Creating Vibrant Orthodox Parishes

A Framework for Renewal

Metropolis of Denver

Friday, May 31, 2013 – Kansas City, MO

Archpriest Jonathan Ivanoff

Director, ONCD America Certified NCD and CoachNet Coach

Presenter • • • • •

Fr. Jonathan Ivanoff

Pastor • St. John the Theologian Church; Long Island (1993) Director & Certified Coach, • Orthodox Natural Church Development (2002) Director • Commission on Missions & Evangelism, OCA Diocese of NY&NJ (2010) Presenter, • Church Growth Boot Camp, 1999 – 2002 Worked nearly 100 parishes in multiple jurisdictions since 1998

Outline • Intro & Objectives • The Imperative – Parish Revitalization • Basics of Healthy Parishes – Scriptural & Patristic • Action Framework • Conclusion & Open Discussion

The Imperative “Houston (and Denver, Kansas City, Omaha, El Paso, etc.) we have a problem”

The Problem “Outside” “In North America…Christianity generally, not to speak of Orthodoxy, is not a respected, accepted and supported part of public life and education, but is rather warred against, scorned and ridiculed by powerful forces in society.” -

Fr Thomas Hopko Dean Emeritus, St. Vladimir’s Seminary

The Problem “Inside” “We must change from an exclusive and all-absorbing focus on our parish to an awareness of the existence of people outside of our parishes. …

The Problem “Inside” …People who have the right to know what we know as the truth of God, to taste the joy of participating in our ecclesial community, and to experience the blessings we experience to be with God as we are by being Orthodox Christians....

The Problem “Inside” …We are no longer a Church looking for survival. Such an understanding of ourselves belongs to the past. We cannot be a self centered, self-enclosed Greek Orthodox ecclesiastical body, limited to itself and directing its energy exclusively within itself. We cannot be a Ghetto Church .” Biennial Clergy –Laity Congress -Archbishop DEMETRIOS, 40 th

The Demographic Timebomb Births and Baptisms (not conversions) Weddings 1990 2000 2010 2020

Orthodoxy in America The territorial Church in the continental US has not kept pace with the population growth

13% 6-9% Note1:

Continental U.S. only!

Note2:

Decline is slowing

Is This All About Numbers?

• • No… •

Stay tuned

But Numbers are NOT Unimportant • • • • Acts 2:47 • “and the Lord added to their number daily” Early Church • Evangelistic numerical growth necessary lest Christianity be an insignificant historical footnote.

Often a “trailing indicator” of healthy parish qualities.

Nothing buoys parish spirit more than growth.

The Imperative: Revitalization

Root (“Rut”) Causes •

Unwilling to change/learn

•

No competence for “intentionality”

• Setting goals; explicit actions •

Isolated & insulated

• Don’t know what people thirsting for • Don’t know what to do •

Lack updated/relevant models of healthy parishes

Maybe We’re Asking the Wrong Questions?

Is it:

“How can we get more people to come to church ?”

or …

“What can we do to make our church grow?”

What’s the Right Question?

**OR**…Is it:

“What are we doing that’s preventing our church from growing?”

How Does a Church Grow?

“I planted...”

We have to

“Apollos watered...”

do our part

“But GOD gave the growth.” “We are God’s

fellow workers

” – St. Paul, I Corinthians 3:6-9

So God can do His

The “All by Itself” Principle

“The Kingdom of God is like a farmer who casts seed upon the ground… the seed sprouts up and grows – how, he himself does not know. The earth produces crops, all by itself, first the blade, then the head and then the mature grain in the head.”

– Mark 4:26-28

The Parish Life Cycle Plateau Stages Characteristics

Dynamics

Ministry Structure Nostalgia Maintenance

Organization

Maturity Goals Questioning

Control

Growth Ethos Polarization Decline

Leadership

Birth Dreams

Conflict

Leave Death

Revitalization is a Process The 7-Year Turnaround Cycle: Year 1 Declines

will

continue while turnaround efforts are undertaken Year 7

The Revitalized PLC Maturity Ministry Growth & multiplication

Renewal

Re-Focus w/new vision & mission Deepening commitment & spirituality Goals Growth Ethos & values Birth Dreams

WHAT IS “CHURCH HEALTH”?

