Alexei Krindatch (Akrindatch@aol.com)
Orthodox Reality in America
St.Tikhon Monastery (est. 1903), South Canaan, PA
Panagia Vlahernon Monastery, Ocala, FL
St.Nicholas Cathedral, Tarpon Springs. FL
St.Gregory Theologian Church, Tampa, FL
Sources of information:
 2010 Census of US Orthodox Christian Churches
 2010 “Faith Communities Today” study (national survey
of congregations in various US Christian Churches)
 2008 “Orthodox Church Today” (national survey of laity
in the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and the
Orthodox Church in America)
 2007 “Evolving Visions of the Orthodox Priesthood in
America” study (national survey of parish clergy in the
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and Orthodox
Church in America)
 2009 US Religious Landscape Survey (Pew Forum on
Religion and Public Life)
Where do the members of Orthodox Churches live?
• 48% of all US Orthodox Church members live in just
five states: California (14.5% of all American
Orthodox Church members), New York (13.5%),
Illinois (7.2%), New Jersey (6.9%) and Massachusetts
(5.9%);
• Proportion of adherents of the various Orthodox
Christian Churches in the total US population is
small: just 0.34%.
• In certain states, however, this proportion is
significantly higher. These states are: Alaska (1.93%),
Massachusetts (0.93%), New Jersey (0.83%), New
York (0.72%) and Rhode Island (0.72%).
Since 1980s, several new developments in
American Orthodox Christian Churches:
Geographic redistribution: dynamic growth in
South (esp. Florida) and in West (esp. California)
Fast growth of Oriental Orthodox Churches (1970
- 2 Coptic parishes in USA, 2010 - 172)
 Fast growing presence of converts (former
Roman Catholics and Protestants) among both
Orthodox clergy and laity
A significant number of converts (born and raised
non-Orthodox) among members of “Greek Orthodox
Archdiocese of America” and “Orthodox Church in
America”
What was your Church affiliation before you
became an Orthodox Christian?
Former Agnostic /
No religion
Former
Protestant
1%
100%
80%
Former Roman 60%
Catholic
40%
16%
12%
33%
14%
71%
49%
Orthodox:20%
Cradle
was born and
0%
raised Orthodox
4%
GOA laity
OCA laity
Some Orthodox Churches in US become “All
American” and some remain “ethnically based”
"Our parish has a strong ethnic heritage that we are
trying to preserve:" % parishes reporting "This is true"
Antiochian Archdiocese
Orthodox Church in America
Ukrainian Orthodox Church
Serbian Orthodox Church
19%
22%
34%
50%
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese
52%
Romanian Episcopate / OCA
53%
Albanian Diocese / OCA
Syrian Oriental Orthodox Church
55%
79%
The “strength” of the ethnic heritage and identity in
US Orthodox Churches can be difficult to
“measure” unambiguously:
 In Greek Orthodox Archdiocese (GOA), only
14% parishioners and 28% clergy were born
outside USA
 But Greek is still first “mother” language
(spoken at home as a child) for 45% GOA clergy
and 42% GOA parishioners
70% of GOA clergy agree with statement that
their parishes remain “essentially Hellenic in its
heritage and culture”
54% of GOA clergy agree with statement that
“Our parish wants to be racially and culturally
diverse
2010 “Faith Communities Today” (FACT) Survey of
Orthodox Parishes in USA
“Of your total regular participants age 18 and older,
estimate the percent who are:”
(average % for US Orthodox parishes nationwide)
 Female – 54%
 College graduates – 53%
 New to this parish in the past 5 years – 23%
 “Cradle Orthodox” (e.g. persons born into
Orthodox Church) – 61%
 Living within 15 minutes of your parish’s
Church building – 46%
2010 FACT Survey of Orthodox parishes in USA
Do you agree with following statements about your parish?
% parishes "strongly agree"
Parish holds strong beliefs and
values
Parish celebrates its Orthodox
heritage and identity
Parish is like a close knit family
% parishes "agree"
62%
33%
56%
36%
39%
45%
Parish is spiritually vital and alive
28%
53%
Has a clear mission and purpose
27%
53%
Parish wants to be racially and
27%
culturally diverse
Parish is willing to change to meet
13%
new challenges
Parish is working for social justice 6%
29%
36%
45%
2010 FACT Survey of Orthodox parishes in USA
How much do the following describe your parish’s major
weekend worship service?
% parishes reporting "very well"
% parishes reporting "quite well"
Worship is reverent
70%
Worship is filled with a sense of
God's presence
69%
Worship is inspirational
42%
Worship is joyful
43%
Worship is thought provoking
Worship is innovative 6% 8%
39%
27%
25%
45%
39%
36%
2010 FACT Survey of Orthodox parishes in USA
How much does your parish emphasize the following
personal and family religious practices?
