10 elements of establishing a successful Mission Parish - by Fr. Ted Pulcini

This post is being published by request of Padre Esteban Howell in Sacramento. I'd love to hear comments about this. Enjoy.
--Matthew


Here are 10 elements necessary to establishing a successful mission parish, as taught by Fr. Ted Pulcini at the Antiochian Village on Aug 21.

1) Mission Work reflects the Intrinsic Dynamic of Christianity
missions-->sent into the world (follow me here)
The Father is unbegotten; the Son is Begotten of the Father; the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father through the Son. The Son was sent into the world to take flesh and conquer death; during His ministry He sent His disciples out to minister two by two; after His Ascension, He sent the Holy Spirit to the Apostles. The Apostles then were sent out into the world (not keeping the Gospel to themselves, but sharing it), and after establishing the church throughout the world, they sent Bishops and priests to continue their work.
Ergo, establishing missions continue the Instrinsic Dynamic of Christianity in that we are all sent into the world to share the Good News of the Gospel.

2) Religious Flux in America
People are now open to new religious views in the USA. Example: 10% of Americans are former Catholics (that's 30 million people), meaning they still want religion of some sort. "The harvest is ready."

3) Means of Reform
Missions are a means of reform in the church. Reform occurs organically--the church reshapes or readjusts its life without committees or councils through missions. A fresh start means changing the things that don't work (i.e. eliminating unnecessary programs)

4) Reclamation of Liturgy
Things start afresh (i.e. new music if necessary). Liturgy then becomes a "congregational work" because the people own it. They have to--there aren't enough people to form a choir separate from the congregation, so everyone in the congregation sings. Fr. Ted said that his mission formed in August. They held bible studies every wednesday, followed by choir practice. They learned one song in the liturgy every week until they were able to do the entire liturgy together and do it well enough to be respectable (one or two cantors did more complicated parts at first). By October, they held their first liturgy, and Fr. Ted said it was one of the most beautiful services ever because even the 5-year-old kids were belting out the music they had learned.

5) Restoration of Orthodox Culture (i.e. church calendar)
Clean slate; good vision lead the people
Example: People begin to plan their year around the gentle ebbs & flows of church year because the OWN the liturgy and the corporate body of their church (if two families are gone at christmas, who will sing?) With teaching about the calendar and full participation, the people adapt to it. "Give them rhythm, then they'll dance." Or, "if you build it, they will come." Same idea.

6) "Missions" w/in parishes--is this possible???
Yes. Start w/ small group of pious people whose duty it is to show an example to the parish of what you want (what is needed). This can be used to reform an established parish. Major duty is to pray for the parish. Example: Fr. Ted held morning prayers Mon-Fri at 7am and invited the whole parish. The "mission group" w/in the parish was about 10 people who showed up regularly for the prayers. They used the St. Philip's Discipline of Prayer, and prayed for the entire parish. Consistency is required.

7) Missions require successful apologetics
questions will arise
everything is new, therefore everything is open and fair game.
For the priest, you have the data--use it to give a non-defensive, non-beligerent answer that doesn't give in to the whims of the questioner. "Be an 'applied' theologian."

8) Inter-faith/ Inter-religious knowledge
You have to know who the people are who show up in your parish--know their background.
"The more you know about the other [religioun], the less you'll villify the [person]." --Fr. Ted.
Example: In SW Pennsylvania, he gets a ton of Mennanites walking through his door (they show up to any bible study anywhere, apparently). He had to learn more about the Mennanite religious views to talk intelligently and non-offensively to the visitors in his parish.

9) Experiential - transformation/healing, & "order"
People have experiential needs--need to be healed through the experience of the church.
The Church provides order in disorderly, chaotic world.
The church needs to provide an accessible model of order, which will attract people (i.e. fasting--this is how it is done, this is why we do it, these are the results)

10) Genuine community - no hiding
In a mission parish, everyone has to be accountable to everyone. There is no hiding (can't avoid John Doe at coffee hour, cuz there are only 10 people there). And most important, the priest doesn't always need to get his way.




Phases of missions:

Phase I: The Beginning
-10 people in core group--committed
-don't form separate council--meet with eentire parish (group) for at least 2-3 years --> make them own the decision

Liturgical life
-Rhythm--regular services (this is key)- Vespers is non-exclusive, unlike liturgy. Example: Bible study every week, followed by music practice. People learn Lord Have mercy, Amens, etc, together, then in 2 months do full liturgy together
REGULARITY IS KEY
And expect multiple ethnicities


Phase II - How to Make parish grow
-othe rpeople bring their friends to regular services and events
-have an outside ministry regularly. When the focus of the mission church is internal only (paying the bills), it will not grow and prosper as well. External ties (i.e. OCMC, IOCC, ahem *support a seminarian funds* ahem...) keep people grounded. Also, have people take care of each other w/in the church.
-Ads in Yellow pages (not newspaper)
--WEBSITES are VERY IMPORTANT.
-People are attracted to community where they can tie in





Some other notable quotes from Fr. Ted:

"The Leadership that works best is to work with the people, not look down at them as priest"

Don't be afraid to stand up to problems or problem parishioners-->prune the bush for the sake of the others

"Consider everyone to be more important than you (see Philippians)"

On not being paid by his mission: "Perfect. I'll take no pay, and I'll take no crap."

Give 1/3 of budget to priest, even if not on payroll. That way, when the parish needs to pay a preist, it will have money to do so. (Fr. Ted's parish has done this for 12 years now, since the founding of the mission. He is a college prof, so he doesn't need to be paid by the mission. The mission now has $300,000 to pay a priest, which Fr. Ted said will last for 2-3 years after they pay for a house and move the priest in).


"The first people to befriend you are the first to turn on you."

*******"Music is a means toward God--it is not God Himself."********

"Heal people with your weakness."

"The preist = candle: give of own substance, quietly burn out at end, give light all around." (paraphrased)