Introduction

from Reclaiming the Great Commission: A Roadmap to Parish Health

Meeting Father Elias

There have been moments in my time as a priest when I was reminded of the famous quote—the origin of which remains uncertain—that states, “Laws are like sausages. It’s better not to see them being made.” Seeing the processes behind the curtain often robs us of our rose-colored-glasses view of the world.

Such a glimpse can also be highly enlightening. Many years ago, as a new priest, I attended my first Clergy–Laity Congress for my metropolis. Because I was serving in the host community, I was involved with the planning and had many conversations with the guests. One of them was a former Episcopal clergyman, Fr. Elias, who had recently been ordained an Orthodox priest.

My opportunity to speak with this man did not come until after our business meeting. At the end of that meeting, I was concerned. We had spent well over two hours going over minor details: forms, funding allocations, and the minutiae of parish operations. Given the banality of our discussion, I feared this former Episcopalian would run screaming back to his old church.

After sheepishly introducing myself to him and welcoming him to the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Denver, I asked him about his first impressions. What he said to me has stayed with me and undergirds my current message.

“Well,” he said, “that was the best clergy meeting I ever attended!”

I asked him if he was kidding.

“No,” he said, “but you have to understand, I’ve spent the past thirty years defending the divinity of Christ in clergy meetings. None of that is up for debate in the Orthodox Church!”

How We Will Go about Reclaiming the Great Commission

From the start it is important to know that our way forward will not be found in debating the Divinity of Christ, nor will it be found in changing any of our Lord’s teachings. It cannot be found in the dismantling of the Church, either. We are so incredibly fortunate to have inherited the full deposit of faith (Jude 1:3). As you will see, reclaiming the Great Commission is not about rejecting Church Tradition. Instead, this work is primarily a process of recovering and remembering who we are.

In the final verses of the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus tells His disciples, “Go . . . and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you” (Matt. 28:19–20). These were the last words Jesus said to His disciples before ascending into heaven. In time, this passage of Holy Scripture came to be known as the Great Commission. Jesus was reminding His disciples that He wanted everyone to hear and accept the teachings He had shared with them.

Looking back, we see that the apostles were faithful to Jesus’ instructions. They set out to change the world with His message. Fortunately, this movement to spread the life of Jesus didn’t end after the original band of twelve departed from this life. After them, others accepted Christ’s commandment, and, sharing the same vision the Twelve Apostles had, new bands of followers also went forth as ambassadors of Christ.

Today as we survey the landscape within our Christian communities, we notice that many faithful followers of the Way (John 14:6) are still motivated by Jesus’ life, His words, and His truth, and they too want to share the Good News with others.

Many examples remind us that evangelism and serving the Great Commission have always been a part of the life of the Church. We honor saints such as Nino of Georgia, who bears the title of Equal to the Apostles. She began her missionary work in the 300s. Saint Olga, from the 900s, also bears the title Equal to the Apostles. In more recent times, St. Herman of Alaska worked as an evangelist in the Kodiak Archipelago, spreading the gospel among the native population. This is a tiny selection of the thousands of missionaries and evangelists who kept the words of the Great Commission alive.

Unfortunately, many of us find ourselves hindered in some way in our ability to follow the words of the Great Commission. In facing this reality, some of us begin to wonder whether we are equipped to do this work, how to start, or where to look for answers. Others question whether the very vehicle for doing God’s work—their local church—stands in the way, and they wonder how it can change. In some communities, the Great Commission has not motivated the actions of the members for decades; it has become a forgotten commandment of our Lord. Other parishes are simply trying to ensure their community’s survival. In short, there are many reasons Christians are struggling with Christ’s commission.

The purpose of this book is twofold. First, I hope to help us understand why some of us have lost our way. Second, I will discuss how we can get back on track and describe some ways to get there. We can take many simple and practical steps that will help us reclaim the Great Commission. Along the way I will explore several foundational truths, or concepts, that I believe will deepen our understanding of what our communities can be.

We understand this process is both therapeutic and positive. In the Church we speak of the life and ministry of Christ as healing humanity from the disfigurement and illnesses of the Fall. He heals what is broken in us, which is therapeutic and remedial, but He also leads us into something positive beyond this: in Christ, we are given by grace a new inheritance that is greater than what we had in the Garden.

