SBL’s 2025 Outstanding Graduate Leads Churches to Greatness

Bill Marianes has been living out his calling in the decades since retiring from law and business, equipping countless parishes, churches, individuals, and faith-based organizations with the toolset to discover their stewardship callings and implement the best practices needed to advance the Kingdom while here on earth.

Dubbed the “Orthodox Why guy,” the School of Business & Leadership’s 2025 Outstanding Graduate has helped over 1,000 Orthodox churches all around the world develop their strategic plans. Dr. Marianes works with parishes all over the nation and world—all for free —helping them discover and fulfill their “why” through his sought-after ministry, Stewardship Calling.

Having come from a working-class family of immigrants from Greece, he has always recognized the value of education and the importance of continuing one’s education throughout life’s journey.

“It had been over 40 years since I’d been in the classroom,” Dr. Marianes admitted, describing the moment he decided to enroll in Regent’s Doctor of Strategic Leadership (DSL) program after a careful review of all the Christian doctoral programs available.

“If I was going to provide the best I could to Christ’s churches, I needed to make sure I was the best educated. I set out on a journey to find a program. Regent’s faculty were impressive, the Christ-centered focus was important, and Regent’s “why” statement so perfectly aligned with my own why, which is to help people and parishes discover and live out theirs. There were so many overlaps; Regent was a no-brainer,” he shared.

Despite being one of a few Orthodox doctoral students, he came to appreciate the openness of his classmates when it came to sharing his faith tradition and found a culture of scholarly expansion and curiosity at Regent. He also appreciated being challenged to truly fulfill living in his faith and was impressed by the faculty, including Dr. Huizing, who taught exegetical analysis.

One of the more memorable classes he took was Strategic Foresight, taught by Dr. Richardson. Leveraging his knowledge from that class, he was able to directly help shape churches to the point where he helped one church break a 20-year stagnation. The work he did in the class allowed him to successfully deploy tools and processes to support parishes on a whole new level.

“One of my objectives was to learn something in every class I took that would advance what I was striving for, and I wanted to use something from each class in my final project,” Dr. Marianes recalled. His impressive final project totaled over 600 pages and was titled A Roadmap for American Churches and People of Faith: W.W.J.D. (What Would Jesus Do?) It representsthe culmination of 30 years of work with Orthodox churches and offers a framework to help churches overcome three top challenges so they can become more effective.

The tools that have been added to his toolbelt and that he has actively deployed in his work have already helped parishes, seminaries, and national churches to the point where he’s getting calls all the way from the Orthodox Church in Uganda.

“That was a real glory to God moment,” he recalled.

Dr. Marianes also recommends the DSL to other Christian leaders with accomplished ministries interested in advancing their education.

“If they want to move lives on a transformational level, I would encourage them to do the work,” he stated.

During SBL commissioning, Dr. Marianes won the school’s Outstanding Graduate honor, given to graduates who have displayed exceptional scholarship.

“I’ve never been motivated by awards; I’ve been motivated by improving myself as much as I possibly can. As Coach John Wooden said, you don’t measure yourself by what you have accomplished but by what you should have accomplished with your ability. It’s a personal journey,” he stated while expressing his thankfulness for the recognition.  

When it comes to his ministry, Dr. Marianes has the same philosophy. He doesn’t see what he does as a business. Just experiencing a church’s success is reward enough for him.

“I’m focused on what Christ would say. I’m not doing anything in my life for the pay, the practice, or the praise. The theme pervasive in my final project and ministry is rooted in 2 Corinthians 5:10. I am singularly focused on that moment, standing on the judgment seat of Christ,” he shared.

Stewardship Calling is about more than just giving churches the chance to rebrand—for Dr. Marianes, it’s about transformation. His goal is to support metanoia (μετάνοια), the Greek word for a transformative change of heart.

“In everything I do, I want somebody to embrace a transformative change of heart,” he stated.

His Igniting the Flame program is one way he helps parishes learn what it means to be a Christian and how to improve stewardship. The three principles he focuses on are (1) find and live your “why,” (2) share your love, and (3) be the light of the world. His work has helped people transform parishes, ministries, seminaries, and national churches. He has also made a splash at the National YAL Conference.

“I’m merely a tool God uses to push people out of their comfort zone and think about how we can share the light of the world together. We are all made in the image and likeness of God,” he revealed.

Learn more about Bill Marianes and his ministry and stay updated on his engagements at his website, www.stewardshipcalling.com .