The Changing Landscape of Orthodoxy | Receiving and Supporting New Members in the Church

Save the Date: March 1–3, 2027 | Hellenic College Holy Cross | Brookline, Massachusetts

Organized and hosted by the Huffington Ecumenical Institute at Hellenic College Holy Cross
Under the auspices of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America

Conversion has always been integral to the life and growth of Christianity. From the Apostles of Jesus and the first Christians in Antioch to Orthodox communities across the world today, the Church has continually welcomed people from different cultures, backgrounds, and experiences.

In the United States, where Orthodox Christianity was initially established through immigrant communities, the number of people entering the Orthodox Church has steadily increased since the mid-twentieth century. In recent years, this growth has been exponential, bringing both extraordinary opportunities and important pastoral challenges. How can the Church receive and support new members while remaining faithful to the Gospel of Christ as well as the history and tradition of the Orthodox faith?

The Changing Landscape of Orthodoxy: Receiving and Supporting New Members in the Church will bring together hierarchs, clergy, theologians, scholars, and lay leaders from a wide range of Orthodox jurisdictions and Christian traditions for thoughtful, honest, and practical conversation.

Organized around the themes of motivation, formation, and impact, the conference will explore such questions as:

• What draws people to Orthodox Christianity today?
• How are digital media and online communities shaping religious formation?
• What approaches to catechesis best prepare people for life in the Church?
• How can parishes welcome, integrate, and guide newly received members?
• What characterizes a healthy and sustainable Orthodox parish?
• How should the Church respond to the experiences and needs of young adults?
• What impact is conversion having on Orthodox institutions and American public life?

The program will include keynote addresses, interdisciplinary panels, practical workshops, pastoral case studies, and opportunities for discussion. Topics will include catechesis and formation, digital Orthodoxy, ecclesial authority, pastoral and liturgical practices, parish health, the role of monasteries, institutional capacity, and the integration of newly illumined members into parish life.

By creating space for inter-Orthodox and interdisciplinary dialogue, the conference seeks not simply to examine the growing presence of converts, but to consider how Orthodox communities can receive and support all those pursuing a life in Christ.

Additional information about registration, speakers, and the complete conference program will be announced shortly.