For far too long, parishes have been focusing so much on producing “fruit” (i.e., members)… …that they fail to consider the “root” that produces the fruit

3

Modern Patristics: St. Innocent of Alaska “Remember always that the conversion of a sinner or a heathen to the right path comes not from us or from our skill, but

directly

and

solely

from

God

.”

The Biblical Concept

“See/consider (

καταμάθετε)

the lilies of the field, how they grow...“

- Matthew 6:28

The Biblical Concept, cont.

“The Kingdom of God is like a farmer who cast seed upon the ground; and goes to bed at night and gets up by day, and the seed sprouts up and grows, how he does not know. The earth produces crops

all by itself

: first the blade, then the head, and then the mature grain in the head. – Mark 4:26-28

all by itself

5

The Biblical Concept...in practice

“I planted… Apollos watered… But God gave the growth .”

St. Paul, I Corinthians 3

NCD is all about releasing the “all by itself” growth by which God Himself grows His church

5

Vine and Branches – John 15 With health comes growth: This is how healthy branches grow and bear fruit...

naturally

. This is how we can speak of

“natural” church development.

God Wants to Grow His Church… …and has empowered us for the job:

“All authority has been given to me… therefore:

Go

make disciples…

baptizing

them…

teaching

– Matt 28:18ff them…

The Key Question:

How can we release the potential that God has placed within EVERY church?

7

The Biblical Foundation of Parish Health: The Paralytic Bodily Health & Wholeness:

“Do you want to be made well?” (notice the answer!)

The Body of Man vs. The Body of Christ: The Same Approach 6

The Patristic Viewpoint “Do you not realize that the body (of Christ) is liable to more diseases and attacks than this flesh of ours, and that it is infected more quickly and cured more slowly.” - St. John Chrysostom,

On the Priesthood 4.2

6

Our Parish Now...

4

FRAMEWORK FOR ACTION

Action Steps to Take 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Build Urgency Create a Core Group: CHT Adopt Proven Assessment Tools & Processes Training and Coaching Focus Effort Try New Things!

Build Urgency

Face Facts

$1 600 $1 400 $1 200 $1 000 $800 $600 $400 $200 $-

Average Annual Donations By Age

<40 40-50 50-60 60-70

Age Range

70-80 >80

Member Household Breakdown by Age

35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% 12% 8% 23% 11% <40 40-50 50-60

Age Range

60-70 “Get the facts first. You can change them later.”

Mark Twain.

16% 70-80 30% >80

Build Urgency

Ask Good Questions

How long do we want this parish to live?

Do we want to grow? Really? Why?

Are we achieving what we set out to achieve?

What do we do best in our parish? Best assets?

What does excellence look like in area of ___? Attributes of Healthy/Not Healthy Parish?

Create a Core Group to Help Drive Change: the CHT 1.Love the parish 2.Spiritual gits: • Evangelism • Communication • Administration/Organization • Time! (not involved in other things) • Leave ego at the door

Adopt Proven Assessment Tools

Orthodox Natural Church Development (“ONCD”)

http://oncd.us

Training • 1 day, 5-6 hours • Covers entire 18+/- month cycle •

Workbook

, hands-on sessions • Grouped by city if desirable

Coaching • Not consulting!

• Hourly teleconferences: One, two, twelve/cycle or as needed • Post-survey analysis, post-cycle analysis, monthly cycle review and trouble-shooting • Future: Metropolis resources

Quantifying the Healthy Parish

Some Examples…

Focus Your Efforts The Minimum Barrel

Staves equate to 8 essential parish health characteristics

Imagine (& Try) New Things • Greek School? “NT School!” • Iconography exhibits • Speakers: Protestant/Evangelical converts and their journey • Liturgical music concerts • Can the non-O participate?

• Other ideas?

More Help from OCND • • • • http://oncd.us

: ABCs of NCD PDFs Webinars Online info • • • • Workshops (hands-on):

Values/Vision/Mission Spiritual Gifts Small Groups Effective Leadership

A Warning! (or two…)

CONCLUSION

Drivers of Growth are Under Your Control If the previous info is just

too complicated

…

then just do this: 1.

Come to church!

2.

Do something for others 3.

Make people aware of your parish 4.

Engage newcomers (guests) with care, warmth 5.

Give them a reason to return – expressed and experienced

God Desires to Bless His People!

“

For I know the plans that I have for you,”

says the Lord,

“ plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope

.” - Jeremiah 29:11

A Parting Thought

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

- Joshua 1:9

QUESTIONS? CONCERNS?

53