Thriving Congregations Gathering, Orthodox Christian Laity Annual Conference, and Inter-Parish Association Info Session in Indianapolis
Wednesday, October 15, 2025
Staff from the Assembly of Bishops participated in the Lilly Endowment, Inc. Thriving Congregations Annual Gathering, the Orthodox Christian Laity 38th Annual Conference, and hosted an information session on Inter-Parish Associations for the Indianapolis area parishes during the week of October 8-13, 2025.
October 8-10: The Thriving Congregations Annual Gathering brought together all grantees of the Thriving Congregations grant in the 2024 cohort. The grantees include 132 projects, spanning over 71 Christian denominations and movements across 30 states. The two days of the conference allow grantees to connect with one another, be renewed in their grant work, and create spaces to discern what is working in each project, what may need to be adjusted, and where to find support.
October 11 - The Orthodox Christian Laity 38th Annual Conference was held at Saints Constantine & Elena Orthodox Christian Church in Indianapolis, IN. Speakers included Khouria Frederica Mathewes-Green, Rev. Stephen Mathewes, Alexei Krindatch, and Spyridoula Fotinis. The speakers’ topics focused on stories of local communities working towards jurisdictional unity and new research findings on Orthodox Churches. Spyridoula Fotinis, the Director of Inter-Parish Associations (IPAs), shared how IPAs are growing across the country.
October 13 – St. George Orthodox Church hosted a lovely dinner and presentation for local communities to learn more about Inter-Parish Associations. Six parishes were represented by twenty-four parishioners. Spyridoula Fotinis presented about the ministry and encouraged more parishes to get involved. Three parishes in the Indianapolis area have already committed to participating in the IPA and more parishes showed strong interest in joining after learning more at the info session.
