SPRINGFIELD, VA [OCA] – The Archdiocese of Western Pennsylvania, the Diocese of the Midwest and the Bulgarian Diocese announced today that the 2023 Parish Development Forum will be held in the Cleveland suburb of Parma, OH at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church from the afternoon of Thursday July 13 through noon on Saturday 15, 2023.
Now in its tenth year, the Parish Development Forum, is a conference for clergy and laity dedicated to exploring the challenges facing Orthodox parishes, delivering actionable ideas and good practices valuable to parish leaders and creating mutually supportive relationships among participants.
“The 2023 Forum theme will be “Our Parish and the Future”, noted Archpriest Stephen Frase, Clergy Chairman for the Forum. “During this Forum attendees will collaborate on ‘the 2030 project’, an effort to explore the recent past, present and future challenges of N. American Orthodox parishes. Sessions will consider the important societal, cultural, demographic and even technological trends that will shape the growth, health and impact of Orthodoxy and Orthodox parishes in N. America over the next five to ten years. Most importantly attendees will define and explore critical attitudes, behaviors and strengths needed by parishes to prepare to thrive in 2030 and beyond.”
“Known initially as the Small Parish Forum, and more recently as the Parish Development Forum, this will be the tenth anniversary of the Forum,” said Joseph Kormos Forum Lay Chairman and Parish Development Ministry Leader for the Archdiocese of Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania. “Circumstances caused the past three Forums to be held as one day online events. This year we are excited to return to the environment of rich personal collaboration and constructive dialogue that is best delivered through in person sessions. This year’s Parma OH location provides an excellent setting for a return to an in-person format. The host parish is 15 minutes from Cleveland Hopkins Airport and over half of the OCA’s parishes are within a manageable drive of the site,” noted Mr. Kormos.
Forum registration will be online only and will begin after Pascha. To maintain an atmosphere of fellowship and dialogue among attendees, registration will be limited to 100 persons. Sessions will begin at 1:00 PM Thursday July 13 and conclude at noon on Saturday July 15. Conference registration is $150 per person. An early bird rate of $75 per person will be available until June 19. The registration fee includes meals, breaks, forum materials and a hospitality reception. Attendees from the OCA’s Bulgarian Diocese, the Archdiocese of Western Pennsylvania and the Diocese of the Midwest are eligible for registration rebates. A block of rooms has been reserved at a local hotel at special Forum rates beginning at $99 for a King room.
Questions and enquiries may be directed to Mr. Kormos at joekormos1@gmail.com.
