www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Parish Life & Evangelization B.E.M.A, - The Byzantine Evangelization and Mission Association

Since I will not be able to attend the full meeting on August 6th (only part due to family obligations), I thought I would share one of my ideas with all of you to get your reaction/thoughts.

I propose that we start a pan-Byzantine organization dedicated to supporting Byzantine Catholic mission work in North America and beyond.

This non-profit organization could be called B.E.M.A. or the Byzantine Evangelization and Mission Association. (BEMA representing the place where the Gospel is proclaimed in BC churches.) The slogan is from Scripture: "Proclaim His marvellous deeds to all the nations!" and the graphic is an icon image of the Theotokos in the orans positions with Christ enthoned in Her womb.

The mission of this organization would be:

To educate and equip Byzantine Catholics to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ and fulfill the church's apostolic mission to "make disciples of all nations".

This would be accomplished through:

- the use of modern media for promotion and communication (video, audio, internet - Orthodox Christian Cassettes is also a good model for some of this)
- training workshops in evangelization, catechesis, church planting and growth practices and leadership (perhaps a Byzantine Institute in Catholic Studies)
- the creation of evanglization tools for individuals, families and churches
- growth and mission planning resources
- financial and material support of mission efforts, including the cost of training clergy, supplies
- a repository of knowledge on research that supports the church's work in missions
- a point of connection for various Byzantine jurisdictions to discuss and coordinate evangelization and mission efforts in shared territories

Ultimately, this group could be one that supports mission work abroad, as well as at home (much like the OCMC of the Orthodox).

The key is that it would be pan-Byzantine in its mission, with heavy lay involvement under the shepherding of the hierarchs.

Ok - your thoughts? This idea has been churning around in my head for several years.

God bless,

Gordo

Combine that with the third order idea and you have quite a support group. I'd be happy to be one of the "hit" men in this.

Dan L

Dear Gordo:

This is a splendid idea!

For initial or additional, and annual, funding BEMA might be eligible under Class II(A) of the USCCB's "Home Missions" grants program.

Afterwards, BEMA can take a jab at "World Missions," which are also funded by the USCCB!

Amado

Dan, Interesting idea. I have thought about the idea of the Companions being something of a "spiritual engine" that works to support the various parishes and well as a broader organization like BEMA.

Amado, thank you for your encouragement and suggestion! Funding is absolutely key in an effort like this, although I believe it is NOT everything!

To receive funds, we would of course need to be incorporated in a state and set up on a federal level as a 501C3 non-profit in order to apply for grants and offer tax benefits to gracious donors.

Does anyone know an attorney that would do pro bono work for the Church like this?

That is assuming that everyone bought into this whole concept and that we have petitioned the bishop(s) and have their blessing to proceed with this effort!

Gordo, who remembers the words of Ignatius of Antioch "Do nothing apart from the bishop!"

I could also envision an organization like this being a conduit of resources from churches that close to support mission efforts (see post on Portable Iconostasis for Missions).

I could also see BEMA getting youth groups mobilized to make Jesus Prayer starter kits for the missions!

Thoughts?

Gordo

Everyone,

I do not want to be a stick in the mud, since especially I am not part of the EC/BC Church. BUT :rolleyes: , shouldn't you be focused on your conference in Whiting first, making it a success, and then maybe bouncing this idea of the mitre of your hierarch?

Remember a lot can come by staying in the good graces of the your bishop, including his support. Otherwise, this is especially true in the EC/BC Churches, he can shut you down like a switch, and hamper any visionary movement in the future. Take it one step at time gentlemen, for your sake and the sake of the church.

Your friend,
Father Anthony+

Father, bless!

I don't perceive you as a stick in the mud at all. I think your advice is wise and prudent, and I am sure rflects the voice of experience (although maybe not first hand).

My intention in bringing up this idea was not to build or announce the organization on this forum, but merely to solicit reactions and suggestions in the hope of its refinement. I fully intend to propose this at the Whiting conference, and am more than willing to submit this idea to Bishop John for his guidance and discernment.

But again, I appreciate your caution not to get too far ahead of ourselves, as well as for your pastoral concern for our church. Thank you!

Yours in Christ,

Gordo

Gordo,

Great! I would like to see you follow up on one thing at a time. Don't overwhelm the bishop with too much too fast. They have a tendency of saying, "Give me some time to think about it", translating into laymen's term, maybe at the second coming. :rolleyes:

You might want to get it more organized on paper (bishops love things on paper ) and work your third order idea into it, either using using the Franciscans or my preference, Benedictines. I would give it the proper time to get it more organized and possibly present it at a follow up meeting in the fall. I am sure that is one of the items on your agenda, a follow-up conference?

I hope this is some fuel for thought.

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+

Father Anthony,

Just so you are aware, I already have statutes in place which the bishop has reviewed and approved for a year for our local parish group - the Byzantine Companions of the Holy Cross. The BEMA concept - which in my mind should also evolve somewhat organically - helps to align many individual efforts into a single umbrella organization dedicated to supporting the mission of the Byzantine Catholic Church.

