About the
Committee for Diocesan Evangelism

A Committee of the ROCOR Diocese of Australia and New Zealand.

Our committee focuses on evangelism, catechism, apologetics, conversions, the founding of new communities, and other similar matters, within the Diocese of Australia and New Zealand. 

We meet bimonthly to share our experiences, share our resources, and encourage each other in our respective labours across Australasia.

Members of our committee include the clergy of the English-language communities of our Diocese, laity who lead a parish or diocesan organisation within our focus areas, and laity who actively contribute to work within our focus areas.

The English-language Communities of our Diocese

Queensland

• Holy Annunciation Church - Woolloongabba, in Brisbane;
• St John the Baptist Mission - Redwood, in Toowoomba;
• Moreton Bay Orthodox Outreach - Moreton Bay region (north of Brisbane).
  
  

New South Wales

• St John the Baptist Skete - Kentlyn, in Campbelltown, Sydney.
  
  

Victoria

• Holy Ascension Mission - Williamstown, in Melbourne;
• Holy Fathers Community - Allansford, near Warrnambool.
  
  

Tasmania

• Holy Cross Church - Lenah Valley, in Hobart.
  
  

South Australia

• Sts Elizabeth & Barbara Mission - Woodcroft, in southern Adelaide;
• Prophet Elias Monastery - Monarto, in Murray Bridge.
  
  

Western Australia

• St Mary's Community - Dardanup, in the South West region.
  
  

Northern Territory

• in formation, in Darwin, Northern Territory.
  
  

New Zealand

• St Nicholas Church - Sydenham, in Christchurch.

Other organisations within our Committee:

• Varangian Orthodox Youth Union ('VOYU') - based in Melbourne, Victoria.

For further information, please contact the Chair, Priest Andrew Smith, via: cde [at] holyannunciation [dot] net

Resources collated by the Committee for Diocesan Evangelism

We are offering a compilation of resources on each of the areas we focus on:

Resources for Evangelism

• Instructions for the Fisher of Men, by Fr Daniel Sysoev. 
  
  
• 'Evangelism' YouTube Playlist, hosted by @HolyAnnunciation
  
  

Resources for Catechism and Pre-Baptismal Formation

• The Catechism Course of Holy Annunciation Orthodox Church, Brisbane.
  
  
• Catechetical Resources in Other Languages:
  • Spanish
  • Portuguese
  • French
  • German
  • ...others coming soon...
    
    

Resources for Apologetics

• coming soon...
  
  

Pastoral Resources supporting Conversions to Orthodox Christianity

• On Parish Hospitality: The Art of Parish Hospitality: Welcoming Guests and Visitors into our church community.
  Delivered by Fr Barnabas Jellings, parish priest of Sts Elizabeth & Barbara, Adelaide.
  
  
• On Coffee Hour: Sip, Share, Connect: Welcoming Visitors into our Parish Communities.
  Delivered by Fr Andrew Smith, CDE Chair and parish priest of Holy Annunciation, Brisbane.
  
  

Resources for founding and supporting New Communities

• On Managing Parish Development: Parish Management & Development Table (a CDE Resource).
  Delivered by Fr Andrew Smith, CDE Chair and parish priest of Holy Annunciation, Brisbane.
  
  

Other Missiological Resources

• On Enculturation: Common Ground for Australian Culture and Orthodox Christianity.
  Delivered by Fr Andrew Smith, CDE Chair and parish priest of Holy Annunciation, Brisbane.
  
  
• 'Missiology' YouTube Playlist, hosted by @HolyAnnunciation. 
  N.B.: includes talks about catechism, enculturation, conversion, and apologetics.
  
  

Open Doors:
Orthodox Evangelism Symposium

Held on Friday, 26 May 2023, in Brisbane - the first of its kind in Australasia.
Organised by the Committee for Diocesan Evangelism, with the blessing of Bp George of Sydney, Australia & New Zealand.

• Opening Keynote, on Parish Hospitality:
  The Art of Parish Hospitality: Welcoming Guests and Visitors into our church community.
  Delivered by Fr Barnabas Jellings, parish priest of Sts Elizabeth & Barbara, Adelaide.
  
  
• CDE Resource Demonstration:
  Parish Management & Development Table.
  Delivered by Fr Andrew Smith, CDE Chair and parish priest of Holy Annunciation, Brisbane.
  
  
• Closing Keynote, on Enculturation:
  Common Ground for Australian Culture and Orthodox Christianity.
  Delivered by Fr Andrew Smith, CDE Chair and parish priest of Holy Annunciation, Brisbane.