So also in reclaiming the Great Commission: we heal what is disfigured and broken in our parishes, but we also bring new elements to the life of the community, building it into something more than it ever was.

This process will require us to take a hard look at ourselves. In this we are following Jesus’ first public words to fallen humanity: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” (Matt. 3:2). To repent means to change our old way of thinking, to have a change of heart, and to begin to move and live in a new way.

This book may appear to be just another book on leadership or parish organization and management, but it is more than that. This book invites us to begin considering the Great Commission through the lens of our own personal repentance and transformation. In fact, this is one of the most important rules of this book: Any change we hope to see in our communities has to occur first in ourselves.

I hope this book will help not just your community but all of us to reclaim the Great Commission. Each individual and each community is important, and all our contributions are essential to the Body of Christ. So, whether you are part of a parish that has plateaued, a so-called dying community, or a new mission church, this book is for you. It is also designed for small groups, parish councils, and clergy. I believe every member in every community can benefit from reading and applying this material.

Finally, it may help to know what this book is not. It is not just a list of best practices or strictly a how-to guide. It is not only a workbook for leadership seminars—although it could be used as one—nor is it an academic treatment of leadership principles. Instead, we will be looking at the basics of parish health through the lens of the Faith Jesus entrusted to us and the tools He gives us by His grace and love.

May the promise of Christ encourage us in every step we take in reclaiming the Great Commission: “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them” (Matt. 18:20).

How to Use This Book

A general note to the individuals and teams reading this book: At the end of each chapter, you will find a review divided into three sections: Main Ideas, Action Items, and For Contemplation. The Main Ideas section summarizes a few key points from the chapter. Action Items include a list of suggested steps you can take. The For Contemplation section contains prompts designed to help you think more deeply about the chapter topics.

Whether you are reading this book on your own or with others, I encourage you to keep a journal in which you can write down your thoughts and insights. If you are fortunate to be working through this book with a group, this journal will be useful for discussions about what you are reading. Keep in mind that this book is inviting you to change the way you view the Great Commission. And remember, any change we hope to see in our communities begins first in the transformation that occurs in each of us.

Admittedly, this book does not have all the answers you need to reclaim the Great Commission. However, it provides an opportunity for you to consider the steps you can take with others to prepare the soil of your hearts for new growth.

In the end, we cannot tackle this task alone. Not only do we need to seek the help of others, but we need to seek guidance from God. Too easily we can come up with a list of action items and thoughts without God, but this go-it-alone approach will impoverish our efforts. It is important to allow space for the Holy Spirit to work in our hearts and minds.

To help facilitate your connection with God, I suggest you spend some time in silence and prayer before journaling and discussing what you have read. For some additional thoughts on personal prayer, you can read my earlier book, Toolkit for Spiritual Growth: A Practical Guide to Prayer, Fasting, and Almsgiving (Ancient Faith Publishing, 2020). For now, before you reflect, journal, and share with others, I suggest that you begin by turning your attention and your heart toward God, seeking a closer connection with Jesus Christ. Spend some time sitting in silence, collecting yourself before the Lord. After quieting yourself, offer a prayer asking for His wisdom, illumination, and guidance.

I also want to encourage and remind you that God is already at work in your parish. He wants good things to occur, and He will work with you to bring them to fruition.

Review

Main Ideas

1. Our path forward is not found in debating the truths of our Faith. Rather, our journey lies in remembering and recovering who we are.

2. Each community is invited to respond to the Great Commission of Christ found in Matthew 28.

3. Responding to the Great Commission has become difficult for many of us. You are not alone.

4. Any change we hope to see in our communities must first occur in ourselves. Responding requires us to repent and change personally.

5. Health is our goal, not growth. Growth is a by-product of health.

Action Items

1. Form a group to read and discuss this book along with you.

2. Begin a journal of ideas gleaned from your reading.

3. Resolve to ask questions of yourself and others and to begin a dialogue.

For Contemplation

1. No one eats a salami in one sitting, but rather we eat one thin slice at a time. Biting off a little bit at a time will be important and ensure you do not become overwhelmed. Remember, Rome, as they say, was not built in a day.

2. Why is the first public word of Jesus “Repent”?

3. Not everything has to be done, nor do you have to do everything right, right away. Honestly, any little step your community takes is positive and helps you progress.