Sometimes we are limited by our own blind spots to function well in the work and ministries we do. Fr. Elias Dorham reminds us of St. Paul's words, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." (Rom. 12:2) When a coach challenged him with a tough question before ordination, Fr. Elias realized that his own professional career path was not truly aligned to what he espoused as a baptized Christian. Now as a coach, he helps his clients move out of their comfort zones, exploring ways to lead as a servant rather than as a strict commander.

While professional coaching is not therapy, pastoral guidance, nor counselling, Fr. Elias suggests coaching can help those who want to:

• Move beyond feeling stuck
• Articulate a clear vision
• Navigate and resolve conflict
• Balance work, ministry, and family responsibilities

Receive a FREE coaching consultation through the Orthodox Coaching Network

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Just as Christ asked Peter, "Who do you say that I am?" a trained coach asks powerful questions to help parish leaders clarify their values, priorities, and next steps.

Fr. Barnabas recalls a sermon to "know thyself" and acknowledges that fear or arrogance protects one from being discovered. "Coaching helped me get behind the curtain and to better know myself . . . to know my strengths and weaknesses and to avoid stumbling over stuff that catches me by surprise, even in my own heart."

Dean Harbry, PCC, and Fr. Barnabas Powell discuss the benefits of coaching for any Christian leader. Learn more and take advantage of this service through the Orthodox Coaching Network!​

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Thomaida Hudanish, Director of Missions and Evangelism for the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco, explores keychain leadership - a concept developed in Growing Young by Kara Powell, et al. 

• Key-less leaders may be young or inexperienced who strive to prove their worth in possessing keys in order to gain authority or access.
• Key-hoarding leaders run the show and refuse to give others access and share responsibility.
• Key-loaning leaders reluctantly or temporarily loan keys to others and then quickly take them back.
• Keychain leaders are aware of the keys they hold and intentionally open doors for some while training and entrusting others who are ready for their own "set of keys." 

Thomaida suggests that keychain leadership works not only in developing youth, but in engaging new church members through missions and evangelism. 

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Does your parish council regularly ask, "How do we get more people to come and get involved?" 

Anna Caraveli suggests turning the question outside-in and ask instead, "How can we understand and connect to what matters most to people? How can we attend to the struggles of our people and serve them?" 

Learn more about Anna's research in organizational health and how it applies to churches with respect to: 

• Leading from the outside in
• How processes should link to vision
• Replacing tactical thinking with strategic thinking
• How empathy opens possibilities
• Transforming self-centric to others-centric

Check out The Demand Perspective: Leading from the Outside In by Anna Caraveli, PhD

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Does your parish council resign itself merely to bills, budgets, and buildings? Or does your church board inspire vision rooted in Christ? 
 
Based on extensive parish development practice and consulting, Joe Kormos shares many useful suggestions to function as a more effective parish board, including:

• Regular Parish Health Assessments 
• Seriously asking, "Do we want to be made well?" (John 5:6)
• Intentional narrowed focus on few initiatives
• Committing to a Parish Council Covenant
• Utilizing consent agendas
• Parish board retreats and calendar planning

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The Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF) Summer Leadership Institute trains nearly fifty college students each year to serve their local campuses through OCF.  Applicants to this program demonstrate a heart for service, desiring to "give back" to the OCF ministry that has had such a positive impact on them.  Students explore what it means to be an Orthodox Christian as a leader in OCF, the Church, and the world. They are challenged through Christ's teaching to avoid ego-driven leadership, and instead take on the mindset of servant leadership, including a practice of generosity through the resources of their first jobs. As students explore the diverse Orthodox practices and cultures, they grow more united as the body of Christ and together take on some of the most pressing social issues we face in America.

As college graduates launch their careers, their first employers readily harness the value of those who received leadership training and practice in teamwork through service on the OCF Student Leadership Board. But are our parishes so quick to harness the gifts of these students?  Christina offers some suggestions to both parish leaders and young emerging leaders to create opportunities for those capable college graduates who desire to serve the Church.
 
Christina Andresen, Director of Ministries for the Orthodox Christian Fellowship, shares how student leaders are trained to serve OCF ministries on their college campuses.  She will be a featured speaker at the upcoming National Orthodox Advanced Leadership Conference which will focus on Investing in Emerging Leaders. 

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Fr. Luke Veronis shares the story of how his parish trusted in the Lord's provision. Rather than clinging to the last few resources dwindling from their bank account, they accepted the challenge to "Be the Church" by sharing the resources God had provided to global, national, and local missions and ministries. A few years later, as the Church approached its centennial celebration, they invested the Lord's provision by distributing $30,000 cash among their parishioners and sent them to the highways and byways to give to those in need.

Fr. Luke bases his ministry on the Lord's word to Abram found in Genesis 12:2, "I will bless you, so that you will be a blessing."

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The Paschal Homily of St. John Chrysostom rallies excitement among Orthodox Christians every Easter. While it is tempting to be swept up in the grandeur of a winning team after fighting the good fight with long hours of fasting and prayer, it is Christ's victory, not our own, that we celebrate. St. John uses the parable of the workers found in Matthew's Gospel to remind us that the "Lord is gracious and receives the last even as the first." We are called to "rejoice together – rich and poor, sober and slothful" – a poignant reminder for those who quibble over divisions among us today. 

The 2021 Holy Saturday episode of Doulos explores the imagery and poetry of St. John Chrysostom's Paschal Homily through an interview with Andrea Bakas, founder of the Los Angeles Bible Lecture Series. She takes a deeper look at the scriptural content woven into this powerful and enduring sermon. Andrea also explores the rich meaning of the Greek word, epikranthi, used as the basis for her new podcast which releases Pascha Sunday, 2021, VEXED!

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​In our jobs, families, neighborhoods, and church communities, we expect people to exercise an appropriate level of authority to carry out their particular responsibilities. As Christians, the authority that we exercise over people or things in our care require us to serve as one under the authority of God's instruction.

Fr. Sergius looks to Christ, the Theotokos, and the faithful Centurion as shining examples of those who humbly submit to the Lord's instruction and exercise the power of that instruction to carry out their responsibilities for those in their care.

Fr. Sergius Halvorsen, Director of the Doctor of Ministry Program at St. Vladimir’s Seminary and contributor to Doulos – The Intensive Program in Servant Leadership, shares the final episode of a four-part series to explore serving with Christ-like authority and humility.

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We may aspire to be humble, but unless we are submitting to the Lord's instruction that would have us imitate Christ who "emptied himself, taking the form of a servant . . . and humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross" (Phil 2:8-9) we risk an idolatrous image of humility fashioned by our own hands.

Fr. Sergius encourages Christians to imitate Christ's humility by 

1. Submitting to the authority of God's instruction.
2. Allowing God's word to correct us.
3. Giving thanks to God when corrected.

​Fr. Sergius Halvorsen, Director of the Doctor of Ministry Program at St. Vladimir’s Seminary and contributor to Doulos – The Intensive Program in Servant Leadership, shares Part Three of a four-part series to explore serving with Christlike authority and humility.