% parishes reporting "a lot" of emphasis
% parishes reporting "quite a bit" of emphasis
Fasting
48%
Personal prayer
Parents talking with children about
faith
Family prayer
47%
39%
34%
42%
38%
31%
30%
Keeping Sabbath day holy
33%
29%
Abstaining from premarital sex
32%
29%
Personal Bible study
Observing certain dietary
restrictions
30%
29%
37%
32%
2010 FACT Survey of Orthodox Parishes in USA:
% of Orthodox parishes reporting that “a lot of emphasis”
in parish life is given to following activities
Sunday school or all day church school
69%
Youth activities and programs
51%
Bible studies (other than Sunday School)
46%
Adult religious formation classes
45%
Fellowships, trips or other social activities
44%
Music programs
35%
Community service activities
33%
Young adult activities and programs
30%
Spiritual retreats
20%
Parenting or marriage enrichment activities
16%
Team sports, fitness activities, exercise classes
16%
Support groups: bereavement, job loss, 12 step…
7%
2010 FACT Survey of Orthodox Parishes in USA
“Overall, to what extent are your parish’s active
participants involved in recruiting new members?
% parishes reporting
100%
80%
41%
A little, not
at all
60%
Some
40%
40%
20%
19%
0%
A lot, quite
a bit
How are visitors contacted
after they attend your parish’s
worship services or other
activities?
By e-mail – 67%
By phone – 58%
Send materials about parish
to our visitors – 57%
Personal visits – 32%
We rarely contact our
visitors – 23%
2010 FACT Survey of Orthodox Parishes in USA
Impact of Financial Recession on Church Finances:
“How would you describe your parish’s financial health
today and five years ago?
% of parishes reporting:
In difficulty
100%
Tight, but we
manage
Good or excellent
80%
60%
24%
25%
45%
40%
31%
35%
Today (2010)
Five years ago
(2005)
40%
20%
0%
What are most urgent issues
in the Church life from the perspective of
members of Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of
America (GOA) and Orthodox Church in
America (OCA)?
% of parishioners saying that the following subjects
are “VERY IMPORTANT” to be discussed in Church
GOA
OCA
Issue of youth and young adults leaving Orthodox Church
84%
77%
Relationship between mainstream American culture and
traditions and requirements of the Orthodox Church
63%
54%
Issue of interfaith and inter-Christian marriages
52%
27%
Representation of the local parish at decision making on the
diocesan and national level
46%
44%
Issue of “ethnic” versus “American” parishes
45%
40%
Relationship between American Orthodox Churches and
Mother Churches in the Old World
39%
31%
Recruiting priests from converts to Orthodoxy
32%
25%
Sharing ministry with laity
32%
22%
Lack of clear professional standards for priests
28%
23%
Process of selecting bishops
25%
34%
The good message:
Members of US Orthodox Churches have a strong
religious identity and Church preference
% who agreed with following statements
GOA and OCA members
US Roman Catholics
87%
I cannot imagine being anything but
Orthodox/Catholic
Orthodox Christianity contains greater
share of truth than other religions do
It is very important to me that the
younger generation of my family grow up
as Orthodox Christians/Roman Catholics
70%
83%
55%
89%
78%
The bad message:
strong Orthodox identity does NOT mean that
“people in the pews” view their religious
obligations the way they are expected by the
Church
The survey data tell us that regular Church
attendance, obeying the priest and observing
Great Lent are seen by majority of parishioners
as non-significant for being a “good Orthodox”
Please, indicate if you think a person can be a good Orthodox
Christian without performing these actions
% of GOA and OCA members saying that he/she still can be a
good Orthodox Christian without doing the following
Without going to church every Sunday
60%
Without obeying the priest
53%
Without observing Lent and fasting on certain days
50%
Without their marriage being approved by Church
40%
Without donating time and money to help the poor
28%
Without donating time and money to help parish
27%
Without believing that in Eucharist, the bread and
wine become the body and blood of Jesus
3%
Without believing that Jesus rose from the dead
2%
Generally, Orthodox Christians DO NOT favor the
idea of ordination of women
% of those who would support women in following
roles
Women being
deacons
Women being priests
100%
100%
80%
80%
60%
60%
40%
36%
23%
40%
20%
20%
0%
0%
GOA members
OCA members
14%
6%
GOA members
OCA members
Orthodox men and women have similarly negative
opinions on ordination of women
% of male and female respondents who would
support women in following roles
Women being deacons
Women being priests
100%
100%
80%
80%
60%
60%
40%
28% 29%
20%
0%
40%
20%
Orthodox men
Orthodox women
9%
11%
0%
Orthodox men
Orthodox women
Vast majority of American Orthodox Christians
prefer to be in the “homogenous” like-minded
parishes
What type of parish do you prefer?
