Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of America
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Western Diocese of the Armenian Church

79th Annual Diocesan Assembly

May 5-6, 2006

St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church, Costa Mesa

Registration for the 79th Annual Diocesan Assembly began at 10:00
a.m. on Friday, May 5, following which upon the invitation of Deacon
Steve Adams, Assembly Chair, His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan
Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese, entered the church and
conducted the opening prayer.

The Primate introduced Rev. Fr. Asoghig Garabedian and Rev. Fr.
Trdat Bozigian, who had come to the Western Diocese to represent His
Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, in the 79th Annual
Assembly.

The officers of the Assembly were comprised of the following:

Deacon Steve Adams, Chairman; Deacon Rod Jorjorian, Vice Chairman;
Mr. Frank Korkmazian, English Secretary; and Archpriest Fr. Sipan
Mekhsian, Armenian Secretary.

Following his opening remarks Deacon Steven Adams invited Dr. Vahram
Biricik, who on behalf of the Organizing Committee of the host church
greeted the delegates and wished them luck.

Upon approval of the agenda and appointment of committees, the
delegates approved the minutes of the 78th Annual Assembly.

The delegates then discussed the following reports, which had
already been published in the Assembly booklet: Diocesan Council,
Christian Education Council, Ladies’ Society Central Council,
Diocesan Ladies’ Auxiliary, Etchmiadzin Children’s Fund, Clergy
Executive Council, Clergy Compensation Committee, Summer Camp Board,
Summer Camp Committee, ACYO (a. Youth Director’s Report; b. ACYO
Central Council; c. CYMA; d. Brighter Future for Armenia), St.
Gregory Hovsepian School, Cathedral Building Committee, Association
of Armenian Church Choirs, Arakel and Shake Aga-Sarkisian Library,
Publications (`The Mother Church’, Diocesan wall calendar and other
publications).

SECOND SESSION

The Second Session was also held on Friday, May 5, after lunch. The
discussion of agenda items continued following the opening prayer of
the Primate. Topics discussed included: Prison and Hospital Ministry,
Western Diocese Endowment Fund, Stewardship Committee, Fundraising
Committee, Armenian Professionals Network, Kevorkian Seminary, St.
Nersess Seminary, Auditing Committee, Diocesan Council Financial
Report, Amendments to by-laws.

Rev. Fr. Asoghig Garabedian conveyed the blessings of the Catholicos
and read the message of His Holiness, issued on the occasion of the
Assembly. Rev. Fr. Trdat Bozigian read the message in English. The
Delegates were asked to stand to hear the message of the Catholicos
of All Armenians, which read, `During our Pontifical visit to the
Western Diocese last year we were witness to the many activities
which are implemented at the Diocese thanks to your hard work and
dedication. We also had the pleasure to greet the members of the
Diocesan Council who had arrived in Armenia to participate in the
meeting of the Supreme Spiritual Council, to bring to their attention
spiritual, educational and other concerns pertaining to your Diocese.’

The Primate’s Annual report, which was published separately in both
Armenian and English, was distributed to the delegates. In his
message the Primate mentioned the following issues:

A. Mission of preparing candidates for the priesthood

B. Christian Education

C. Reorganization of the Diocesan structure

a. department of new parishes and mission parishes

b. full time youth director

c. Social Services Office

d. Mother Cathedral administration – maintenance and permanent
caretaker

`With her spiritual and national mission and role, the Western
Diocese has a significant position within the Armenian Church with
the Mother See as her hierarchical head,’ said the Primate. `The 79th
Assembly has the responsibility to organize the spiritual and
administrative life of the Diocese, her parishes and subcommittees.
We are well aware that we are faced with many issues: the
strengthening of the church, pastoral and administrative missions,
ecumenical relations, and social concerns. It is our duty to maintain
and uphold the strength of the Western Diocese, and above all to
dedicate ourselves to spiritual service led by the Word of God.’

On behalf of himself and the delegates of the Assembly the Primate
then extended heartfelt gratitude to His Holiness Karekin II, for his
fatherly care and guidance. He also commended the dedicated service of
the clergy of the Diocese, and emphasized the dedication of the
Yeretzgins, who serve the church along with our pastors.

Deacon Steve Adams introduced Mr. Raffi Kendirjian, Executive
Director of the Diocese, to the delegates and invited him to inform
the assembly of his activities. Mr. Kendirjian thanked the Primate
and the Diocesan Council for entrusting him with the position of
Executive Director, which is comprised of the responsibilities of the
general accounting of the Diocese and various other executive tasks.
In January of this year Mr. Parsegh Kartalian, who performed his
responsibilities as the accountant of the Diocese with utmost
meticulousness, transferred his duties to Mr. Kendirjian. An expert
in economics, Mr. Raffi Kendirjian has thus far performed an
outstanding service at the Diocese.

The delegates unanimously approved the 2006-2007 annual budget
presented by the Diocesan Council. They then discussed proposals to
amend the by-laws, elections, old and new business.

BANQUET

The official banquet took place on Friday evening in the Fesjian
Hall of the church, presided by His Eminence Archbishop Derderian.
All participants in the clergy conference, the Ladies’ Assembly and
the Diocesan Delegates’ Assembly enjoyed the evening’s warm
atmosphere.

The Primate presented this year’s Archbishop’s Award to Mrs. Lily
Balian, Chair of the Ladies’ Auxiliary. The Primate commended Mrs.
Balian’s service over the past many years, as well as her extensive
accomplishments in a variety of fields.

His Eminence presented certificates of `Blessings and Appreciation’
to the sponsors of the banquet, donors, and the members of the
organizing committee.

THIRD SESSION

The third session of the Diocesan Assembly began at 9:00 a.m. on
Saturday, May 6, with the Primate’s prayer.

Rev. Fr. Shnork Demirjian, pastor of St. Peter Armenian Church in
Van Nuys, delivered the message of the day, in which he stressed the
spirit of dedication and service. He commended the unrelenting
services of the parish councils, ladies’ societies, diocesan
delegates, ACYO, as well as all appointed and elected committees, who
under the leadership of their respective pastors provide a great deal
of assistance to their parishes and the Diocese.

Election of officers then took place, the results of which are as
follow:

Diocesan Assembly Chair Deacon Steven Adams

Diocesan Assembly Vice Chair Deacon Rod Jorjorian

Diocesan Assembly Armenian Secretary Archpriest Fr. Sipan Mekhsian

Diocesan Assembly English Secretary Shoghig Giragosian

Diocesan Council – clergy Rev. Fr. Yeghia Hairabedian

Archpriest Fr. Vartan Kasparian

Diocesan Council – laymen Ben Krikorian

Deacon Barlow Der-Mugrdechian

Joseph Kanimian, Esq.

Armen Hampar

Auditing Committee Sarkis Der Sarkisian

The delegates also approved the members nominated to the Western
Diocese Endowment Fund. Following the announcements of the results of
the elections, Shoghig Giragosian read the report of the
Acknowledgements Committee.

The 79th Annual Diocesan Assembly closed with the prayer of the
Primate. The Primate, Diocesan Council, as well as Assembly Chairman
Deacon Steven Adams extend their heartfelt gratitude to Archpriest
Fr. Moushegh Tashjian, Pastor of St. Mary Armenian Church, as well as
the parish council, ladies’ society, organizing committee and all
those individuals who helped make the 79th Annual Diocesan Assembly a
success, for their warm hospitality.

OFFICE OF THE WESTERN DIOCESE
May 11, 2006
Burbank, California

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress