Archbishop Melchisedek and Bishop Paul with 2018 participants in Rossford, OH.
The Orthodox Church in America's Archdiocese of Western Pennsylvania, Diocese of the Midwest and Bulgarian Diocese will cosponsor the Sixth Parish Development Forum at Saint John the Baptist Church, Canonsburg, PA July 11-13 2019.
The conference, open to clergy and laity alike, is designed to establish mutually supportive relationships among participants, explore the challenges facing parishes in North America, and encourage dialogue about life in healthy, vibrant Orthodox parishes.
Registration will be online only and will open May 15. To maintain an atmosphere of fellowship and dialogue among attendees, registration will be limited to 60 participants. Sessions will begin at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday July 11 and conclude at noon on Saturday, July 13. A block of rooms has been reserved at a local hotel.
The $100.00 per person registration fee will include meals, breaks, a hospitality reception and Forum materials. Attendees from the OCA's Bulgarian Diocese, the Archdiocese of Western Pennsylvania and the Diocese of the Midwest are eligible for full tuition rebates and grants to assist with travel costs. According to Mr. Kormos, many other OCA dioceses offer scholarships to small parishes desiring to send attendees.