Parish Development Forum Early Registration Discount Ends June 26; Speakers Announced
The Planning Team for the Parish Development Forum announced today that the early registration discount period for the 2024 Parish Development Forum is June 26.
The 2024 Forum will be held at the Woodside Events Center at Archangel Michael Orthodox Church in Broadview Heights, OH from 1:00 PM July 9th through noon on July 11. The theme for the 2023 Forum is “Our Parish and the Future: Equipping to Serve in a Secular World”.
“Persons interested in attending the Parish Development Forum are reminded to register early. We have extended the early conference registration deadline by two days to June 26 to give attendees a little extra time to receive the early registration discount. Registrations received by the end of the day June 26 can attend at the discounted rate of $110 per person. After June 26 registration is $160 per attendee. To assure an atmosphere of robust discussion, Forum attendance will be limited to 90 persons. Once limits are reached registrations will close. A block of rooms has been reserved at a discounted rate at the Holiday Inn Cleveland South/ Independence”
Registration and hotel information can be handled directly from this link.
Forum Speakers Announced
“The 2024 Forum theme, ‘Our Parish and the Future: Equipping to Serve in a Secular World’, was chosen to build on the highly successful 2023 Forum discussions with a specific focus on how secular thought processes and assumptions that inhabit our lives and basic outlook have an important influence on Orthodox persons and parish ministries.,” said Archpriest Stephen Frase, clergy co-chair of the Forum.
“Three excellent speakers will combine with facilitated breakout sessions to explore our theme from a variety of perspectives. Father Esteban Vazquez, Midwest Diocese Vice Chancellor, will speak about “Understanding Our Culture: What is Secularism? How does it impact us?” Father Chris Rowe, Development Director for OCMC, will share “Let Us Love One Another: Building a Community in Christ with a Mission”. Dan Buxhoeveden JD, PhD, who while on the faculty of the University of South Carolina developed a Religion and Science Initiative and related Honors courses, will speak on “Materialism, Science, and Reality: Does Science Give us Certainty?”
“In addition the agenda will include a panel: Orthodox Converts Speak: Becoming Part of the Parish Fabric; and facilitated discussions on 1) Understanding Secular Trends: Reshaping Parish Evangelism, Communication and Formation and 2) Healthy Parish Environment: Active Listening and Dialogue.”
“Each day will end with vespers and Thursday, the final day of the Forum, will begin with Divine Liturgy,” noted Fr. Frase.”
Why Attend?
“We’re often asked ‘Why take the time from my schedule to attend this event?’”, said Mr Kormos. “The answer is three fold. First, the Forum, in its eleventh year has been highly valuable –providing help and hope - to past attendees. Attendance has grown and many 2024 registrants are repeat Forum attendees. They want more.
“Secondly, parishes are facing new tough challenges. In many ways the parish of 1990, 2000 or even 2010 is no more. Many are smaller. Some are larger. Some older and some younger. Parishes exist in a rampantly secular age in a culture that is unfriendly to Churches and Christians. Religion and faith are, more than ever, one option among many. The status quo is not an option.
“And third, many Orthodox parishes are seeing a surge of inquirers and new members seeking truth, beauty, meaning, authentic worship and loving fellowship. Integrating the different values and views of new and veteran parishioners into one parish –not two or three – that in unity serves Christ is a challenge. Parishes need to develop new muscles and strengths to BE Christ’s Church for today’s world. Forum participation helps to understand and begin that journey. Clergy and laity interested in building bright future for their parish will find the Parish Development Forum stimulating and valuable.”
The Parish Development Forum, is a clergy/laity conference which explores the challenges facing Orthodox parishes, delivers actionable ideas and good practices valuable to parish leaders and builds mutually supportive relationships among participants. The Forum is co-sponsored by the Orthodox Church in America’s Archdiocese of Western Pennsylvania, the Diocese of the Midwest and the Bulgarian Diocese. Past Forums have drawn attendees from most OCA Dioceses as well as the Greek and Antiochian Archdioceses, Ukrainian Orthodox Churches of USA and Canada and ROCOR.
Questions and enquiries may be directed to Mr. Kormos at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Registration and hotel information can be found here. A Forum Flyer website.