OCA PARISH MINISTRIES CONFERENCE Berea, Ohio June 27-30, 2010
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Transcript of OCA PARISH MINISTRIES CONFERENCE Berea, Ohio June 27-30, 2010
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OCA PARISH MINISTRIES
CONFERENCEBerea, Ohio
June 27-30, 2010
GETTING READY FOR INQUIRERS
WHO THEY ARE
WHAT THEY ASK
WHAT THEY NEED
Presented by Edith Marshall RobertsSt. Mark Orthodox ChurchRochester Hills, Michigan
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The Orthodox
Church needs
converts
The world needs Orthodoxy!
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What We Have Learned About Inquirers:
Overwhelmingly Caucasian
40% Female 60%Male
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Journey to Orthodoxy Begins at Age:
21-30 37%31-40 26%41-50 15%
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Marital Status
53% Married31% Never Married9% Divorced
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High School 12%*College 53%**Masters 20%**PhD, JD 14%
*or some college **or working toward
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Previous Religious Affiliations
Protestants 60% Roman Catholic 22% Episcopalian 12% None/Agnostic 4% Jewish 2%
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Why Orthodoxy?
15% Dissatisfied with current religious affiliation
15% Seeking deeper spiritual life
10% Read something about Orthodoxy
8% Had contact with Orthodox person
8% Invited to Orthodox service
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Historical continuity 92%Structured/unchanging Liturgy 83%
Orthodoxy embodies “fullness of faith” 81%Centrality of tradition 76%Theology is mystical in nature 75%
What They Find Attractive About Orthodoxy
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What Do They Ask?
Questions are based on difficulties and differences they encounter . . .
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Ethnicity of Church 41%
Veneration of The Theotokos 27%
Complexity/Unfamiliarity with Liturgy25%
Orthodox spiritual disciplines 24%
Icons 18%
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Unfamiliar with Eastern mindset 16%
Restriction in participation in sacraments 16%
Beliefs/practices concerning saints 15%
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Theological Questions
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Veneration of Theotokos (27%)
What does “Theotokos”
mean?
Why is she so prominent?
Do you worship the Virgin Mary?
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Icons (18%)
They don’t look realistic like art.
Why do you kiss them?
Are you worshipping them?
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Saints (15%)
Why do you pray to saints?
Why not pray directly to God?
Do you really believe saints pray for you?
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Western vs. Eastern Mindset (16%)
What do you mean by Tradition?
How is God known if not rationally?
What is mystery? Doesn’t God want us to know Him?
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Spiritual Formation
Questions
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Liturgy (25%)
Why so long? (21%)
Why so many repetitions?
When/how do I cross myself?
Why incense?
Can I sit down?
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Sacraments (16%)Why do you think you have the fullness of faith– is everyone else wrong?
Is the bread and wine really the body and blood Christ?
Why is communion “closed”?
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Orthodox Spiritual Disciplines (24%)
Why so many rote prayers?Can I pray for myself using my own
thoughts and words?Why fast? How does that bring me
closer to God?
What about Bible reading? Do the Orthodox study the Bible? Why can’t I interpret the Bible for myself?
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Church Culture & Ethnicity (41%)Pascha basket contents/rationale
Procedures for house blessings
Reading church calendar/fastingRole of Godmother
How do things get done? Who’s in charge
of coffee hour? Job assignments?
How are ideas/suggestions given and realized? What offends?
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What Inquirers Need
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A community that is welcoming . . .
Welcoming committee/greeters
Shepherding person
A worship book which explains the liturgy
Informational brochures about Orthodoxy
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They need to be understood . . .
Their theological background and
questions
Respect for their previous religious affiliation and common beliefs
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Be prepared to answer their questions
An inquirer/catechumen study
Reading and resource materials
Recommended reading list or library