oca parish ministries conference berea, ohio june 27-30, 2010 

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

edith.marshall@sbcglobal.net

The Orthodox

Church needs

converts

The world needs Orthodoxy!

What We Have Learned About Inquirers:

Overwhelmingly Caucasian

40% Female 60%Male

Journey to Orthodoxy Begins at Age:

21-30 37%31-40 26%41-50 15%

Marital Status

53% Married31% Never Married9% Divorced

High School 12%*College 53%**Masters 20%**PhD, JD 14%

*or some college **or working toward

Previous Religious Affiliations

Protestants 60% Roman Catholic 22% Episcopalian 12% None/Agnostic 4% Jewish 2%

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

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

What Do They Ask?

Questions are based on difficulties and differences they encounter . . .

Ethnicity of Church 41%

Veneration of The Theotokos 27%

Complexity/Unfamiliarity with Liturgy25%

Orthodox spiritual disciplines 24%

Icons 18%

Unfamiliar with Eastern mindset 16%

Restriction in participation in sacraments 16%

Beliefs/practices concerning saints 15%

Theological Questions

Veneration of Theotokos (27%)

What does “Theotokos”

mean?

Why is she so prominent?

Do you worship the Virgin Mary?

Icons (18%)

They don’t look realistic like art.

Why do you kiss them?

Are you worshipping them?

Saints (15%)

Why do you pray to saints?

Why not pray directly to God?

Do you really believe saints pray for you?

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?

Spiritual Formation

Questions

Liturgy (25%)

Why so long? (21%)

Why so many repetitions?

When/how do I cross myself?

Why incense?

Can I sit down?

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”?

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?

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?

What Inquirers Need

A community that is welcoming . . .

Welcoming committee/greeters

Shepherding person

A worship book which explains the liturgy

Informational brochures about Orthodoxy

They need to be understood . . .

Their theological background and

questions

Respect for their previous religious affiliation and common beliefs

Be prepared to answer their questions

An inquirer/catechumen study

Reading and resource materials

Recommended reading list or library