The Catechesis Project – The Problem Stated

I have served eight-and-a-half years as an Orthodox priest – pretty continuously in an American mission setting. I have used everything in English I can get my hands on for catechesis – introducing inquirers and catechumens to the Orthodox faith. Many books, such as Kallistos Ware’s The Orthodox Church, and Fr. Thomas Hopko’s The Orthodox Faith, will always be indispensable. And yet, I am always looking for something more. Sometimes I am looking for something more because nothing currently written says some things that I find need to be said to inquirers and catechumens – at least in my situation. I am increasingly finding the need to take people back to something like ground zero – to erase previous assumptions. The foundations laid in other traditions simply will not work in building an Orthodox structure. Even the word “God,” frequently has to be redefined, if not always.

I am also thinking about Orthodox Christians who, though not converts to the faith, have never been taught the faith (there are many who were born so in America, and many more who have migrated here from elsewhere). They need a very basic introduction to the faith on many levels. We cannot assume a knowledge of Scripture or even of very much Tradition.

My purpose and plan is to work on this project as I have time and to post it in progress as a blog. Comments are more than welcome and will, doubtless, prove helpful. I cannot promise speed. My life stays pretty full – but the need seems worth spending time on, along and along. Thank you for your patience and your help.