His Grace Bishop Sevastianos of Zelon, Spyridoula Fotinis, Rev. Nicholas Anton, and Presvytera Maria Drossos presented “Inter-Parish Associations – A Futuristic Vision,” during which they discussed the inspiration for the establishment of Inter-Parish Associations (IPA), a ministry of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the USA. IPAs are local (ie. the city/town level), include both clergy and laity, and are intended to promote communication, camaraderie, and cooperation across Orthodox Christian parishes of all jurisdictions in a given geographical area.
His Grace Bishop Sevastianos shared a few of the successful events on which parishes of various jurisdictions collaborate in his area, including a Pentecost picnic at a local park, a pan-Orthodox cross dive for the Transfiguration, and a Christmas concert during which all of the parishes come together to perform Christmas carols from their respective languages and traditions. Presvytera Maria Drossos emphasized that if we want to break down barriers across Orthodox Christian jurisdictions so that we can better witness Christ’s through common ministry, we can look to the example of Mother Maria of Paris: before we can work together, we first need to sit down and have coffee together.
The panel was very well-attended, with standing room only, and the audience enthusiastically participated by both posing questions about the process of forming an IPA, and by sharing their collaborative success stories.
Photos: GOARCH/Brittainy Newman.
