This time of the year Church parishes around the world are changing
their management. New committees would have been elected and would be
waiting to take up their assignments starting from the new year. Wish
you all a very good year in the service of the Lord. Jotting down a few
things hoping they would be useful to someone -- based on my very
limited experiences as an active parishioner, as an ordinary member and
an important stakeholder in the Church, and also as a Moderator of a
global community for close to 15 years, that has discussed many affairs
concerning our parishes and the Church, which has given me a
bird's-eye-view of different issues plaguing us. I present these not as
any expert, but as an observer and an ardent well wisher -- hoping for
change for the better, in this time of change:
1) Please zealously try to keep the environment positive. Every one here is a volunteer trying to spend their time and resources for the good of the Church. Negativity, once it creeps in, can wreck havoc in meetings. It is the work of the Devil. You do not get far by nitpicking, by belittling and insulting the other person. For ensuring positivity, every member elected by the General Body has a role. Every one has a voice and a responsibility to ensure the meetings happen in a positive environment. When committees fail in this responsibility, the hurt permeates the committee and into the parish, into the Church -- and is very very long lasting.Zealously maintain positivity.
2) Be willing to listen. You have one voice and so also does every one else. Your opinion however valid, is as much worth as the other person's. Raise your voice, but then let the discussions and debates happen in a positive manner. By respecting each other we can still have great disagreements and spirited discussions on issues and that is ok and needed. The problems arise when we stick to "my way or the highway" kind of attitude. Be willing to listen.
[It is interesting to note that we as adults know of and practise these principles in the professional environment, yet fail to adhere to these in the Church -- probably because the stakes are seemingly higher in the office -- but that thought is very deceptive -- for in the Church, we are playing with fire, and dealing with the soul -- if we are careful of conduct in the professional world -- we ought to be doubly so in Church]
3) If you see a tendency of one person hijacking an agenda or the meeting, please speak up. We usually keep quiet to avoid confrontations, but remember your silence can cause irreparable harm when others take advantage of your passiveness. The general body that elected you expects you to speak and act. Not only the vicar, every one elected is responsible to speak up and always direct the management, keeping the big picture of the parish and the Church in mind.
4) As I saw in a recent training video for new council members for the Greek Orthodox Church ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rn-CHJWP2E8&feature=share ) the new committee will do well to remember that "the main purpose of the council is not to make decisions but to make disciples for Christ". Be welcoming, be open -- in your minds and in leading the congregation -- we all naturally and instinctively have a tribal mindset -- this is a needed gift for survival, self respect, self preservation and self propagation -- but as part of the leadership in the Church, you are called into a greater calling -- to lead others into Christ -- and that Christ's calling is for all -- beyond all borders of ethnicity, language and culture.
Wish you all a great year of service and of support in the ministry of your vicar and your bishop.
(Dec 2015)
1) Please zealously try to keep the environment positive. Every one here is a volunteer trying to spend their time and resources for the good of the Church. Negativity, once it creeps in, can wreck havoc in meetings. It is the work of the Devil. You do not get far by nitpicking, by belittling and insulting the other person. For ensuring positivity, every member elected by the General Body has a role. Every one has a voice and a responsibility to ensure the meetings happen in a positive environment. When committees fail in this responsibility, the hurt permeates the committee and into the parish, into the Church -- and is very very long lasting.Zealously maintain positivity.
2) Be willing to listen. You have one voice and so also does every one else. Your opinion however valid, is as much worth as the other person's. Raise your voice, but then let the discussions and debates happen in a positive manner. By respecting each other we can still have great disagreements and spirited discussions on issues and that is ok and needed. The problems arise when we stick to "my way or the highway" kind of attitude. Be willing to listen.
[It is interesting to note that we as adults know of and practise these principles in the professional environment, yet fail to adhere to these in the Church -- probably because the stakes are seemingly higher in the office -- but that thought is very deceptive -- for in the Church, we are playing with fire, and dealing with the soul -- if we are careful of conduct in the professional world -- we ought to be doubly so in Church]
3) If you see a tendency of one person hijacking an agenda or the meeting, please speak up. We usually keep quiet to avoid confrontations, but remember your silence can cause irreparable harm when others take advantage of your passiveness. The general body that elected you expects you to speak and act. Not only the vicar, every one elected is responsible to speak up and always direct the management, keeping the big picture of the parish and the Church in mind.
4) As I saw in a recent training video for new council members for the Greek Orthodox Church ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rn-CHJWP2E8&feature=share ) the new committee will do well to remember that "the main purpose of the council is not to make decisions but to make disciples for Christ". Be welcoming, be open -- in your minds and in leading the congregation -- we all naturally and instinctively have a tribal mindset -- this is a needed gift for survival, self respect, self preservation and self propagation -- but as part of the leadership in the Church, you are called into a greater calling -- to lead others into Christ -- and that Christ's calling is for all -- beyond all borders of ethnicity, language and culture.
Wish you all a great year of service and of support in the ministry of your vicar and your bishop.
(Dec 2015)
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