On January 16, 2021, Aleksandr Smirnov and Irina Makkonen led a diaconal seminar at St. Mary’s Lutheran Church of St. Petersburg. They talked about the biblical basis for the church’s social work and how to organize such work in a particular church congregation. Training through such seminars helps get a better understanding of the congregation’s needs, build the congregation’s communication with the ELCIR Diaconal Dept., and share the congregations’ and Department’s experience of diaconal work with one another. Participants said they’d like such in-person meetings to take place on an ongoing basis.St. Mary’s Church Hosts Diaconal Seminar
On January 16, 2021, Aleksandr Smirnov and Irina Makkonen led a diaconal seminar at St. Mary’s Lutheran Church of St. Petersburg. They talked about the biblical basis for the church’s social work and how to organize such work in a particular church congregation. Training through such seminars helps get a better understanding of the congregation’s needs, build the congregation’s communication with the ELCIR Diaconal Dept., and share the congregations’ and Department’s experience of diaconal work with one another. Participants said they’d like such in-person meetings to take place on an ongoing basis.