The first section of The „Social and Charity Work of the Church“ is a short overview of the social teaching of the Orthodox and Catholic Churches, and other chapters lists specific community outreach practices of Bulgarian Orthodox Church, Romanian Orthodox Church and other Christian churches in Europe, in particular their compassionate and charitable work in a wider, European context. They include also recommendations for optimising the work of church organisations and the Church‘s official structures on the local diocese and parish levels. Specific examples of the diakonia practised in the studied countries are cited. The role and work of Christian organisations which support the Church in providing services to people in need is also addressed.
International community outreach practices within churches and the recommendations of experts found in this strategy are an important factor in developing the social welfare work of the Orthodox Church in unison with the Church‘s and the holy fathers‘ teachings. The strategy offers new methods for diakonic work which corresponds to the needs of the Church and its members engaged in assisting vulnerable populations.