oca parish ministries conference berea, ohio june 27-30, 2010
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OCA PARISH MINISTRIES CONFERENCE Berea, Ohio June 27-30, 2010 . GETTING READY FOR INQUIRERS WHO THEY ARE WHAT THEY ASK WHAT THEY NEED. Presented by Edith Marshall Roberts St. Mark Orthodox Church Rochester Hills, Michigan [email protected] . The Orthodox Church - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
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
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