The 2023 Parish Development Forum was dedicated to the memory and legacy of recently departed Archpriest Daniel Rentel. Father Daniel, the priest in numerous Western Pennsylvania parishes as well as parishes in in Columbus, Cincinnati and Byesville OH, was the prime mover behind the Forum which was originally known as the Small Parish Forum.

Since these pages are generally dedicated to identifying and illuminating practices of healthy N. American Orthodox parishes, we thought it useful to remember some of the more unique and important practices associated with Father Daniel’s priesthood.

Worship Driven Parish

As a pastor Father Daniel consistently asked “What does it mean to be fully American and fully Orthodox in this land? How does an Orthodox parish that lives the Gospel actually function here? What are the unique traits. To him the answer centered on a view of worship as the parish core.

Decades ago, Father Daniel collaborated with others in an All-American Council workshop dealing with “The Worship Driven Parish”. (Specifically titled “Come, Let us Worship: From Right Worship to Good Works”.) 

In his preserved notes worship was seen as “the agent of evangelism and of education, the promoter of charity, and the source of inspiration for groups and activities commonly associated with parish life”.He referred to the centrality of worship as “Orthodoxy’s orthodoxy”.  

“Worship is time consuming: Preparing for it. Executing it with beauty. Carrying it forward afterwards.” 

These ideas went beyond concepts.They were holistically translated into parish life with the following practices:

• Great feasts which had been all but lost in our busy society became significant again. Attendance grew as Vesperal liturgies, when appropriate, helped to accommodate working parishioners.
• Church school teachers were told NOT to instruct students in feasts unless they themselves gave best efforts to be present for the festal services. 
• Festal liturgies were often followed with a festal meal. Each feast had family sponsors who decorated the church. Choirs were encouraged to prepare and be present to sing festal material.
• Baptisms and baptismal liturgies became more than family affairs but parish events –to include the entire parish in the celebration. For adults each person being received had at least one sponsor from the parish to foster closer relationships in the parish.        
• The ‘sacramental’ significance of coffee hour for community building was emphasized. “Remember what we just did!” “Those who become Christ’s Body are unwilling to drop it once services end.”
• The “Three-fer” – an effort to encourage parishioners to be at church three times per week -- Sunday AM, Saturday vespers and one other –worship, rehearsal, an occasional class, a service project -- was an active theme.

Urban Ministry

At Father Daniel’s parish in urban Columbus OH homeless and economically disadvantaged persons frequented the church campus- often sleeping near church entrances. Serving bagels and donuts seemed not enough. Parishioners were challenged to "reach out without fear" to find and minister to neighbors. The question: “How can we be a good neighbor without impetus of proselytism? Doing Christ’s work without the hope of gain?”

The “Saturday lunch program” expanded beyond bagels to provide regular hot meals. The activity was extended to encompass job skills training, classes in Orthodoxy and a symbiotic relationship where neighbors gave back to the parish by helping with parish projects -- and looking out for the safety of parishioners and buildings. This ministry was essential to the “worship driven parish”.

Parish Councils and Leadership

As a bi-vocational priest – a parish priest with a 'day job' as a school teacher– Father Daniel understood and appreciated the importance of good administration and the collaborative leadership approaches he observed in the world beyond the parish. This translated into important parish practices.

• Parish Council (PC) members each were required to participate in a ministry beyond the parish council.
• PC members were encouraged to think of their council role as “long term” in favor of learning excellence through experience.
• The ‘Parish Council president’ role morphed into the “Lay Vice Chair” who shared meeting presidency with the priest.
• Councils met annually for an offsite planning day -- often with an outside facilitator.
• Consensus –over voting as a decision making norm – became standard practice and grew out of the consensual nature of liturgical worship. (“…that with one mind we may confess…”)
• The excuse “We can’t afford it” was consistently challenged. “The money is there if we ask effectively and credibly.” Therefore: describe clear priorities; set stretch goals; continually ask “why can’t we? "All we ask should be spoken plainly and pass through the prism of practicality -- the great strength of American character.”

Lay Ministry and “Membership”

Lay persons were trusted and taught to not be suppressed by an inherited sense of clericalism and reminded that they are not second class citizens. ‘The Church needs your unique talents, gifts, perspectives, skills and experience.’

The newly chrismated were encouraged to quickly become engaged in a ministry. “You don’t get to just be here”  

Parish “Members” were reminded of the duties and commitments of “membership in the Body” – not to “vote” but to serve.... to “RE-MEMBER CHRIST”.

The "Whole" Parish

The above list is not exhaustive. Many "Rentalisms" were omitted. And not all of the above are unique. Many items can befound today in more than a few parishes.

The uniqueness of the indelible impression Father Daniel made on the American parish was the holistic, organic nature of how each element fit into a consistent pattern with a comitment to wholeness and to the uniqueness of building communities that were truly an American witness to the gospel as taught and lived by the Orthodox Christian faith.

"Be the Church in this time in this place! No less!"

May Father Daniel's memory be eternal.