Another step toward shared solutions: UGCC economes (financial officers) meet in Zarvanytsia

The two-day program was dedicated to the common threads that unite all those serving in the field of church resource management: the challenges and opportunities facing the Church in times of uncertainty.

Day 1: The role of the economes, shared challenges, and a space for ideas

The first day focused on fundamental questions: Who is a UGCC economes today, and what role do they play in the life of an eparchy? Fr. Lyubomyr Yavorskyy, the Patriarchal Economos of the UGCC, addressed these points, emphasizing not only the responsibility of the position but also its broad scope—ranging from strategic vision to the practical organization of processes.

Following this, participants engaged in a lively discussion about current challenges. Each econome had the opportunity to briefly present the situation in their eparchy: what concerns them most, where support is needed, and which issues recur year after year. Notably, most challenges proved not to be unique but were shared across all UGCC structures. This was a significant realization: the concerns of one are, in fact, a collective field of work for all.

Consequently, it became clear: working together is not just possible, but essential.

The next part of the day was dedicated to a brainstorming session. Participants explored new approaches that could benefit all eparchies, regardless of their size or region. While some ideas focused on internal processes and others on resource development or community engagement, they all shared a common goal: helping the Church develop as a unified, living organism seeking answers to modern challenges.

A key highlight of the first day was a presentation by Maryna Danyliv, head of the UGCC Consulting Center, regarding the Center’s new development concept. Like any structure, the Center faces its own hurdles and opportunities. The team is currently working on expanding its activities while maintaining core services—primarily free consultations for priests and communities. This discussion integrated seamlessly into the meeting’s theme: how to move forward while preserving values and strengthening ministry.

Day 2: Social entrepreneurship and budgeting as a path forward

The second day was both practical and strategic. Trainer Vitaliy Lesyuk presented on the topic of social entrepreneurship. This is a direction that can help the Church address shared challenges by creating sustainable funding models while simultaneously fulfilling its social mission.

The session on budgeting was equally relevant. Despite current complexities, economes must plan, forecast, and build budgetary processes, as the stability of the ministry and the ability to launch new initiatives depend on them.

“We sincerely thank all the active fathers and assistants who joined the work, shared their experience, spoke courageously about difficulties, and proposed ideas. We thank our co-organizers for their professional support and trust,” representatives of the UGCC Consulting Center noted in their closing remarks.

According to Maryna Danyliv, this meeting was intentional and certainly won’t be the last. It has great potential to become a platform where shared solutions are born—a place where we collectively seek answers to the challenges facing our Church today.