San Francisco Metropolis Announces Webinar on Thriving Orthodox Parishes
Orthodox leaders are continuing efforts to strengthen parish life by focusing on ministry engagement rather than simple program maintenance.
SAN FRANCISCO — The Orthodox Parish Leadership (OPL) ministry of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco has announced the continuation of its 2026 webinar series with a June presentation focused on parish vitality, leadership, and ministry development.
Scheduled for June 15 at 5 p.m. Pacific time, the webinar, titled “Elements of a Thriving Parish and Empowering Parish Ministries,” is being organized in collaboration with the Greek Orthodox Metropolises of Atlanta and Boston. The session will feature presentations by Rev. Fr. Luke Veronis and Alex Cooley, who will discuss practical approaches to parish growth and long-term congregational health.
The webinar will build on lessons learned through the Metropolis of Boston’s Thriving Congregations Initiative, a multi-year effort aimed at strengthening parish life. The discussion is expected to examine characteristics commonly found in thriving Orthodox communities, including strong spiritual life, clear vision, and active engagement with surrounding neighborhoods and communities.
Special emphasis will also be placed on helping parishes move beyond simply maintaining programs toward cultivating ministries that encourage participation, leadership, and relationship-building among parishioners. Organizers say clergy and lay leaders attending the session will receive practical tools and examples drawn from real parish experiences.
Fr. Luke Veronis currently serves at Saints Constantine and Helen Church in Webster, Massachusetts, and directs the Missions Institute at Holy Cross, while Cooley serves as administrative coordinator for the Boston Metropolis’ Thriving Congregations Initiative.
Registration for the webinar can be found here.
Previously, the UOJ reported that the Antiochian Archdiocese prepared for summer Parish Life Conferences.
