What is the mission of the Orthodox Church in this world? Every parish may have its own mission statement clearly laid out in the by-laws, as an organization it is important to be moving in the same direction. But by virtue of being part of the Orthodox Church, every parish is also under one great mission statement given to us by our Lord Jesus Christ: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20).
With this in mind, I would like to share an inciting article by Fr Jonathan Ivanoff, who is the rector of St John the Theologian Church in Shirley, NY. The article tackles the issues of mission and maintenance. |