Assembly Resources
Watch LIVE on the
Metropolis YouTube Channel
Friday, March 18 at 1:00 p.m.
The Clergy-Laity Assembly for the Metropolis of San Francisco is coming up soon, and we have some thought-provoking presentations that will bring to life the theme of this gathering and help you and your parish in establishing and expanding ministry that will be meaningful and impactful for the faithful you serve. Friday’s presentation will be live on YouTube and is open to all!
Keynote Address
Presentations
Steven Christoforou – SLIDEDECK
Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Steven will guide us in looking at what is and isn’t good ministry. His presentation will focus on the three components which define what every good ministry should accomplish: Encounter Christ, Embody His Church, and Engage the World in Christ’s Name. By accomplishing this three goals, we will learn how to properly to equip our leaders and make sure our ministries are effective. As many parishes remain challenged with people not returning to church following the pandemic, we must ask ourselves if this is an indication that perhaps our ministries are not accomplishing these goals?
Steve Tibbs – SLIDEDECK
Orthodox Parish Leadership Ministry
Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco
Steve will share principles of forming good leadership within parishes that supports effective ministry.
Dr. Eve (Paraskevè) Tibbs
Christian Education Ministry
Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco
“When God calls, God equips.” Eve will share how God teaches us to serve as parish leaders.
Rev. Father Thomas Zaferes
Ascension Greek Orthodox Cathedral – Oakland, CA
Father Tom will serve as the facilitator, offer additional commentary on “equipping of the saints for the work of ministry” (Ephesians 4:12), and moderate the Q&A at the end of the presentation.
About Our Presenters
Steven Christoforou
A graduate of Yale University, Fordham University School of Law, and Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, Steve is passionate about sharing the Gospel in a clear and accessible way and helping people see Christ at work in their lives.
He has been serving as the Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries for the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America since 2013. He has developed several multi-media programs including Be the Bee, Live the Word, PCCH (Pop Culture Coffee Hour), Books of the Bible, and more! Steve is an engaging presenter who is passionate about sharing the faith and empowering our youth and young adults and nurturing a connection to their Orthodox faith that will last a lifetime!
Steve Tibbs
Steve Tibbs currently leads the Orthodox Parish Leadership ministry for the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco. He is the author of “Parish Strategic Planning; A Guidebook for our Parishes”
In total, Steve has 23 years’ experience on Parish Councils, serving 14 years as president. Steve has led the implementation of the Metropolis of San Francisco’s Strategic Plan as well as capital campaigns comprising of more than $10 million in capital improvements. In his work, he has supported or led strategic plan development at over a dozen Orthodox Parishes and Church Ministries. Steve has been a member of the church school board and a junior high church school teacher for over 30 years at Saint Paul’s Greek Orthodox Church, Irvine, CA.
Dr. Eve Tibbs
Dr. Eve (Paraskevè) Tibbs holds a PhD in Systematic Theology with a minor in Church History from Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, CA, where she has also served as Affiliate Assistant Professor of Systematic Theology since 2005.
Her recent book, A Basic Guide to Eastern Orthodox Theology: Introducing Beliefs and Practices, with Foreword by His All-Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew, was released by Baker Academic Publishing in July 2021. Eve served six years as Chair of the Eastern Orthodox Studies Group of the American Academy of Religion and currently serves as the Ministry Lead for Christian Education and on the Metropolis Council of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco. Eve serves as the Choir Director, Chanter, Bible Study leader, and Chair of the Church School Board at Saint Paul’s Greek Orthodox Church, Irvine, CA.
Rev. Father Tom Zaferes
Father Tom is the Dean of the Ascension Cathedral in Oakland, CA, where he has been serving since 2009.
Prior to that, he served parishes in Northridge, CA; Chattanooga, TN; San Antonio, TX; and Syracuse, NY. He graduated from Hanover College with a Composite Major in Political Science and Theology. He earned a Master of Divinity degree from Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, MA. He has served on the board of OCMC, and led a Mission Team to Ghana. Father Tom also served on the Archdiocesan Council and the Archdiocesan Presbyters Council. He currently serves as member of the Metropolis Council and chairs the Audit Committee. Father Tom is married to Presvytera Julie, an RN, and they have four children and one grandchild. He finds great joy in teaching the faith, leading Bible Studies, reading and mentoring. And, being born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio – he is a loyal Bengals and Reds fan.
Schedule of Events
Friday, March 18, 2022
- 12:30 p.m. Online Check-in (Zoom)
- 1:00 p.m. Welcome – His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco
Archpastoral Greeting – His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America
Featured Presentation: “EQUIPPED: Building Up the Body of Christ” - 4:00 p.m. Closing Remarks and Benediction – His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco
Saturday, March 19, 2022
- 10:00 a.m. Opening Prayer Service
- Keynote Address – His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco
- Appointment of Presiding Officer and Secretary
- Youth Protection
- Approval of Minutes
- Metropolis Financial Report: Year-End 2021
- LUNCH BREAK
- Clergy-Laity Assembly Resumes
- Metropolis Council Report
- Metropolis Financial Presentation 2022
–Total Commitment
–2022 Metropolis Budget
–Review Engagement
–Election of two members for Audit Committee - Election of Metropolis and Archdiocesan Council Members
- New Business
- 3:00 p.m. Closing Remarks
Benediction and Adjournment – His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco
Who Can Attend?
As specified in the 2019 Uniform Regulations of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, each parish is expected to have four delegates in attendance at the Clergy-Laity Assembly, comprised of the following:
- The Parish Priest.
- The President of the Parish Council, and in his or her absence the Vice President, or in his or her absence any member of the Parish Council designated by it.
- Two members of the Parish elected by the Parish Assembly.
There is no cost to attend this year’s virtual Clergy-Laity Assembly, however online registration is required
to obtain secure Zoom login credentials. Registration Deadline: Friday,
March 4, 2022. An information packet and the Zoom link will be emailed
to all registrants no later than Monday, March 14.
If you have any questions, please contact metropolis@sanfran.goarch.org or call the Metropolis Office at 415-753-3075.
Documents
2022 Election Candidates
Download: 2022 CLA Program
Download: 2022 CLA Registration Announcement
Download: 90-Day Notice
Download: 2022 Clergy-Laity Assembly Flyer
