Report to Plenary Department of Religious Education Anton C. Vrame, Ph.D., Director Gerry Clonaris, St. Nektarios, Charlotte, NC Archdiocese Council Hierarch: His Grace Bishop Andonios of Phasiane

Remembering Ernest Villas (+2006) and Vasiliki Villas (+2016). Developed the Living Our Orthodox Faith textbook series of DRE GOYA – Holy Cross Chapel The Divine Liturgy Hymnal – The “Green Book” Department of Laity, Archons, Coordinator of Clergy-Laity Congresses

Religious Education Single largest ministry in our Church Conservatively, 10,000 students on any given Sunday At least 5,000 teachers and assistants All clergy, the chief steward of the Faith in the parish All Hierarchs, “rightly teaching the Word of Your truth.” Resources to support Textbooks and supplements PRAXIS St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival Training, New Teacher Education and Certification Program

St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival 227 Parishes registered in 2016 Over 600 speakers registered Most improved: Metropolis of Boston, from 12 to 22 parishes. Thanks to the Metropolis of Atlanta and the St. Nektarios Church, Charlotte for hosting the 2016 National Festival. 2017 Host – Metropolis of Boston with HCHC; 2018 Host – Metropolis of Chicago Thanks to FAITH for the cash awards to National Finalists. Thanks to HCHC for the Chrysostom Scholarship Program. The 2016 Archdiocese Finalists with Archbishop Demetrios at the Museum of the New South, Charlotte, NC

Orthodox Marketplace Now part of DRE www.orthodoxmarketplace.com “One stop shopping” for Archdiocese and other products.

New Resources Grade 5 – God Calls Us, 6 units, with Teacher’s Guides (Thanks to Leadership 100) Grade 4 – Growing with God is underway (Thanks to Leadership 100) Zines for Teens: The Church – now available, The Sacraments, is underway

Teacher Education and Certification Courses to be offered online, face-to-face, etc., Core areas of Orthodox Christianity Areas related to the Practice of a Ministry (Religious Education, Youth, etc) Can take courses through others: HCHC, OCEC, etc. Replacing the present Teacher Certification Program of the Department Launching this Fall

Thanks DRE Staff members: Anestis Jordanoglou, Aimee Cox, Angeliki Constantine, Maria Klonaris, Nick Mueller, and Dimitra Dogias for their tireless dedication to the work of the Department. A special thanks to Theo Nicolakis, Jacob Gorny, and Mike Slavescu (IT) for their work to create the new Orthodox Marketplace along with our designer Dionne Katinas.

“As we live each day in the presence of Christ, as we hear His voice guiding us in love, as we follow His will and see His power in and through us, we know that we are the voice of Christ.” Archbishop Demetrios The ministry of religious education is to teach one another to know the voice of Christ and to respond to His voice through our lives.

What’s Ahead for the DRE? Adult Religious Education Teacher’s Certification. Zines for our Adults. Development of A.R.E. programs in the parish. Quarterly contact between the Archdiocese DRE Committee and your appointed Education Ministry person.

gbcmktline@gmail.com 704 846-5245 What Can YOU Do? John 20:21 … You Are The Appointed One! Report To Your Parishes! Get On Our Contact List Gerry Clonaris … gbcmktline@gmail.com 704 846-5245