Canton workshopWith the assistance of Fr John Steffaro (Dean) and Fr. Gregory Jensen 25 parishioners of Holy Assumption parish in Canton OH gathered for a Parish Health Workshop last weekend.
The parish has endured a series of stressful situations in the past years. In introducing the session attendees were asked to focus "upward and forward" and to make serious effort to listen more than advocate their personal viewpoints.
The agenda included:
* A reflective period -- asking parishioners to focus on the love they share for one another and the qualities of the parish and its persons that they appreciate. * Discussion of a set of "fundamental questions" to help the group focus on what it does well, its gifts and where improvements are needed. * Examples of outreach projects from other parishes * Information on the qualities of growing Orthodox parishes based on previous surveys. * Finally, the group broke down into smaller discussion groups to describe the desirable qualities of healthy Orthodox parishes in America. The three groups reported back and found reasonable consensus in their vision for their parish. A step in the right direction.
Prayer Request The session concluded with the attendees agreeing to pray that their parish family finds the wisdom to discern and follow God's will, and the humility for each person to see their own faults and to forgive one another for wrongs that may have been committed.
Orthodoxy in America
