In support of the ‘Attracting Converts’ segment in the Parish Development Forum agenda, attendees  received the results of the 2023 Orthodox Convert Survey which included responses from 773 persons who had embraced the Orthodox faith as adults. Almost half the total survey respondents had converted since the beginning of the pandemic.

More responses were received from persons who converted at a parish in Pennsylvania than any other state.  According to His Eminence Archbishop Melchisedek parishes in the Archdiocese collectively have more inquirers and catechumens than at any time in the past decades.

A few key findings include:

1. An increasing proportion of converts are men. Almost 75% since 2019 are men.
2. The median age of recent converts is 31
3. Though most converts come to Orthodoxy from Evangelical, Mainline Protestant and Catholic traditions there has been a slight increase of receiving persons not previously affiliated with Christian bodies in recent years. (Up to almost 20%)
4. Of those converting since 2019 over 45% agreed that the pandemic influenced their decision to seek a new faith in some direct or indirect way.
5. Virtually all recent converts were significantly influenced by online podcasts, websites, and other online personalities.

When asked what they found attractive about Orthodox Christianity there were of course many responses. One simple summary used answers starting with the letter “s” including: “scriptural”, “sensory”, “sacramental”, “sacred”, “saints”, “stability”, “singing”, “self-discipline” and “(not) shallow”.

When asked about the attractive qualities of Orthodox parishes the qualities most mention were: English liturgy; proximity; priest – no pressure/good teacher; people – welcoming encouraging: children welcome; and diversity.

The number one turn-off of converts was “ethnic and insular qualities of the parish”.