Ministry to the Inner Cities

[Randy Fermo]

This is just a question.... I am Orthodox convert, I have been wondering why there is no Orthodox Church involvement with the local community or have at least ministery for the inner city or surrounding neighborhood of the church. Is there are rule for Orthodox on how to get involve with local community or launching a ministery for the inner city ? I am just wondering ... Mahalo ...thanks...

[Matthew Panchisin]

Dear Randy,

Welcome, I'm glad to hear of your zeal for helping others I'm sure many here are as well. As far as a rule for involvement Saint Basil the Great in the 3rd century put a considerable effort into establishing rules for monasticism that you have expressed an interest in the other thread. Speaking with a spiritual father to help with discernment matters, novice obedience etc. If my memory serves me correctly, Saint Basil the Great also basically created the first hospitals and orphanages. If you have not had a chance perhaps reading a bit about his life would be very inspirational. I'm familiar with some involvement by Orthodox Christians in inner city work, recently I was quite pleased to hear of one man who made a habit out of going to a soup kitchen to help out in his free time religiously for many years, carrying a big spoon and walking somewhat quietly, it seems. The Sisterhood in our Orthodox Church is very much involved in helping the poor by raising money through dinners for orphanges etc. Last year they gave over 10,000 dollars to help the families who are suffering from Russian School Massacre, I didn't count the tears. So yes, there is a golden rule.

In Christ,

Matthew Panchisin

[Randy Fermo]

I just never seen any Orthodox ( ethnic) Churches in my town getting involve with the life of the local community ... i wonder if that is common in other city? Although we have one huge Orthodox Cathedral in town.....they stuck with their own ethnic community. They really should do some outreach to the local community... i mean outside thier ethnic group. just a thought of concern. I am a convert ...but I cannot find anyone any orthodox in my neighborhood who want to do outreach ministry.. Oh well....

[max higgs]

I am a recent convert myself, and it might be good to check with the folks at IOOC to find out what might be done or is being done in regard to inner city work. With this kind of work there are special temptations. First, I don't think it is optional. Jesus and before him the prophets set demanding standards for God's people in their demonstrated compassion for the alien, the poor, and the widow. Our works are evidences of our faith. Secondly, I don't know how we are to establish our credibility as witnesses of the Gospel to a post-Christian world except by ministry to those who don't have the things necessary for decent lives. Having said that, we must be careful to keep our priorities straight as we attempt inner-city ministries. It must be about Jesus, the person we are helping and ourselves in that order. However this is true of any "work" of the church.

[Fr Raphael Vereshack]

What others have written here & on the other thread is very good. If we are talking about monasteries although some do have an actual ministry to the community, most are devoted to prayer & obedience. This after all is the main calling of monastics in the Church.

On the other hand a visit to many of our monasteries reveals how they serve the world- not only through prayer but also serving as a place of pilgrimage; others are as the location for seminaries because of the spiritual environment & also because one can learn the services 'hands-on' in a monastery. Very often one also finds long-term visitors who are going through some sort of spiritual recuperation- some of these are what are termed "labourers" ("trudniki" in Russian). And then there are monasteries with specific ministries to the homeless, sick, & psychologically troubled; I also knew of an Orthodox monastery that ran a school.

As far as parishes go one can see many different kinds of out-reach. Although it may appear that some parishes are too closed in on themselves it can also easily be that their main calling is to serve a specific cultural group that their jurisdiction represents (eg: Russian Church- Russian refugees, those in need in Russia, etc). Almost all parishes have practical responsibilities towards the diocese & larger church that they are part of and this often involves charity & outreach.

The main thing to remember I think is that each monastery & parish has a specific calling even though all are called to charity & serving in some sense. Social outreach ('community work') is a specific calling that needs to be entered into prayerfully & soberly.

In Christ- Fr Raphael

[Herman Blaydoe]

Mercy House in New York City is very involved in inner-city ministry. More information here:
Mercy House (http://omna.malf.net/mercy.htm)

New Skete raises guide dogs. To find out more about Orthodox Monasteries and what they do, or just find a monastery close by, check out:
Orthodox Monasteries of North America (http://omna.malf.net)

[Matthew Panchisin]

Dear Herman,

I noticed that Monachos is also very involved in inner-city ministry.

Psalm on the City of My Innermost Heart - A reflection on the 'inner city' of the heart, examined before God in lament and hope; by an anonymous Orthodox author.

http://www.monachos.net/other/psalm_cityofheart.shtml

Glory to God for all things and much thanks to Matthew Steenberg of Monachos for his good work!

