Carolina Deanery faithful attended ministry training workshop

Fr. Steven Voytovich summarizes the day’s discussion.

COLUMBIA, SC [OCA]—Clergy and faithful representing several Carolina Deanery parishes—Holy Ascension, Charleston, SC; Holy Resurrection, Augusta, GA.; St. John of the Ladder, Greenville, SC; and St. Nicholas Mission, Fayetteville, NC—gathered at Holy Apostles Church here recently for a full-day workshop aimed at developing ministry skills.

“Faithful in caregiving roles such as nursing, social work, physical therapy, together with others who, through the experience of caring for family members or grieving their deaths, came to acquire skills to aid their efforts in reaching out to care for others in need in and around their parish communities,” said host pastor and workshop coordinator, Archpriest Thomas Moore, a member of the Orthodox Church in America’s Department of Christian Service and Humanitarian Aid [CSHA]. “Their parish clergy, priests and deacons, came to sharpen skills in supporting them.”

Five parishes were represented at the workshop.

Led by Archpriest Steven Voytovich, Director of the OCA’s Institutional Chaplain Department and CSHA Department member, led the workshop. The number of participants was limited deliberately in order to facilitate small group learning.

“The day was filled with presentations and exercises designed to both empower and offer reflection on ministry encounters,” Father Thomas added. “All attendees spoke highly of the training they received and look forward to our next local development of this much needed ministry.”

The CSHA Department is working to establish a parish ministry development program, “Compassion in Action: Parish Ministry Training,” to help parishes in their ministry efforts from discernment to implementation. Support for those engaging in ministry and their mentoring clergy is also being developed.

“It is hoped that those who participated in the Carolina Deanery workshop will in time be resources as area parishes implement parish-wide ministry in their local communities,” said Father Thomas.