How to Resurrect a Dead, or Otherwise to Save a Dying Orthodox Christian Parish

I could do with ideas as well - our parish is not totally dead but .......

I think I am in the same situation and will follow with interest. Sorry I have no ideas at the moment.

What is making the parish die?

Fortunately my Parish is experiencing the opposite problem! The only way to do so is to increase outreach and evangelism. Have bake sales, Bible study and theological classes, dog festivals (people love pets!) etc there are a myriad of events that can be held that attract people. I heard a convert recently during our Church's Greek festival when I was giving the lectures in the Church say he came for the souvlaki, but stayed for the Theology!

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truefiction1 said:

I think it's a combination of things. It's not an economically growing area where the Church (which is an old parish of about 100 years or so) is. If anything the City has shrunk its manufacturing base considerably over the past 50 years. It could also have something to do with the amount, or quality, of parish leadership (and follower-ship), It seems that all of the traditional Christian Churches here are suffering serious declines in membership, with the elderly members passing away and not being replaced by any newcomers, as the young adults these days seem to more and more find the offerings of their parent's religions to not be very palatable.

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I say plug into the college and youth scene. many young folks are seeking after Truth, because they are ever more seeing the vanity of this world.

and tithe, tithing helps as well. not just to the parish but from the parish to the diocese.

those were the two of the things that my mission parish near Ft Campbell has done, and (thanks large in part to our priest and matushka), we seem to have new folks all the time.

Some thoughts:

Ease up on the ethnic stuff.
Encourage the keeping of the fasts.
Encourage frequent confession.
Encourage interaction/cooperation w/ other Orthodox parishes in the area.
Elect strong Christians, not strong personalities, to the parish council and don't allow the parish council to browbeat the priest.
Strengthen what remains and perhaps God will grant growth.

Some people believe that if you make Orthodoxy easier it will attract more people but I have noticed that the opposite is true.

I don't know enough - our parish is medium-sized, maybe even large for the smallness of the city.

The liturgy is only 1/2 in English. But we have a good many younger people, and new young to middle-aged seem to show up all the time. We have a lot of high-schoolers.

Our fellowship hour often runs to 2 hours, nearly everyone stays. It does seem central in keeping people and making visitors want to stay?

There is normally a weekly Bible study though mostly seniors attended, but it's pretty well attended. Two inquirer/catechumen classes a week, though not a large number there. We do have a huge Greek festival in the fall and have for many years. Father said it only brings in about one new member a year though.

Part of our growth really is ethnic. But we have Ukranians who attend as well, and a scattered few from many other countries.

Our priest does have expectations about things like confession and fasting, but he's also very interested in the person's actual benefit, not being legalistic about it.

He wants to see it grow more, and for us to do more outreach. I think he thinks we're not reaching outside the ethnic group enough. But our parish seems healthy, from an attendance standpoint.

Just observations, no advice.

He asked if we have suggestions to better present the Church as being a Church, and for everyone, at the Festival, since the better part of the local population attends. They give Church tours, and if think that's about it.

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"How to Resurrect a Dead, or Otherwise to Save a Dying Orthodox Christian Parish"

Heal the sick, raise the dead, preach the Gospel, seek His righteousness. They will come in by the droves.

My spiritual father and I were just having that convo the other day. He said to show the love of Christ within your parish and within the community the church is in. That that is the most important thing first off.

Dorothea said:

My spiritual father and I were just having that convo the other day. He said to show the love of Christ within your parish and within the community the church is in. That that is the most important thing first off.

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In what ways do you show the love?

simplegospel1144 said:

In what ways do you show the love?

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Well, I would assume he means to be Christ-like to others. Forgiving, charitable, peacemakers, helpful, generous, etc.

Make one killer coffee hour!

simplegospel1144 said:

In what ways do you show the love?

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I was thinking of testimony

gurneyhalleck1 said:

Make one killer coffee hour!

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Seriously.

And I don't mean the food, or the socializing. Once I was accepted, those little old ladies LOVE me. There are those who take the young ones under their wing, talking to them and teaching them. Whatever you need, the Church pulls together to do it. I have felt real love from so many, and I have real love for them.

It is the real functioning of Community, as I have very, very rarely seen in other churches, that made me want to stay and become involved. I was treated like family, very quickly. (Immediately by some, and slightly longer for a few.)

We worked our way up. In the Catholic parish we were in, ZERO coffee hour. Then we went to an Anglican parish for about seven years and they had a modest coffee hour with, hard to believe, coffee! LOL....but mostly little finger foods. Then we go to the Orthodox church and it's like Hometown Buffet!

Kylissa said:

Seriously.

And I don't mean the food, or the socializing. Once I was accepted, those little old ladies LOVE me. There are those who take the young ones under their wing, talking to them and teaching them. Whatever you need, the Church pulls together to do it. I have felt real love from so many, and I have real love for them.

It is the real functioning of Community, as I have very, very rarely seen in other churches, that made me want to stay and become involved. I was treated like family, very quickly. (Immediately by some, and slightly longer for a few.)

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