OCA Evangelization Department addresses Diocesan Assembly attendees

DOS Assembly
DOS Assembly delegates at Miami’s Christ the Saviour Cathedral.

On Tuesday, July 17, 2012, Priest John Parker, chair of the Orthodox Church in America’s Department of Evangelization, hosted a lunch on Mission Planting and Evangelization at the annual Assembly of the Diocese of the South, which convened at Christ the Saviour Cathedral here.  Nearly 60 clergy and laity enjoyed his presentation, titled “Missions, Evangelism, Discipleship, Church Planting and Parish Renewal,” in which he offered practical and pastoral insights related to the planting of new churches and the importance of welcoming those whom God sends to each of our parishes.

Father John also had the opportunity to interview Archpriest John Strickland, a priest of the OCA Diocese of the West, who recently was appointed Professor of History at Saint Katherine’s College, Encinitas, CA.  In Father Strickland’s words, “Saint Katherine’s is a ‘mission plant’ in higher education, the second Orthodox Christian College in the US, and sister to Hellenic College, Brookline, MA.”

The interview is available on Ancient Faith Radio.  Father Parker’s assembly presentation will be available at AFR in the immediate future.

In related news, at the invitation of His Grace, Bishop Melchisedek, Father Parker plans to offer a similar presentation to clergy and laity of the Diocese of Western Pennsylvania in mid-August 2012.