood Community.    
• Additional presentation segments.
  

Convert/Inquirer Survey

To provide useful Forum insight/content, results of a survey of recent converts and inquirers will be shared.  The survey, for converts only, is available here.

Pre-Forum Event

Attendees may participating in an optional, no cost pre-forum trip (15 min away)to visit Cleveland's St. Herman's House of Hospitality, a ministry of FOCUS North America. Indicate your interest on the registration form. 

Space is Limited

To maintain an intimate setting for thoughtful exchange among attendees the 2023 Forum attendance will be limited to 100 persons.  There will be no live streamnig of the Forum sessions.

Register Early -- Before June 22

Registrations received before June 22 will be eligible for a $75 per attendee early bird rate. After June 22 registration will be $150 per attendee. Registration fee includes lunches, dinners, breaks, an attendee reception Friday night & conference materials.

Sponsoring Diocese Attendees

Attendees from sponsoring OCA Dioceses (Western PA, Midwest and Bulgarian Dioceses) will be eligible for a refund of the equivalent of an early bird registration fee ($75) after Forum attendance.

Cancellation

Cancellations received before July 7 will be eligible for a $75 refund. No refunds offered after July 7.