I think there may be a place for a 'less specifically ethnic' parish but personally I prefer a strong Russian ethnic parish. It's much cheaper than flying to Russia.
"I think there may be a place for a 'less specifically ethnic' parish but personally I prefer a strong Russian ethnic parish."
My experience is that in this day and age, a good mix, 50/50, 60/40 with a strong ethnic culture in the parish works best for the overwhelming number of people.
If it were all up to me and about me, I'd want 100% Greek and not hear a word of English from the time I walked into the church until I left, but, alas, it isn't all about me and in any case, it would prbably mean the end of most parishes within a generation or two. I can tell you, I remember the days, not so long ago, when we treated our endowment like a golden calf because we all "knew" that we were dying off and there would be no new wave a Greek immigrants to carry on paying the bills one day. It was a "would the last Greek to die please shut the lights off" kind of mentality. That has all turned around in the last 12 years or so. At lat count we had 12 different ethnicities in the parish and the Metropolitan says when he visits that he sees the face of the bright future of Orthodoxy in America in our parish.
But I know what you mean! :)