Stewardship

Welcome to the official webpage of the Department of Stewardship!

On behalf of His Eminence the Most Reverend Metropolitan PHILIP, in conjunction with the Department of Lay Ministries, the Department of Stewardship introduces our new home on the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese website. 

The Department of Stewardship, chaired by Ron Nicola, views the creation of this site as a significant step in the pursuit of our mission:

The Department of Stewardship has adopted as its mission helping parishes develop an understanding of Stewardship in the context of Orthodox Christian scriptural teachings and traditions.  From this exploration of Stewardship's true meaning, parishes are supported and guided in their quest to incorporate Stewardship into every aspect of parish life.

The department has just released online two very important documents for your parish to download, review, field test and comment on prior to official publication. (Some referenced articles and appendices are still to be released.) These pilot projects should prove vital to your local Stewardship efforts:

A Parish Council Guidebook:  Conducting the work of the Parish Council in a manner consistent with Orthodox Christian teachings and traditions. This manual is a resource for:

  • Instructing Parish Councils on their lay ministry.
  • Training new Parish Council Members.

A Fifty-Two Week Parish Member Giving Campaign:  A program led by the Parish Council, based on scriptural and church teachings, and not focused on the parish’s financial condition.  Councils can study this Fifty-Two Week model, and then:

  • Implement the full program as outlined; a year-long teaching process.
  • Adapt portions of the program to local parish realities.

 

NOTE: Articles referenced/recommended in the two documents above are not yet available online, but will be. These include The Parish, the Priest and the Parish Council, by Metropolitan PHILIP; The Trail of the Tithe, by Fr. Thomas Zell; Our Patterns of Giving, by Ron Nicola; and more! Check back for updates.

Should your parish have any questions, comments or input regarding the new Stewardship webpage or pilot projects, please contact chairman Ron Nicola, as follows:

Email: rnlm@aol.com • Telephone: (925) 934-2004

2020 Blackwood Drive, Walnut Creek, California  94596