From decisions on how to share faith to a diverse community to getting a ruling on the proper way to end the Lord’s Prayer, about 200 people took part in a Greek Orthodox Church leader’s listening tour Wednesday.

His Eminence Metropolitan Nathanael, the new leader of the region’s Greek Orthodox church, visited a dozen parishes around the Midwest to get to know the churches and people.

Nathanael, who spoke at Sts. Constantine & Helen Greek Church in Merrillville as his tour finale, was chosen to lead the Greek Orthodox Christians of the region this year, formally assuming his role on March 24 after being installed at Holy Cathedral of Annunciation in Chicago.

The Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago oversees nearly 60 parishes and two monastic communities spread across Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and Missouri.

The tours, of which there were 12, gave Nathanael an opportunity to meet parishioners, answer questions, understand concerns and outline his vision for the church’s ministry in the Midwest.

Nathanael told the Post-Tribune that it was apropos to wrap up the tour at one of the largest and most dynamic parishes in the Metropolis.

“It is a good opportunity to listen to the special concerns and needs and aspirations of the people in Indiana and the portion of our Metropolis here,” he said. “This is going to be the beginning of a dialogue between myself, the Metropolis and the parishes. I have learned a lot already.”

About 200 people showed up at the Merrillville cathedral, where the Rev. Ted Poteres said Nathanael is “the new guy on the block” and wants to understand the communities and hear the concerns.

Among those concerns by attendees were the financial aspects of the parishes. Pete Zervos, of Crown Point, was hoping to hear what it takes to keep parishes open and to keep growing. He said it was one of the issues everyone is interested in.

Nathanael in his discussion brought up the financial issues and said in order to start thinking about the future they need to understand what has been going on in the past. He said he plans to conduct an independent financial audit of the last three years of the church’s finances in a report that will be made public to the entire Metropolis.

Additionally he said committees are being formed to help find solutions to any problems a parish may have.

A question also came up inquiring about non-Greeks in the church.

Nathanael said each parish is different with their own needs and with a diverse group of people. He said what is consistent in every parish in the metropolis is the faith.

“That needs to be in the foundation of which we need to build the parishes,” he said. “The future of our parishes depends on our ability to share.”

Nathanael asked if they are going to keep the inheritance they were blessed to receive, many from infancy, and keep it exclusive to a specific ethnic group and a specific small portion of Chicagoland or are they going to share it with all of Chicagoland.

“If we want to share it with all of Chicagoland, we have to do it fully,” he said. “We can’t say, ‘I want to share my orthodox faith with you, and my heritage with you, but on my terms.’ Otherwise we are not sharing.

“I really do think when we measure where we are, I have a feeling we are not doing a good job as much as we can in evangelizing and sharing what we have received.”

One question submitted to Nathanael regarded the ending of Lord’s Prayer and how it differs from church to church. Is it “deliver us from evil or deliver us from the evil one?”

“From my seminary days I remember this being very controversial,” Nathanael said. “We would stay up all night arguing whether it needs to be a personalized evil or an impersonal concept of evil. At the end of the day we are asking for the same thing — to deliver us from something that is evil or someone that is evil.”

Nathanael said the point is “we are asking God for this.” He said some of the priests speak about the devil, others don’t.

“I would say theologically both are correct, but it makes sense for us to, in each parish, whatever the tradition is, that people are saying it the same way so you are not interrupting each other,” he said.

Parishioners in attendance included Crown Point Councilman Andrew Kyres, who called it “wonderful” that Nathanael is reaching out to people in the communities.

“It is a benefit to the parishioners and it is a benefit to the administration,” he said. “It is a win-win for everybody.”

Ted Vrehas, president of the parish council at St. Demetrios, in Hammond, said Nathanael wants to hear from various members of the church and not just certain select leaders.

“He is the leader of our diocese, so anytime the leader is coming to your area it is important to be represented and express your opinion,” Vrehas said.

Rob Earnshaw is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.