US Clergy-Laity Congress: Panel explored leadership formation for women and girls

The “Leadership Formation for Women and Girls in Lay Ministries” panel at the 2026 Clergy-Laity Congress brought together five leaders to discuss leadership pathways and active ministries led by women across the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.

The panelists presented examples of parish and metropolis leadership, music ministry, and outreach programs addressing domestic abuse, hospice care, grief support, homelessness, and poverty. The session aimed to encourage every parish to envision, develop, implement, and strengthen pathways to parish and ministry leadership that empower women and girls as active contributors to parish life.

Barbara Harris, founding board member of St. Catherine’s Vision and current St. Phoebe Center board member, moderated the panel, while the V. Rev. Dr. Stelyios Muksuris delivered concluding remarks. Panelists included Dr. Helen Theodoropoulos, Orthodox theologian, retired professor, and St. Phoebe Center board secretary; Joyce Spanakis, President of the Metropolis of Pittsburgh Philoptochos and former parish council president; Michelle Marie Kotsagrelos, retired educator, Metropolis Council member, and Vice President of the Metropolis…