Workshops continue at parish ministries conference
Participants in the Orthodox Church in America’s 2013 Parish Ministries Conference at Marymount College here enjoyed a full day of individual workshops on Thursday, July 11.
Protopresbyter Thomas Hopko, Dean Emeritus of Saint Vladimir’s Seminary, Yonkers, NY, led a panel discussion on the theme “Human Sexuality/Godly Love.” Prof. David Drillock, chair of the OCA Department of Liturgical Music and Translations, led attendees in the choral track in learning the eight tones, while Daria Virvan offered a workshop titled “Caring for the Sad and Scared in Our Lives and Communities.” A dozen other workshops were offered by the five departments facilitating the gathering.
His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon, offered a special workshop on teaching Scripture on the parish level, while Andrew Boyd, OCA Youth Director; Jennifer Nahas, Executive Director of Orthodox Christian Fellowship; and OCF staffer Christina Andresen presented an afternoon panel discussion on approaching topics associated with “culture wars.”
Following Vespers, the responses for which were sung by liturgical music participants, Metropolitan Tikhon chaired an open question and answer session on the current life of the Church in general and parish ministry in particular.
The conference continues through Saturday, July 13 with the celebration of the Divine Liturgy at Saint Nicholas Cathedral, Washington, DC and presentations of compositions by participants in the liturgical music track.
The conference theme—“Faith in Action: Equipping the Saints for Worship, Learning and Service”—is being developed by speakers and personnel from the OCA’s departments of Christian Education, Christian Service and Humanitarian Aid, Liturgical Music and Translations, Institutional Chaplains, and Youth, Young Adult and Campus Ministry.
Photo galleries of the conference may be accessed on the OCA web site and Facebook page.