A working endowment not feeding the operating budget is a blessing. An endowment feeding the operating budget deprives parishioners of the joy of giving and creates cynicism.
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Five Essential Elements of a Successful Parish Leadership Development Program
Build leaders. Then let the leaders build additional leaders. And so the parish grows and fulfills its mission.

Planned Giving is Visionary and Strategic Giving
Without vision and strategy a parish will be given a default future – NOT of its own choosing. Planned giving an important vision and strategy tool.

Storytelling in Church Leadership – Introduction
A series of articles by Patricia Fann Bouteneff on storytelling will explain how it is a powerful tool for effectively leading the parish.

Culture Eats Strategy for Breakfast
If you want vision and strategy to succeed, it will be necessary to analyze, understand and engage the culture of the parish and be prepared for push-back.

Every Priest is an Interim Priest
The mission of the Church extends to the founding of the Church in 33 A.D. and continues to the Parousia. Every priest is an interim priest.

Ramp Up Planned Giving
Every parish should have an established and active planned giving program. The priest is a key player here inasmuch as he can articulate the vision and mission of the parish thereby inspiring parishioners to participate.

Orthodox Christian Personal Growth Plan
Without a personal growth plan for Orthodox Christian life then we are at the mercies of the dubious vagaries of this world.

Orthodox Parish Planning? Hint: It May not be what you think. Discover Parish Intentionality!
The true purpose of planning is not to produce a written plan, though it is one of the desirable outcomes.

Powerpoint: An Orthodox Parish Strategic Initiatives Fund
Tired of dragging the parish kicking and screaming from one level of joy and freedom in the Kingdom of God to the next? Try a Strategic Initiatives Fund.

15 Powerful Nonprofit Statistics for 2015
Learn the environment. Define your mission. Claim your space. Apply professional fundraising methodology to gather resources and build spiritual involvement.

Sample Template for a General Survey of the Parish
Well done surveys with good reporting back to the parish is a wonderful way to listen to the community.

What Growing Churches Do – Information from the U.S. Congregational Life Survey
Most of the material in this article is highly relevant for those parishes interested in adding new members.

The Management of Institutional Funds Act (UMIFA)
Parishes understandably struggle to properly establish and manage endowment funds. Here is a key resources to comprehending and properly applying the Management of Institutional Funds Act.
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