Doulos

Have you ever worked for someone who had trouble confronting a difficult employee? Perhaps you've noticed yourself avoiding conflict by working extra long and hard to cover someone who is stealing energy and productivity from the team. What do you say? How do you say it? Is humility the same as avoiding conflict?

This week's episode continues the study of Ephesians 4:25-32 and the responsibility we have as "members one of another" to speak the truth in love even when we would rather avoid the conflict. 

If you have someone on your team or in your charge who is not performing well, how do you speak the truth in love? This week's episode reminds us that St. Paul's epistle offers the truth, spoken from Christ the head, and through His word we are bound together as a body. Speaking the truth in love is not about finding the courage to express your honest opinion nor to post your personal truth online.  It's about having the humility to bow your head before the Lord, hearing and repeating His truth in love.

Who doesn't love a good deal? But is anything of value truly free? The Apostle Paul reminds us of the law of Moses, "You shall not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the grain." St. Paul continues to teach in the first letter to the Corinthians in the same way, "the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel." While the Lord provides the gospel free of charge, it comes with a charge. Roll up your sleeves, there's work to be done treading out the grain.

Failing to attend to the Lord's instruction to "Do nothing from selfishness or conceit," becomes even more pronounced when we attend to the business of persuading others:

• "You should hire me because . . ."
• "You should promote me because . . ."
• "You should buy my product or service because . . ."

"What Scripture is telling you is that you're exploiting your neighbor, and you're under judgment. So proceed with caution, because the Lord is coming. If we can just learn to be honest with ourselves about what we're doing, then there's hope that we will cause less harm to each other in our business dealings. We have to be held to the Lord's standard that we are to be perfect as His Father is perfect. And then we have to be fully aware that we're not, so that we don't think too highly of ourselves." - Fr. Marc Boulos

If you are have been asked to serve on parish council or if you feel unprepared to make a meaningful contribution to any non-profit board, this episode is for you. An interview with Fr. Ian Pac-Urar, director of Continuing Education for the OCA, explores some of the topics addressed in Boot Camp for Parish Councils and Non-Profit Boards.

Service is the emphasis of servant leadership within the Lord's household as we serve His instruction in the context of parish council. Service shapes recruitment, training, and succession planning. Service frames strategy,  governance, fiduciary responsibilities, and support of the parish priest or non-profit director. And service to Christ, however He is presented to you as "the least of these" matters on the last day. 

In this week's episode, Bethany Geleris, a candidate for the Doctorate in Nursing Practice from UCSF, shares how her research and work in mentoring for advanced practice providers contributed to MNTR (Mentoring and Nurturing Transformative Relationships) for Christian communities. Bethany provides insights into how mentoring within a Christian community fosters a sense of belonging and purpose. Through intentional development, MNTR challenges people to move beyond their comfort zones, growing in and through the body of Christ, and can help bring us back to our calling to love our neighbor by being more present in the lives of others. 

The program, designed for parishes, schools, and any Christian community, will strengthen the clarity of purpose and vision not only for that community, but for each member within the body of Christ. Mentoring and Nurturing Transformative Relationships (MNTR) creates opportunities for people to realize their unique place in the body of Christ, integrated through collaborative multi-generational ministry. 

Fr. Kosmas Kallis, Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry for the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago, suggests that the "Come and See" model of Orthodox ministry lacks the call to action to move outside the walls of the Church. 

"It is time for the Lord to act," is the psalm verse invoked at the start of every liturgy. It's a beautiful yet ominous way for the liturgy to begin because the entire verse account is, "It is time for the Lord to act, because your law has been broken." (Ps. 119:126) Fr. Marc reminds us that we don't gather around God and call for His action. God is the one who gathers His scripture around us and surrounds us with His instruction  because we have broken His law.  It is the same Word that creates, gathers, feeds, and leads the liturgical community with the Lord's life-giving commandments.

Have you ever endured a pointless or even painfully contentious meeting? Dn. Michael Hyatt, author of No Fail Meetings shares how you can make your meetings more engaging and productive by:

• First asking whether a meeting is even needed
• Preparing and time-boxing your agenda
• Following up with task owners recorded in minutes
• Creating a safe environment for dissent
• Ensuring alignment over agreement

What does money have to do with salvation? 

Isn't the whole-burnt offering an archaic, wasteful practice? 

Can tithing be understood as a Church tax?

Isn't almsgiving simply giving a few spare coins to one in need? 

Shouldn't parish fundraising use a ministry-centric approach?

An interview with Dr. Andrew Geleris, author of the forthcoming book Money and Salvation: An Invitation to the Good Way, challenges many of these notions after his study of Scripture challenged him.