GOA
OCA
69%
67%
4%
8%
25%
25%
Parish that requires uniformity of belief and practice, where people hold
the same views
Parish where people hold diifferent views but keep them to themselves
"Big-tent" parish that tolerates diversity of beliefs and practice, where
people openly discuss their disagreements and varied approaches
But not all Orthodox laity are equally “Orthodox”
in their personal “micro-theologies”
When you think about your theological position and
approach to church life, which word best describes you?
GOA members
28%
42%
26%
4%
OCA members
28%
40%
28%
4%
I am Conservative. OC should avoid changes in its life and theology
I am Traditional. Any changes in OC should be evolutionary
I am Moderate. I am willing to accept new developments and changes in
OC depending on local circumstances
I am Liberal. I am willing to initiate and promote new developments and
changes in OC
Orthodox Christians are deeply divided among
themselves on subject of evolution versus
creationism.
Do you agree with the statement "Evolutionary
theory is compatible with the idea of God as
Creator?"
Disagree
100%
80%
Neutral/Unsure 60%
40%
Agree
20%
40%
37%
20%
21%
40%
42%
GOA laity
OCA laity
0%
Orthodox Christians are also divided among
themselves on teaching of evolution versus
creationism in the schools.
Would you favor or oppose teaching creationism
INSTEAD of evolution in public schools?
Oppose
100%
80%
Neutral/Unsure 60%
31%
38%
35%
31%
34%
31%
GOA laity
OCA laity
40%
Favor
20%
0%
An overwhelming majority of American Orthodox
Christians DO NOT support secularity of education
in the public schools.
Do you agree with the statement "It is important
that public schools keep religion and religious
issues 'out of classrooms'"
Disagree
100%
80%
53%
61%
Neutral/Unsure 60%
Agree
40%
16%
20%
31%
23%
GOA laity
OCA laity
16%
0%
2010 National Census of US Orthodox
Christian Churches
Each local 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:
The answer to the first question is 1,043,000
That is, 1,043,000 persons in the USA participate in
Orthodox church life or are at least known to the
local parishes
 The answer to the second question is 294,000
That is, 294,000 persons are praying in all American
Orthodox parishes on a typical Sunday
The ratio between second (294,000) and first
(1,043,000) figures is 28%
That is, 28% of the Orthodox Church adherents
participate in church life on a regular weekly basis
Membership in Byzantine Orthodox Churches
Total number of adherents including children (1000)
0
Greek Orth. Archdiocese
Orth. Church in America
Antiochian Archdiocese
Serbian Orthodox Church
Rus. Orth. Ch. Ouside Russia
Ukrainian Orthodox Church
Macedonian Orth.Church
Parishes of Russian Orth.Ch.
Romanian Archdiocese
Carpatho-Russian Diocese
Palestinian Vicariate
Bulgarian Diocese
HOCNA
100
200
300
400
500
477
85
75
69
28
22
15.5
12.4
11.2
10.4
6.8
2.8
2.2
Membership in Oriental Orthodox Churches
Total number of adherents including children (1000)
0
100
Coptic Orthodox Church
92.1
Armenian Apostolic Church
(Etchmiadzin)
Armenian Apostolic Church (Cilicia)
Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church
Syriac Orthodox Church
Malankara Archdiocese of Syrian
Church
64.5
30.5
17
15.7
6.4
200
300
400
500
Are Orthodox Church members in the USA
frequent and regular church goers?
% of "regular attendees" in total of adherents
0%
20%
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese
40%
40%
Antiochian Archdiocese
37%
Serbian Orthodox Church
22%
Rus.Orth.Ch. Outside Russia
32%
Ukrainian Orthodox Church
Parishes of Rus.Orth.Church
31%
11%
15%
Romanian Archdiocese
20%
Carpatho-Russian Diocese
Palestinian Vicariate
Bulgarian Diocese
HOCNA
80%
23%
Orthodox Church in America
Macedonian Orthodox Church
60%
47%
12%
46%
77%
Are Orthodox Church members in the USA
frequent and regular church goers?
% of "regular attendees" in total of adherents
0%
20%
40%
Coptic Orthodox Church
Armenian Church / Etchmiadzin
Armenian Church / Cilicia
51%
13%
25%
Malankara Orth. Syrian Church
Syriac Orthodox Church
Malankara Archdiocese
60%
53%
27%
53%
80%
Are Orthodox Churches in the USA growing?