In Christ,

Matthew Panchisin

[Fr. George Morelli]

> Randy ... Glory to Jesus Christ! I would call your attention to the > ministry of Martha and Mary Home, Escondido, Calif. It to my > knowledge is the only Orthodox Maternity Home in the USA. It is a > California State nonprofit corporation and is blessed and under the > official jurisdiction of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA) Diocese > of he West. It's e mail is: marthaandmaryhouse@hotmail.com and > website: www.marthandmaryhouse.org (http://www.marthandmaryhouse.org). I have had the blessing and > grace of acting as chaplain-counselor there for the past 3 years. It > is a God-graced ministry that can be started in every community by > those called by God to do so. There also is an article posted on the > Orthodox Christian Association of Medicine, Psychology and > Religion(OCAMPR) website: www.ocampr.org (http://www.ocampr.org), on its origins etc.: by > HouseMother Sarah Elisabet Oftedal "Loving and Serving God in our > Neighbor"-Genesis of An Orthodox Christian Maternity Home. I just > finished an article that will be published as a chapter in a book. The > chapter deals with my reflections as a Chaplain-Counselor in > part,especially focusing on the what I call "oppositional orientation" > versus the official diagnostic category "oppositional defiant > disorder" which I observed among many of the daughters 'decision > making' about giving their to be born infants for adoption... I am not > free to include it here as there are copyright considerations by the > publisher .... I do have an unrevised shorted draft and if there is > interest and the publisher allows I may be able to post it if anyone > requests. If we are called to peach and teach to all nations and if > we are to live our commitment to Christ and not be hypocrites [We > preach abortion is sinful, but we do nothing to help a girl/woman in > need to care for her during pregnancy and provide for the infant after > birth] by not *doing* what we teach others Our Lord taught us then we > are surely gravely lacking...Such ministries (and others) should grow > and proliferate out of the depth of Our Lords life indwelling in our > hearts. > >

[Randy Fermo]

Greetings and Mahalo,

Thank you for the information because I dont have any clue... it just I have not heard or seen Orthodox who are engage with such ministry.

So it is possible for an Inner City Monk ( in which I am called to serve ) to get engage in a ministry to the inner city . I am very grateful of the education I am getting from this message board .

(Message edited by randy_fermo on 12 March, 2005)

[Matthew Panchisin]

ORTHODOX STRENGTHEN SOUPER BOWLʼ CHARITY EFFORT

Baltimore (IOCC) – One month after the big game, nearly 10,500 congregations and schools have reported raising $3.75 million for charity through the 2005 “Souper Bowl of Caring.” That number includes more than 60 Orthodox parishes reporting $34,206.

“We applaud everyone who used Souper Bowl Sunday to step outside of themselves and help their neighbors in need,” said the Rev. Dr. Brad Smith, founder and executive director of the Souper Bowl of Caring. “Once all the reports are in, we expect to be over $4 million, which, after the tsunami relief efforts, is quite an accomplishment.”

Young people across the country collected dollar donations in large soup pots at their churches on Feb. 6, and then donated the money to the charity of their choice. Participating youth groups also reported their collection amount to the Souper Bowl of Caring headquarters so that a national total can be tallied.

Groups that have not yet reported their results are encouraged to do so at www.souperbowl.org (http://www.souperbowl.org) or by calling 1-800-358-SOUP.

Every year, International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) promotes the Souper Bowl of Caring as a way for Orthodox young people to learn the value of volunteerism and community service.

Orthodox youth help locally by collecting food items for soup kitchens or food pantries, and globally by send their monetary donation to charities such as IOCC. By choosing IOCC, youth groups support programs that feed and clothe vulnerable children and educate and train young people in 16 countries.

“Participating in the Souper Bowl gives our young people a tangible way to help people in need – close to home and abroad – and a feeling of connection with those served by IOCC,” said Fr. Marc Vranes, pastor of Holy Trinity Orthodox Church (OCA) in Willimantic, Conn.

On Souper Bowl Sunday, the young people of Holy Trinity raised $531 toward the humanitarian mission of IOCC and assembled 100 “Gift of the Heart” health kits for IOCCs tsunami relief efforts.

Founded in 1992, IOCC is the official humanitarian aid agency of the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA).

For media inquires, please contact IOCC Communications Associate Stephen Huba at 1-877-803-4622 or shuba@iocc.org.

[Randy Fermo]

Greetings and Aloha,

Thanks for the info... but the articles have not mention whether there is a local Orthodox Church that operate inner city such as, soup kitchen, food pantry , shelter, etc. I think the only Orthodox that I only that operate such ministry locally is the Mercy House in New York and that was posted in previous thread. I only wonder if Race is also a factors for the inner city ministry.
I am a convert and I really wish to see Orthodox Church ministry go local and not global. }

[garry horne]

