Source: Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the USA
On June 12th, clergy and laity gathered at St. John the Forerunner parish for an informational and brainstorming session on Inter-Parish Associations. Participants presented creative ideas for collaborative ministry, and parishes in the area expressed excitement in taking the next step toward officially becoming an Inter-Parish Association. Following the event, Spyridoula Fotinis, the AoB Director of Inter-Parish Associations, said, “we are excited by the enthusiasm of the Orthodox Christian community in Youngstown and look forward to working with them to establish their IPA and their ministries in the area!”
On June 16th, the Parish of the Presentation of Our Lord (Akron, OH), the Christian Orthodox Council of Akron (COCA), and the Orthodox Christian Women’s organization hosted Spyridoula Fotinis, Director of Inter-Parish Associations, for an evening of sharing and fellowship. The Akron region was one of the pilot locales during the experimental and developmental period for the AoB IPA Ministry. Those present told about their experience during the pilot period and engaged with Spyridoula about the current status of the ministry. Powerful stories of Pan-Orthodox collaboration, which has been historically strong in the Akron area, spoke to the locale’s energy for collaborative ministry, and the desire to participate more fully in the current AoB IPA Ministry.