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Enriching Catechism BecomingLife-long Learners. A Working Definition: 1986 Dept Rel Ed Greek...

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Enriching Catechism BecomingLife-long Learners
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Enriching CatechismBecomingLife-long Learners

A Working Definition:1986 Dept Rel Ed Greek Orthodox Archdiocese - “purpose is to help build

up the Church by nurturing every person in personal communion with the Holy Trinity...(through content

of Orthodox Faith and Orthodox Life)”

The Orthodox Catechist

“To educate every Jewish child and young adult to be active, educated, observant and personally fulfilled

members of the Jewish community”

Mission of Modern Orthodox Zionist

“You shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and even to the remotest parts of

the world”

Acts: 1:8

“We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making his appeal through us...”

2 Corinthians 5:20

a believer (Jn.11:25-26; Acts 16:30-31)a follower (Mt.16:24; Jn. 13:15)

a learner (Jn. 8:31-2; 1 Tim. 2:15)a witness (Mk. 5:18-19; 1 Peter 3:15)

baptized (Acts 2:38,41-42; 22:16)a reproducer ( Mt. 28:19; Jn. 15:8)

Discipleship

kleis - from word kaleo (to call)klino (to incline)

latin vocacio - to summon“the basic call is to be fully human, growing in holiness so as to fulfill the image of God in us, in which we have been creatd by the redeeming and saving word of Jesus

Christ” (Fr. Stanley Harakas - vocation and Ethics)

Vocation and Calling

it is as if we are on the Titanic and the priority is re-arranging the deck chairs

Current state of spiritual crisis

Some ObservationsNATIONAL CHURCH ATTENDANCE - LOW

SACRAMENRTS OF BAPTISMS AND MARRIAGES ARE DOWN Baptisms (Nationally) dropped from 1987 at 8500 to 6200 in 2011 Marriages (Between Orthodox) dropped from 1987 at 1900 to 1000 in 2011 Marriages (Between Inter-Christian) dropped from 1987 at 3700 to 1500 in 2011

Attendance at Religious Educational Programs low

In general our spiritual IQ (if you will) is lower than it ought to be We lack as a church the ability to think critically and knowledgeably and to express this to others

A re-prioritization is needed as our Religious Education has become marginalized by other issues: building programs, fund raising, festivals etc.

If a visitor passes by our church they make two critical observations based on how we have presented

ourselves - after 2000 years and 200 years in this country - the response is?Your the “Greek Church”

“I love your Festivals”

Who are we?

Participation in Oratorical Festivalsin DOXA Conferences

in Bible Studiesin Sunday School

in Retreatsin Young Adult OCF

in Adult Discussions - Orthodoxy on Tap

Religious Education Participation

Some StatisticsWhen asked about the importance of handing down one’s religious beliefs:

Nine in ten parishioners (89%) surveyed feel keeping their children in the Orthodox Church is essential

Out of 80% of Church school teachers report that “parents disinterest in their children’s religious education is a major problem

Survey showed that only three in ten (28%) struggle withe the ability to talk about their faith

Resource: The Orthodox Church Today: A National Study of Parishioners and the Realities of Orthodox Parish Life in the USA By Alexei D. Krindatch, Patriarch Athenagoras Orthodox Institute, Berkeley, CA. (2008).

Survey finds US Jews losing their religion

Jews are overwhelmingly proud to be Jewish, yet nearly one in five describe themselves as having no religion according to a Pew Research Center survey yesterday

The gap is generational with 32% of Jewish Millenials identifying themselves as Jewish on basis of ancestry, ethnicity or culture - compared to 93% of Jews born in 1914-27 who identified themselves on basis of their faith

Americans as a whole not just Jews increasingly eschew any religious affiliation with 22% of all Americans identifying with no particular faith

ARE WE ALONE IN THIS STRUGGLE?

Does our Faith have a sustainable future?

How do we define sustainable future?

Sustainable difference means to deliver greater value to customers (parishioners) than competitors over the long run

What is sustaining us as a Faith in the future? And are we investing in this to be competitive?

What will our Church look like in 10-20 years as other denominations are growing exponentially aroud us?

After a brief poll from Clergy in Boston Metropolis the consensus was:The Clergy are currenrtly offering a varied Religious Education Program in their parishesThe current materials ought to be reviewedOther lesson time for Religious Education other than Sundays was recommendedFor all Clergy - Catechism was a priority amidst numerous other programs

Text Teacher certificationGreater resources

Mission tripsRe-orient parish priorities

Are we effective in passing our Orthodox Faith to the next generation and if not

what more can be done?

My small contribution1. Meet monthly with Religious Education Teaching Staff for their enrichment

2. Yearly Staff Retreat before Ecclesiastical Year begins (Dr. Vrame came this year)

3. Offer multiple teaching liturgies per year (4-6)

4. Offer children’s sermons

5. Address children on religious themes at Afternoon Greek School

6. Have religious Education classes at parishioner’s homes once a month

7. Have Orthodoxy 101 Inquirer’s Class after Liturgy once a month for 1/2 hour

8. Offer Religious Retreats during Advent and Great Lent

9. Hold 15 minute Bible Studies at each Parish Council meeting

10. Encourage Religious Educators to attend DOXA and Oratorical Festivals

11. Offer a Spiritual book of the month to read for the parish

12. Beginning Orthodoxy on Tap with Adults in parish

S - identify our strengthsW - identify our weaknessesO - identify our opportunities

T - identify our threats

SWOT

Considerations:


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