Every blessing to you Randy.
I too am a convert to The Orthodox Church. I attend St Georges's Antiochian Orthodox in Richmond Hill Ontario Canada. I am involved with local charities,prison ministry and hospital/shut-in ministry all of which takes place in the city where I live about 50 miles north of my church and some even 20 miles further north of where I live.
All of what I do I do with the blessing and the guidance of my priest/spiritual father. very often I am the only Orthodox christian working along side others of various faiths and backgrounds. Believers and non-believers. My opinion is that if you want your church to be involved than get involved as a practising orthodox christian in good standing with the church. do not wait for others to come along just get involved. You will be blessed for it.
I have followed this topic with interest and will continue to do so. This is just my thoughts on the subject

[Randy Fermo]

Greetings and Aloha Garry,

You are right! Usually, convert are more pro active and inclusive . After many many years waiting for various Orthodox Churches in my neighborhood to get some what initiative for the inner city, there was none... I met many young Orthodox that left the church because they want to get involve with the local community. I think that I also made my own initiative to be part of the world community. So I decided to create a project... you may view my project for the inner city in my Inner City Monk message board. Anyway, I read a thread somewhere that Orthodox have been in this country for 3rd generations, well,,, most of immigrants 3rd generations are basically involve with various life in the community either social or political or religious. My vocation is to be Inner City Monk and I am very grateful for our Lord Jesus Christ for various insperation he had given me... I am very grateful for our Lord Jesus Christ for the many insperation that he bestowed on me.. and I will use those energy follow the vocation our Lord bestowed on me... because it is the right thing to do... I pray that Orthodox 3rd generation get out of the ethnic and start being part of the global community.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/innercitymonk/

[Anestis Jordanoglou]

To those who've, God bless you.

I don't want to be negative, but we as Orthodox should thank God every day for the witness to Christ they offer through their countless ministries. They are literally the largest organized charity organization in the United States and it's shameful that we are not on par with them.

The fact is, that our ethnocentricity more often than not, impedes not our Christocentricity as we become ethnic social clubs with the ornament of Orthodoxy rather than pure true Orthodoxy adorned, to some degree, with the traditions (with a small t) that our ethnicities bless us with.

The fact is, that Orthdoxy in America, is going to have to become much more oriented towards having a American witness, with English as the primary language, with the proclamation of the Gospel through ministries that don't include one or two individuals out of 20 but 18 or 19 of 20 instead.

It's going to need to be pluralistic in that it becomes excited for every ethnic type to be entering therein. Payaia, pork shops, potato salad may also be a part of the Paschal feast (although as long as I live, I'll cook lamb with beautiful roasted potatoes and tsouraki, magaritsa mmm, hopefully well enough to inspire others to the recipe)

By the way, it should also tithe (at least 10%) We are so poor at doing this it is beyond belief especially when so many at least people of my ethnicity, Greek-Americans, make such an incredible amount of money in this country.

My uncle (of blessed memory) was a priest whose parish grew from 50 to 650 families in 10 years, 80% of whom were and are converts. The budget simply through stewardship with a stress on tithing, was and is so large that the church has no need for festivals to survive.

So many ministries are happening there so often that the monthly bulletin is about 40 pages long.

People are starving for the Faith. They are just desiring it to the fullest. And all that is needed is an open loving Christ focused heart and the desire to lead people into the fullness of the Church which Zizoulas says is in the Liturgy. (What a spectacular truth that is)

As long is there is Christ (and He always is) there is hope. Even for us.


Anesti

[Anestis Jordanoglou]

Please forgive me,

First line " To those who've posted"

also

I meant to say, "the witness to Christ the Catholics offer"

[Randy Fermo]

Aloha,

I love your articles... and Mahalo( thanks ) for posting. It is really sad that in all immigrant 3rd Generations and despite of the diversity of the Orthodox Church, it contributed little in the inner cities . I think that being ethnocentric will definetely not serve the Orthodox Church in the long run. Many young Orthodox i met left the church because they felt the church being more ethnic and not doing anything on thier neighborhood. Oh..well.
Let us just pray for one another.. to everyone all our friends everywhere.

Good Nite and Aloha...

[Bob Hendry]

Dear Fr. George,

I am a native Southern-Californian (San Diego) but currently reside in Waldorf, Maryland. Also, as a Reformed Presbyterian, I am the only non-Roman Catholic on the board of the Maryland Right to Life (I'm Treasurer). I am most interested in your article, and would like to share it with my colleagues at MDRTL. If granted copyright exemption byt eh publisher, would you please send or post a copy?

Thanks - In Christ,

Bob Hendry

[Randy Fermo]

First of all I would like to apologgize for being rude on this thread. I am definetely the most sinful members on this forum.

Anesti,

You are right... US need Orthodoxy , the world are falling apart but unfortunately, Orthodoxy is not there yet. Most of the people attending Orthodox Church are immigrant and the 3rd generation cannot be found.

I think that Orthodox Church need to get involve in the local community , otherwise it will remain isolated and convert in the Orthodox Church will continue feeling out of place .

But we all need to pray and forgive one another that we would not have a harden hearth and pride when it comes fullfilling the Gospels in the inner cities and villages.