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OCA PARISH MINISTRIES
CONFERENCEBerea, Ohio
June 27-30, 2010
GETTING READY FOR INQUIRERS
WHO THEY ARE
WHAT THEY ASK
WHAT THEY NEED
Presented by Edith Marshall RobertsSt. Mark Orthodox ChurchRochester Hills, Michigan
Previous Religious Affiliations
Protestants 60% Roman Catholic 22% Episcopalian 12% None/Agnostic 4% Jewish 2%
Why Orthodoxy?
15% Dissatisfied with current religious affiliation
15% Seeking deeper spiritual life
10% Read something about Orthodoxy
8% Had contact with Orthodox person
8% Invited to Orthodox service
Historical continuity 92%Structured/unchanging Liturgy 83%
Orthodoxy embodies “fullness of faith” 81%Centrality of tradition 76%Theology is mystical in nature 75%
What They Find Attractive About Orthodoxy
Ethnicity of Church 41%
Veneration of The Theotokos 27%
Complexity/Unfamiliarity with Liturgy25%
Orthodox spiritual disciplines 24%
Icons 18%
Unfamiliar with Eastern mindset 16%
Restriction in participation in sacraments 16%
Beliefs/practices concerning saints 15%
Veneration of Theotokos (27%)
What does “Theotokos”
mean?
Why is she so prominent?
Do you worship the Virgin Mary?
Saints (15%)
Why do you pray to saints?
Why not pray directly to God?
Do you really believe saints pray for you?
Western vs. Eastern Mindset (16%)
What do you mean by Tradition?
How is God known if not rationally?
What is mystery? Doesn’t God want us to know Him?
Liturgy (25%)
Why so long? (21%)
Why so many repetitions?
When/how do I cross myself?
Why incense?
Can I sit down?
Sacraments (16%)Why do you think you have the fullness of faith– is everyone else wrong?
Is the bread and wine really the body and blood Christ?
Why is communion “closed”?
Orthodox Spiritual Disciplines (24%)
Why so many rote prayers?Can I pray for myself using my own
thoughts and words?Why fast? How does that bring me
closer to God?
What about Bible reading? Do the Orthodox study the Bible? Why can’t I interpret the Bible for myself?
Church Culture & Ethnicity (41%)Pascha basket contents/rationale
Procedures for house blessings
Reading church calendar/fastingRole of Godmother
How do things get done? Who’s in charge
of coffee hour? Job assignments?
How are ideas/suggestions given and realized? What offends?
A community that is welcoming . . .
Welcoming committee/greeters
Shepherding person
A worship book which explains the liturgy
Informational brochures about Orthodoxy
They need to be understood . . .
Their theological background and
questions
Respect for their previous religious affiliation and common beliefs