Natasha:
I am cradle born Orthodox. I have been ROCOR most of my life. I am of mixed heritage, raised Russian with generous portion of everything else.
Yes, I think the Church needs to change, but I think you misunderstand from what aspect. I do not mean the fundamental teachings of the church. I do mean that it needs to change from the "we're going back to Russia" attitude to a more we're going to take care of our people here.
I may be Russian, but I certainly am not interested in going back to the old country. What for? My life is here, my home is here. And what about all the converts? Is it necessary for them to "go back"? Or are they to be forgotten in the "going back"? Our churches still continue to operate on that going back attitutude and as a result it forgets to take good care of their spiritual children here. It bothers me a great deal when existing spiritual children are pushed aside to make way for those "more" Russian. What? because they are born over there and I was not?
In a world full of questions, I find that not enough attention is being paid to teaching adults. The idea that a discussion group of and for adults might be beneficial is often treated with comtempt and derision. How many parishes avail to their adult parishioners a class? In anything?
Before attempting to make changes in the world...it might be better to take care of what you've got. And certainly before you lose what little "flock" you have.