Parish Board | St Lazarus Church

The Parish Board

There is a common misconception that church basically "happens" on Sundays and that for the rest of the week the church doors are securely locked. Some wonder what the priest does from Monday to Saturday. One person even remarked that priests would be judged harshly for their disobedience of God's command, because instead of working six days and resting on the seventh, they do the exact opposite.

However, the Parish is a busy place, requiring unending pastoral care daily, the organisation of the many activities behind the scenes, discussions, and meetings, necessary for the day-to-day running of the Parish. None of this would be possible without the tireless efforts of the members of the Parish Board and other Subcommittees.

Understanding the Role of the Parish Board

The Parish Board is the administrative body of a Parish and Church Community elected at the AGM by its stewards (members) for the purpose of working together with the Parish Priest fulfilling the mission and goals of the Parish. The service of the members of the Board is honorary, their position voluntary and not paid.

This brief description of the local governing body of a Parish also explains a fundamental aspect of the structure of the Orthodox Church. Both clergy and laity are the “People of God” who seek, by the grace of the Holy Spirit, to fulfill the mission entrusted to them, to live and proclaim the Holy Gospel and the Holy Tradition of the Orthodox Church. Historically, clergy and laity have worked together in dealing with matters of the Church’s life. The Parish Board is an example of the synergy of clergy and laity; it is a vehicle for implementing the ongoing mission of the Church and planning the necessary strategies, policies, procedures, and activities that will enable the Parish to move forward in accomplishing God’s work.

Parish Board members are elected to serve a special ministry which requires total love, loyalty, and dedication to Christ and His Church. They are not only official representative of the Parish but also of the Church itself, and thus are expected to exert every effort to exemplify its sacred character and spirit.

Upon election to this trusted office, Parish Board members assumed three basic obligations which will help guide them in their ministry:

To understand, live by, and uphold the tenets, teachings, and traditions of the Holy Orthodox Church

To understand and abide by the Constitution of the Serbian Orthodox Church, the Constitution of the Metropolitanate of Australia and New Zealand, as set forth by the Metropolitanate, and by the Parish Rules and Parish (Local) Regulations

To live by and uphold their oath of office by utilizing God-given time, their talents and treasures for the spiritual progress and advancement of the Parish

Parish Board 2022/2023

V. Rev. Fr. Miodrag Peric

Dean and Parish Priest

Mr Ljubo (Lucas) Bogicevic

President

Mr Milan Letunica

Vice President

Mrs Mirjana Djukic

Secretary

Mrs Melissa Kozlina

Assistant Secretary

Mrs Andrijana Drpa

Treasurer

Ms Zorka Simich

Assistant Treasurer

Mr Vladeta (Lale) Teofilovic

Churchwarden

Subcommittees:

Mrs Dejana Kuzmanovic

School Coordinator

Mrs Milica Mihajlovic

Assistant Coordinator

Mrs Dragana Jovanovic Milanovik

Choir Coordinator

Miss Tanja Grujic

Assistant Choir Coordinator

Miss Adriana Gusavac

Youth Ministries Coordinator

Miss Sara Mitrovic

Assistant Youth Ministires Coordinator

Mrs Radmila Jovanovic

Ladies Auxiliary President

Mrs Danica Kanic

Ladies Auxiliary Vice President

Mr Miroljub Mihajlovic

Building & Maintenance Subcomm. President

Mr Obrad Maric

Building Subcommittee Vice President

Mr Boza Kanic

Logistics & Organis. Subcomm. President

Board Members:

Mr Dejan Boric

Mr Radovan Petrovic

Mr Stojan Milosavic

Mr Zelimir Koncar

Audit Board (Internal):

Mrs Melissa Kozlina - President

Mr Aleksandar Matic - Member

Mr Miroljub Mihajlovic - Member

Altar Servers:

Half-deacon, Mr Veljko Mrakic

Half-deacon, Mr Goran Cibula