Change in number of parishes 2000-2010 (%)
-10%
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese
10%
30%
70%
90%
110%
130%
5%
Orthodox Church in America
21%
Antiochian Archdiocese
20%
Serbian Orthodox Church
50%
3%
Rus.Orth.Ch. Outside Russia
8%
Ukrainian Orthodox Church -9%
Macedonian Orthodox Church
11%
Parishes of Rus.Orth.Church -6%
Romanian Archdiocese
Carpatho-Russian Diocese
121%
4%
Bulgarian Diocese
HOCNA
122%
8%
Are Orthodox Churches in the USA growing?
Change in number of parishes 2000-2010 (%)
-10%
10%
Coptic Orthodox Church
Armenian Church Etchmiadzin
30%
50%
70%
90%
48%
6%
Armenian Church Cilicia
-3%
Malankara Syrian Church
Syriac Orthodox Church
Malankara Archdiocese
59%
39%
86%
110%
130%
And How “Different” Are We?
Some Interesting Facts about American
Orthodox Christians Versus US Roman
Catholics and Protestants
Source: 2009 US Religious Landscape Survey
by Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life
American Orthodox Christians have higher income
level than Roman Catholics and Protestants
Annual Income Level
Under $30,000
$30,000-under
$50,000
$50,000-under
$100,000
$100,000+
100%
80%
60%
20%
24%
40%
29%
20%
28%
0%
31%
25%
20%
21%
30%
33%
19%
21%
34%
24%
29%
13%
Orthodox Roman Mainline Evangelical
Christians Catholics ProtestantsProtestatnts
Which is not surprising, because American Orthodox
Christians also have higher education level than
Roman Catholics and Protestants
Educational Level
Less than High 100%
School
80%
High School
60%
Some College
College Grad
and PostGrad
26%
22%
40%
20%
0%
8%
6%
36%
21%
46%
16%
17%
26%
34%
40%
24%
34%
24%
20%
Orthodox Roman Mainline Evangelical
Christians Catholics ProtestantsProtestatnts
American Orthodox Christians are more “liberal” in
their political preferences than Roman Catholics or
Protestants
In politics today, do you consider yourself a
Republican, Democrat or Indepentent?
Independent
100%
80%
Republican
lean
Democrat lean
60%
15%
19%
15%
35%
33%
41%
50%
48%
43%
16%
50%
40%
20%
34%
0%
Orthodox Roman Mainline Evangelical
Christians Catholics ProtestantsProtestatnts
In their attitudes towards abortion, 62% of American
Orthodox Christians are “pro choice” and only 30%
“pro life”
Don't know
Abortion should be ILLEGAL in all or most cases
Abortion should be LEGAL in all or most cases
100%
8%
80%
30%
60%
40%
20%
62%
7%
45%
48%
7%
32%
6%
61%
62%
33%
0%
Orthodox
Christians
Roman
Mainline Evangelical
Catholics Protestants Protestatnts
Vast majority of American Orthodox Christians are
quite flexible in interpreting official Church teachings
Which of the following statements comes CLOSEST to
your view?
Neither/Both/Don't know
There is only ONE true way to interpret the teachings of my religion
There is MORE than one true way to interpret the techings of my religion
100%
80%
4%
28%
4%
19%
4%
6%
14%
41%
60%
40%
68%
77%
82%
53%
20%
0%
Orthodox
Christians
Roman
Catholics
Mainline
Protestants
Evangelical
Protestatnts
Compared to Roman Catholics and Protestants,
Orthodox Christians in the US are LESS likely to see
God as a person and MORE likely as an impersonal
force
Which come CLOSEST to your view of God: God as a
person with whom people can have a relationship OR
God as an impersonal force?
8%
Neither/Both/D 100%
on't know
80%
Impersonal
force
Personal God
60%
17%
34%
40%
20%
49%
11%
29%
60%
12%
13%
26%
62%
79%
0%
Orthodox Roman Mainline Evangelical
Christians Catholics ProtestantsProtestatnts
Orthodox Christians DO NOT practice their faith in a
particularly strong manner: they attend Church less
frequently than Roman Catholics or Evangelical
Christians
Aside from weddings and funerals, how often do
you attend religious services?
Less than once
a month
Few times a
month
At least once a
week
100%
80%
28%
45%
60%
40%
20%
21%
34%
39%
19%
42%
47%
14%
19%
58%
34%
0%
Orthodox Roman Mainline Evangelical
Christians Catholics ProtestantsProtestatnts
When you’re back home, look for more
information on Orthodox Church life in US at:
www.orthodoxreality.org
www.orthodoxhistory.org
www.aoiusa.org
www.ocl.org
or write me to Akrindatch@aol.com
Now is time for difficult questions:
please, ask!