Alexei Krindatch (akrindatch@aol.com)Alexei Krindatch (akrindatch@aol.com)

Orthodox Reality in AmericaOrthodox Reality in America

Statistic matters…Statistic matters…2010 National Census of Orthodox Christian 2010 National Census of Orthodox Christian

Churches in the United StatesChurches in the United StatesEach US Orthodox parish was asked two questions:How many individual persons in total are associated

with the life of your parish: including adults and children, regular and occasional attendees, paid stewards and persons who do not contribute financially?

Approximately, how many persons – including adults and children – attend Liturgy in your parish on a typical Sunday?

Combined, for all US Orthodox Churches:Combined, for all US Orthodox Churches:The answer to the first question is 1,060,7001,060,700

That is, 1,060,700 persons in the USA participate in Orthodox church life or are at least known to the local parishes. This includes: 817,500 Eastern Orthodox Christians + 243,200 Oriental Orthodox Christians

The answer to the second question is 300,600300,600 That is, 300,600 persons are praying in all American Orthodox parishes on a typical Sunday. This includes: 214,200 Eastern Orthodox Christians + 86,400 Oriental Orthodox Christians

For the Antiochian Christian Archdiocese:For the Antiochian Christian Archdiocese:The answer to the first question is 75,00075,000

That is: total membership of AOCA in US is 75,000 The answer to the second question is 27,30027,300

That is: 27,300 persons are praying in all AOCA

parishes in USA on a typical Sunday The ratio between second (27,300) and first (75,000)

figures is 37%37% That is: 37% of all AOCA parishioners participate in church life regularly

For Diocese of Wichita only: For Diocese of Wichita only: total membership is 10,600 persons and average Sunday attendance is 4,600 persons: that is 43% (above AOCA average)

Membership in US Orthodox Churches: Membership in US Orthodox Churches: total number of adherents (including children and total number of adherents (including children and

occasional participants)occasional participants)

700

900

2,600

6,800

10,500

11,200

12,400

23,000

27,000

68,000

75,000

84,600

476,000GOAOCA

Antiochian ArchdioceseSerbian Orthodox Church

ROCORUkrainian Orthodox ChurchPatriarchal Parishes of ROC

Romanian ArchdioceseCarpatho-Russian Diocese

Palestinian VicariateBulgarian Diocese

Georgian Orthodox ParishesAlbanian Orthodox Diocese

Various US Orthodox Churches are different in the Various US Orthodox Churches are different in the strength of strength of church commitmentchurch commitment of their members of their members

Of total adherents, % persons attending regularly26%

47%

46%

40%

37%

35%

32%

31%

26%

23%

22%

20%

16%

12%

All Eastern Orthodox ChurchesCarpatho-Russian Diocese

Bulgarian DioceseOrthodox Church in America

Antiochian ArchdioceseGeorgian Orthodox parishesRus.Orth.Ch. Outside RussiaUkrainian Orthodox ChurchAlbanian Orthodox Diocese

Greek Orthodox ArchdioceseSerbian Orthodox Church

Romanian ArchdiocesePatriarchal Parishes of ROC

Palestinian Vicariate

Compared to general US population, the members of Compared to general US population, the members of

Orthodox Churches are much more concentrated in Orthodox Churches are much more concentrated in certain geographic areas. 45% of them live in five statescertain geographic areas. 45% of them live in five states

New York (14% of all Orthodox adherents),

California (10%), Illinois (8%), Pennsylvania (7%), Massachusetts (6%)

But only 29% of US population live in these five states

Geography of AOCA membership is somewhat Geography of AOCA membership is somewhat different. 46% of AOCA adherents live in five states:different. 46% of AOCA adherents live in five states:

California (14%), Pennsylvania (9%), Massachusetts (8%)

Michigan (8%), Texas (7%).

Members of Orthodox Churches are “urban” people:Members of Orthodox Churches are “urban” people:77% of them are in Metropolitan areas of 1,000,000+77% of them are in Metropolitan areas of 1,000,000+

compared to only 54% among US general population compared to only 54% among US general population % of Church members living in Metropolitan areas of

more than 1,000,000 population 77%

94%

91%

89%

86%

83%

78%

76%

69%

59%

43%

All Orthodox Churches togetherRomanian Archdiocese

Patriarchal parishes of ROCUkrainian Orthodox Church

Serbian OrthodoxROCOR

GOABulgarian diocese

Antiochian ArchdioceseOrthodox Church in America

Carpatho-Russian Diocese

US nationwide: + 15% growth in number of US nationwide: + 15% growth in number of Orthodox parishes during 2000-2010 (AOCA: +19%) Orthodox parishes during 2000-2010 (AOCA: +19%)

How “ethnic” are various Orthodox Churches How “ethnic” are various Orthodox Churches in USA?in USA?

