PRESS OFFICE
Department of Communications
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Jake Goshert, Media Relations Specialist
Tel: (212) 686-0710 Ext. 160; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: jakeg@armeniandiocese.org
Website:
May 8, 2007
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BUSINESS OF DIOCESE CENTRAL TO ASSEMBLY
By Jake Goshert
Delegates from every parish in the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America
(Eastern) gathered in Nashua, New Hampshire, for the 105th Diocesan Annual
Assembly May 3 through 6, 2007.
Hosted by the Sts. Vartanantz Church of Chelmsford, Massachusetts, the week
was focused on the business of the Diocese.
NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS AND TRUSTEE ELECTED
Delegates elected five individuals to serve on the Diocesan Council. Made up
of seven lay members and four clergy, the 11-member body meets monthly and
oversees the ministries, programs, and finances of the Diocese.
Two clergy seats were up for election. Delegates chose Fr. Mardiros Chevian,
dean of the St. Vartan Cathedral in New York City, and Fr. Vasken Kouzouian,
pastor of the Holy Trinity Church of Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Three lay delegates were elected to the Council: Janet Mardigian of the St.
John Church of Southfield, Michigan; Sandra Leitner of the St. Leon Church
of Fair Lawn, New Jersey; and Paul Mardoian of the Sts. Joachim and Anne
Church of Palos Heights, Illinois.
Finishing their terms on the Diocesan Council this year are Vice Chairman
Fr. Yeprem Kelegian, Secretary Lillian Chapian, and member Jon Simonian.
Lillian Chapian was elected to serve a 10-year term as a member of the
Diocesan Board of Trustees. John Amboian was elected to finish out the term
of the late Haig Dadourian.
BUDGET AND OTHER BUSINESS
Delegates are also responsible for approving the Diocesan budget, setting
priorities for the coming years. During the 105th Diocesan Annual Assembly,
Diocesan Council Treasurer James Kalustian presented delegates with details
of the 2008 budget.
Expenses in the 2008 budget grow slightly, from $4.8 million to $5.1
million. This is partially due to the planned hiring of a regional program
coordinator and increased costs for items such as heating and insurance.
Also built into the budget is the establishment of a program which would
allow clergy to invest in their retirement and have those funds matched by
their parishes. The Diocese will cover the administrative costs of this
program.
In reviewing the current budget, Kalusitan noted that the Archbishop’s
Annual Appeal 2006 met its goal, but there were fewer donors giving larger
gifts. "That is one concern we will be working on as we go forward," he
said.
Delegates also approved a proposal made from the floor to assess each parish
$250 annually, which will go towards supporting music ministry programs
which train our choirs. This required amount would be separate from any
money sent from other collections.
"This is for the music, for the programs that are working," said the sponsor
of the proposal, Jeanette Der Hagopian of the Holy Trinity Church of
Cheltenham, Pennsylvania. "It’s going to fund regional workshops and
advancement of music in the parishes. It is such a small amount of money, a
dollar or two out of your pocket a year."
A proposal submitted by the Diocesan Council was also approved by the
delegates. It would change the name of the Clergy Relations Committee to the
Clergy Benefits Committee to better reflect the scope of its activities.
Delegates also added disability insurance to the list of the Committee’s
responsibilities, which include making recommendations to the Diocesan
Council on financial and other benefits for clergy.
FOCUS ON EDUCATION
One focus of the Diocesan staff during the coming year will be educational
efforts dealing with the basics of Armenian Christianity. A recent
sociological study conducted by Dr. Sara Terian at the request of delegates
of past Assemblies showed that members are lacking a clear understanding of
the teachings of the Armenian Church and how those teachings uniquely relate
to the people.
"The study shows us there is a lack of knowledge in our people on the basics
of our faith, the basics of our Bible, an understanding of who Jesus Christ
is," Diocesan Council Vice Chairman Fr. Yeprem Kelegian told delegates. "Dr.
Terian found that those interviewed viewed the Armenian Church as a cultural
organization in the context of faith, rather than a faith organization in
the context of culture. That’s a huge difference. We hope in this coming
year each of us present can reverse that."
Delegates heard from members of the Diocesan Department of Youth and
Education, who are working to create a resource guide that can be used by
individuals to improve their understanding of the basics of the Church and
to educate their children in those teachings.
The Diocese is being aided in this effort by Dr. Thomas Samuelian, an
American-born lawyer with a doctorate in linguistics from University of
Pennsylvania who lives and works in Armenia. He shared with the delegates
some examples of resources that will be made available.
"There’s lots of different ways to learn and teach Armenian and Armenian
topics to different groups in different ways," he said, stressing that no
one way is best for all people. "These are simple things we can teach
parishioners who are not that comfortable with our service so they will feel
comfortable in church."
— 5/8/07
E-mail photos available on request. Photos also viewable in the News and
Events section of the Eastern Diocese’s website,
PHOTO CAPTION (1): Delegates vote in elections to fill five seats on the
Diocesan Council during the 2007 Diocesan Assembly, hosted by the Sts.
Vartanantz Church of Chelmsford, Massachusetts.
PHOTO CAPTION (2): Jeanette Der Hagopian of the Holy Trinity Church of
Cheltenham, Pennsylvania, speaks at the Diocesan Assembly during discussion
of a proposal to help fund education and training programs for church
choirs.
PHOTO CAPTION (3): Delegates examine some examples of resources that will
be made available throughout the year by the Diocese in its efforts to help
parishioners gain a better understanding of the basics of the Armenian
Church.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress