Two Basic Statistics 62 in last 20 years 80 or more intermarry How many have remained connected I cant answer this question However The following story might provide us with some important hints and clues ID: 320805
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Slide1
What you Need to Know About the Intermarriage ChallengeSlide2
Two Basic Statistics
62% in last 20 years
80% or more intermarry Slide3
How many have remained connected? Slide4
?
I can’t answer this question. Slide5
However…
The following story might provide us with some important hints and clues.Slide6
Meet The “X” FamilySlide7
A Four Generational Case Study
Trends over four generations (125
subjects)
Not to be generalized to the GOA
How pervasive?
Further research is needed
Everyone here knows a family like this oneSlide8
WW I Generation
In 1914, Costa and Eleni
immigrate to the USA.
They settle in a large city in the Northeast.
They intend to stay for a few years and return to Greece.Slide9
Costa peddles newspapers, sells fruit and eventually works in a factory.
They have
eight
children.Slide10
After WW II all
eight children marry in the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese (GOA).
Six of
eight
couples move into the suburbs.
Two
of the
eight
intermarry (
25%).
They have
22
children.
WW II Generation Slide11
Baby Boomers (1946 – 64)
Of these 22 children:
14
would intermarry (
64%)
Of these
14
children:
8
would marry outside of the GOASlide12
In addition…
Four would
intramarry
–
(Greek Orthodox to Greek Orthodox)
Two
would remain single
Two would cohabit and never marrySlide13
The
EIGHT Greek Orthodox Christians who would marry outside of the GOA and the TWO
cohabiters do not attend a Greek Orthodox Church.
That’s a
45%
Attrition Rate
by the third generation.Slide14
Further…
The others who attend (
54%)
report a low to moderate level of connection to the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese (GOA).Slide15
This generation would have
a total of 35 children.
32Slide16
Generations:
X (1965 - 81)
Y
(1982 – 2000)
Of these
35
children,…
16
were uncertain if they would marry in the GOASlide17
In addition…
22
(
63%)
would either be baptized outside the Orthodox Church or remain un-baptized.
~ This is a
63%
attrition rate ~Slide18
Two Salient Statistics
In four generations, the retention rate
drops from 100% to 37%.
In three generations the
intermarriage rate
increases from 0 to
64%.Slide19
Marriages: 1996 - 2010
In 19963855
in GOA
Inter-Christian:
2588
Orthodox/Orthodox: 1267
In 2010
2709
in GOA
Inter-Christian:
1631
Orthodox/Orthodox: 1078 Slide20
GOA’s Stats from 1996 – 2009 Slide21
Between 1989 – 2009
(20 year period)
Nearly 2 or every 3 marriages (62%) that took place in our Archdiocese were categorized inter-Christian marriages. Slide22
This needs assessment survey was done in 2006. It’s objectives were to identify…
S = Strengths
W = Weaknesses
O = Opportunities
T = Threats
Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats
The S.W.O.T. SurveySlide23
The S.W.O.T. Survey
Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats
Over 300 clergy and lay leaders responded.Slide24
Two valuable observations…
Under the category
Opportunities…
Respondents ranked outreach to intermarried couples and their families as the “#1 Opportunity.”
Under the category
Weaknesses…
respondents indicated that the GOA
was failing
to take advantage
of this opportunity.
The S.W.O.T. SurveySlide25
These results, along with previous research studies such as…
The Interfaith Research Project (2001, 2006)
The Gallup Needs Assessment (1980’s)
…suggest that at all levels we’re not doing enough and we could be doing more
The S.W.O.T. SurveySlide26
Newest Research
Project (2009)
The Orthodox Family in America at Home and in the Church: A Study of Families in the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of
America Slide27
Among the perceived needs…
Respondents from this study identified outreach to intermarried couples as “an urgent need.” Slide28
Big question…
What are the implications of all this research?Slide29
“…let us run with perseverance the race
that is set before us (Heb 12:1)” Slide30
Running the race…
We’re running a marathon and a relay race.Let’s focus on the relay race. Slide31
Passing the batton
What’s critical to any successful relay race? Slide32
“Couples get married in our churches,
and we don’t see them again.”Archdiocesan Council Member
Don’t assume they’ll come back! Many drift away.Slide33
A good first step
What do you know about intermarried couples? A self evaluation exercise