2011 four-questions survey administered in all 2011 four-questions survey administered in all US Orthodox parishesUS Orthodox parishes

% of English used as language of liturgy?% of English used as language of sermon?% of English used by the church choir?Do you agree with the statement “Our parish has

strong ethnic culture and identity that we are trying to preserve?” (“agree strongly,” “rather agree,” “neutral,” “rather disagree,” “strongly disagree”)

Although usage of English in the church varies, Although usage of English in the church varies, most of jurisdictions became “English-speaking”most of jurisdictions became “English-speaking”

US average % of English used as language of liturgy in the Orthodox parishes

73%

96%

94%

85%

77%

68%

66%

52%

49%

47%

25%

All Orthodox Churches togetherCarpatho-Russian Diocese

Antiochian ArchdioceseOrthodox Church in America

Patriarchal parishes of ROCBulgarian Diocese

GOAUkrainian Orthodox Church

ROCORSerbian Orthodox Church

Romanian Archdiocese

But:But: Dominance of English language in OrthodoxDominance of English language in Orthodox Church life in the USA does not mean that Church life in the USA does not mean that local Orthodox parishes abandon their “ethnic”local Orthodox parishes abandon their “ethnic” identity and cultureidentity and cultureIn fact, relative majority of US Orthodox parishes In fact, relative majority of US Orthodox parishes

can still be described as ethnically-basedcan still be described as ethnically-based

Do you agree or disagree with the statement “Our parish has strong ethnic culture and identity that

we are trying to preserve?”49% of US Orthodox parishes “agreed”35% of US Orthodox parishes “disagreed”16% of US Orthodox parishes were “unsure / neutral”

Strength of ethnic identity in Orthodox parishes Strength of ethnic identity in Orthodox parishes varies greatly from jurisdiction to jurisdictionvaries greatly from jurisdiction to jurisdiction

"Our parish has a strong ethnic culture that we are trying to preserve."

24%

8%

14%

11%

16%

47%

40%

20%

35%

57%

64%

20%

10%

21%

42%

28%

27%

23%

19%

11%

25%

9%

All Orthodox Churches combined

Antiochian Archdiocese

Orthodox Church in America

Carpatho-Russian Archdiocese

Patriarchal Parishes of ROC

Bulgarian Diocese

Ukrainian Orthodox Church

GOA

ROCOR

Serbian Orthodox Parishes

Romanian Archdiocese

% parishes "strongly agree" % parishes "rather agree"

Compared to AOCA nationwide, the parishes in Compared to AOCA nationwide, the parishes in Diocese of Wichita are even less “ethnic”Diocese of Wichita are even less “ethnic”

8%

17%

94%

97%

99%

97%

All parishes inAntiochian

Archdiocese

Parishes in Dioceseof Wichita

% of parishes agreing with statement "Our parish has strongethnic heritage that we are trying to preserve"average % of English used as language of liturgy

average % of English used as language of sermon

Two important findings from 2007 “Orthodox Two important findings from 2007 “Orthodox Church Today” study: the US national survey of Church Today” study: the US national survey of

parishioners in the Greek Orthodox parishioners in the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and Orthodox Church Archdiocese of America and Orthodox Church

in Americain America

Finding 1. What are most urgent issues Finding 1. What are most urgent issues in the Church life from the perspective of lay in the Church life from the perspective of lay members of Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of members of Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of

America (GOA) and Orthodox Church in America (GOA) and Orthodox Church in America (OCA)?America (OCA)?

22%32%Sharing ministry with laity

23%28%Lack of clear professional standards for priests

34%25%Process of selecting bishops

25%32%Recruiting priests from converts to Orthodoxy

31%39%Relationship between American Orthodox Churches and Mother Churches in the Old World

40%45%Issue of “ethnic” versus “American” parishes

44%46%Representation of the local parish at decision making on the diocesan and national level

27%52%Issue of interfaith and inter-Christian marriages

54%63%Relationship between mainstream American culture and traditions and requirements of the Orthodox Church

77%84%Issue of youth and young adults leaving Orthodox Church

OCAGOA % of parishioners saying that the following subjects are “VERY IMPORTANT” to be discussed in Church

Finding 2. Some “unfortunate” Orthodox Finding 2. Some “unfortunate” Orthodox reality:reality:

Survey data tell us that about half of OCA and GOA parishioners think that :

- regular Church attendance - obeying the priest - observing Great Lent

are non-significantnon-significant for being a “good Orthodox”

Please, indicate if you think a person can be a good Orthodox Please, indicate if you think a person can be a good Orthodox Christian Christian withoutwithout performing these actions performing these actions% of GOA and OCA members saying that he/she still can be a good Orthodox Christian without doing the following

1%

3%

24%

24%

45%

49%

55%

OCA GOA

4%Without believing that in Eucharist, the bread and wine become the body and blood of Jesus

30%Without donating time and money to help parish

56%Without observing Lent and fasting on certain days

31%Without donating time and money to help the poor

3%Without believing that Jesus rose from the dead

56%Without obeying the priest

67%Without going to church every Sunday

I guess it is enough for today?

But come tomorrow for workshop: we’ll But come tomorrow for workshop: we’ll talk various – interesting - aspects of talk various – interesting - aspects of Orthodox local parish life in USA…Orthodox local parish life in USA…

Now is time for announcing right answers to our quiz about Antiochian

Archdiocese…

US state with biggest number of AOCA parishes is California: there are 29 Antiochian parishes in CACalifornia: there are 29 Antiochian parishes in CA

US state with biggest number of AOCA members is California: 10,100 of AOCA adherents live in CACalifornia: 10,100 of AOCA adherents live in CA

US county with biggest number of AOCA parishes is Los Angeles county, CA: 6 Antiochian parishes Los Angeles county, CA: 6 Antiochian parishes

US county with biggest number of AOCA members is Cook county, IL: 4,170 AOCA Cook county, IL: 4,170 AOCA adherents are in Cook county, IL adherents are in Cook county, IL

US county with highest % of AOCA members in county’s total population is Boundary county, ID: Boundary county, ID: AOCA members constitute 2,4% of its populationAOCA members constitute 2,4% of its population