Duplication of effort across the various jurisdictions is a common problem that wastes energies and resources. While it cannot be solved overnight, this issue may in part be addressed by the development - however gradually - of a group of active lay people and clergy who are committed to a fundamental collaboration around mission work.

Again, I believe your advice is wise. At the same time, part of the issue is that a robust mission strategy cannot be accomplished by the clergy alone or in an epacharial committee - as helpful as they may be at times. BEMA would represent an essential collaboration across many areas, levels and constituencies...hopefully all for the greater glory of God, the Gospel and the growth of the Church!

I plan on drafting a proposal to Bishop John this next week with all of these ideas to review. I for one believe in a Mustard-Seed approach to many things, but I am also concerned that time is also of the essence, and our collaborative energies need to take shape in some concrete form beyond the conference.

Peace!

Gordo

Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory to Him Unto the Age of Ages!

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I am filled with rejoicing in reading many of your posts pertaining to the enthusiasm that is being expressed pertaining to the meeting with our Eparch, Bishop John, on August 6 in Whiting. Unfortunately, I was unable to secure a substitute to serve the spiritual needs of the faithful here at Saint John's in Columbus for the Divine Liturgy. Had it not been a Holy Day, cancelling the Liturgy would not have been a problem. What is happening now, is what we and our Roman Catholic and Orthodox Brothers and Sisters have been doing for the past 12 years. We are slightly behind. The Roman Catholic's main publications is entitled "Go and Make Disciples". There have been subsequent publications which have stemmed from this original text and guide. These were made available to our Bishops by myself when I returned from the various Evangelization Conferences. That was part of what we had been trying to avoid, we did not want to duplicate work which had already been accomplished. A link which is useful is part of the USCCB web site under the secretariat of evangelization heading which I had suggested we petition for, a secretariat for the Eastern Catholic Churches. The address is: http://www.usccb.org/evangelization . I look forward to receiving a transcript of this historic meeting and the direction which the church should have been going for the past 12 years. May the Holy Spirit set your hearts ablaze with the Good News of Jesus Christ and His Love for us all.

Thank you, Father Batcha, for your encouragement! I am sorry to hear that you will not be in attendance at this meeting.

I agree that we want something that is distinctive, reflecting our own ecclesial life and mission. At the same time, I think we can and should avoid reinventing the wheel.

A great example of this is the Alpha program which is a "seeker oriented" ministry that originated out of the Anglican church. This program of evangelization is now used in MANY different denominations, and there is now an RC Alpha with Father Ranerio Cantalamesa, OFM on video as the main teacher. (He is the preacher to the papal household, for those who may not know). I'm not suggesting that we have a Byzantine Alpha, but perhaps we need to explore programs like that and see what might work!

Please remember us in your prayers!

Gordo

One of the problems we have is that we are under the radar so to speak. If we are to grow, we are going to have to step up and become more visible than we are.

When I talk to people I find that they are confused to what an eastern Catholic actually is. Many of my friends still think I have gone over to the Orthodox.

So in order to get seekers, they have to know we are there.

John

Father Batcha,

Thank you for your encouraging words. I too am sorry that you won't be able to come but rejoice that one or two of your parishioners are coming. We need your prayers.

Dan L

John,

I agree. We need to get our message out there.

I also think we need to internalize our authentic identity as well. We need to truly be "Orthodox Christians in communion with Rome" and the weight and meaning of this needs to be felt and experienced in every parish and eparchy. I feel that our Church is always challenged by the need to compare and define ourselves in relationship to two entities - the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox.

Inevitably I always say - "we're are essentially Eastern Orthodox Christians in union with the Pope and the Catholic Church." (The word "Byzantine" is not a familiar term to most people.) Sometimes I just want to shortcut the whole thing and say: I am an "Orthodox Catholic" or I belong to the "Orthodox Catholic Church".

Not sure if that would help matters...probably not! I am at least thankful that the term "Byzantine" does not bind us by necessity to any particular ethnic group.

Gordo

PS: How about a tag line...

"Orthodox in Faith, Catholic in Love"

Dear Fr. Batcha:

I am unsure what you meant by this:

As I understand it, "Go and Make Disciples: A National Plan and Strategy for Catholic Evangelization in the United States" is NOT solely a Roman Catholic publication; it was prepared by the USCCB's Committee on Evangelization for the use and guidance of ALL Catholic dioceses, i.e., including Eastern Catholic eparchies. Subsequent documents are geared toward the same.

The current composition of the Committee includes a representative of the Eastern Catholics in the person of the Most Reverend Nicholas J. Samra,
Greek-Melkite Auxiliary Bishop of Newton. I think a more appropriate move would be to have the next representative of the Eastern Catholics to come from the Ruthenians, and then from the Ukrainians, and so forth down the line.

I also don't see any need for a "separate" Secretariat for the Eastern Catholic Churches. It is duplicitous, not to mention the additional expense and manpower it entails, if we believe that the USCCB is an organization which includes both the Latin bishops and the Eastern Bishops, which it is.

Forgive me for observing this penchant of Eastern Catholics in doing things separately when there already exist tools for cooperative endeavors, especially funding for domestic missions and general evangelization courtesy of the USCCB.

There's no need to reinvent the wheel!

Amado