June 10, 2008
Reflections on the Theme for the 39th Biennial Clergy-Laity Congress
"Gather My People to My Home"

June 2008

In a few weeks we will gather in Washington DC for our 39th Biennial Clergy-Laity Congress. The meeting of the Congress is a special time in the life and work of our Holy Archdiocese. We experience great joy when we are able to see brothers and sisters in Christ once again and share in fellowship and worship. We find encouragement in the challenges and triumphs of ministry as we discuss our work at all levels of the Church in America. We renew our vision and purpose as we set our course for the coming years, reviewing all that has been accomplished and establishing goals and plans for all to be done.

It is important that we prepare ourselves in prayer and reflection for the Congress. Our hearts and minds need to be open to the will of God, and we need to have the spiritual awareness and ability to address very critical needs and issues. This is why the theme for our Congress is significant. "Gather My People to My Home" is a theme that addresses the nature of our daily service in the kingdom of God. It has tremendous implications for the focus of our meetings and planning. It also guides our work in the days and months ahead as we renew our commitment to making our parishes a spiritual home for all.

When we understand the nature of the Church and our calling to "Gather My People to My Home," we know that there is much work to be done. Many are completely disconnected, living without faith and hope. Others are connected to our parishes in very limited ways. For some, the Church is not a haven and has no spiritual relevance in their lives. Others are in despair and are not able to find their way into a place of love and healing. In addition, many of our youth and young adults are lured by vain endeavors and empty ideas. All of these need our immediate attention and efforts so that their souls will find truth and life in God`s home.

We are blessed to have our spiritual home in the Church. We have been gathered by our Lord, and we are being blessed with healing, guidance, and salvation. However, there are many more who are wandering, searching and struggling for a place of hope and truth. What are we doing as Orthodox Christians and as parishes to reach out to those in need? Do our attitudes and lifestyles offer a visible witness of Christ and the transformation He brings to our lives? Do we seek to connect others to faith, to Church, and most importantly to Christ in our homes, workplaces, and communities? Do we labor through prayer and study to understand the relevance of our faith to all aspects of our lives? These are very direct and critical questions that we must ask if we are to affirm the priority of bringing others into the Church.

First, our willingness and efforts to reach out to others is dependent on the role of faith in our lives. Faith is not just something we celebrate in the Holy Sacraments and Divine Services. It is essential to understanding who we are and our purpose for being. Faith nurtures our relationship with God and assures us of our salvation, and it is in this relationship that we are guided in truth. We trust God to lead us through the challenges of this world and in the decisions that we must make. Through our faith in Him, we experience renewal and healing when we struggle or fall. We are blessed with joy when goodness and mercy prevail. We are continuously transformed as the divine image is restored within us and we are prepared for eternal life.

Second, when our lives are centered on our faith in God, our attitudes and lifestyles will change. Our love for God, our desire for worship and prayer, and our concern for the needs of others will grow. We will know the Church as our home, because we will cherish each and every opportunity to gather for worship, fellowship, and ministry. Our hearts will be lifted up and our lives inspired through the services; with love in Christ we will long to see and embrace our brothers and sisters who are sharing in this journey of faith; and as a family of faith in the home of God, we will discuss and establish means of ministry to make the Church the spiritual home for all.

Finally, when we know and experience the Church as our spiritual home we must also examine how we connect our lives, our faith, and the Church to others. With all of the challenges and demands upon our lives, it is possible to leave the Divine Liturgy on Sunday morning and proceed through the week without any thought of how our lives offer a witness of our faith. This is why daily prayer, reading the Holy Scriptures, and thought about the presence of Christ in our lives are so critical. As the Apostles and the Saints, and many blessed people down through the centuries, we may be the person who can bring hope to the life of another. When our words and actions reflect a godly love of human beings who are created in the divine image, when we choose the good and just, when we are merciful and kind, patient and forgiving, others will see Christ in us. Also, they will long to know the strength, joy and peace that we have in our lives. When this connection is made, we are able to lead a weary soul in need of God`s love and healing into His home.

As we near the convening of the Clergy-Laity Congress let us think clearly and deeply about the focus and purpose of all that we do as Orthodox Christians and parishes. Let us commit ourselves to a mission of gathering and bringing people home. To do this, each and every aspect of our lives and ministries must offer a witness of the power of faith. For this sacred work we will receive the tremendous blessing of sharing life in the kingdom of God with those who have come home.

+DEMETRIOS
Archbishop of America