Speaking of Stewardship

Following the Primate's opening remarks and a Bible study on the topic of stewardship, the Diocesan Assembly welcomed its keynote speaker, Barbara Tellalian, a member of the Board of Directors of the Armenian Church Endowment Fund (ACEF) and a principal at the firm of Tellalian Consultants for Development and Fund-raising.

"Conferences with universal themes such as stewardship are intended to spark the imagination and encourage us to think broadly and thoughtfully while engaging us in an exchange of ideas followed by action," Tellalian said. "And that, I am sure, is happening."

Saying religious people are more likely to be generous givers to charity, Tellalian also said knowing the donation will do good prompts donations. It is also important for donors to have seen examples of stewardship growing up.

"Each of us has been influenced by a parent, grandparent, clergy, or friend whose dedication and commitment as stewards of the Armenian Church have inspired us to be stewards, giving greater meaning to our lives and our reason for being," she said.

For Tellalian, that pride and influence came from her parents, who raised their family in the Armenian Church. And just as her parents were influential in building her love for the church, Tellalian is working to turn the next generation of her family into stewards of the church.

"Today our adult children and grandchildren are embracing the Armenian Church with the same love and dedication as the Church embraces them," she said, noting that along with her and her husband a variety of people in her home parish of Holy Trinity in Cambridge, MA, have worked to instill a love and appreciation of the Armenian Church in her children.

"That's what it takes: reaching out and bringing in; engaging; giving thanks; giving of gifts of time, talent, and treasure; building our parishes; building the Diocese; building our Armenian Church; building Armenia," she added. "Together, our work will provide this legacy of stewardship, one generation to the next. Stewardship is grounded in the fact that all of human life and experience is a gift – a gift from God – that requires a response of faithful service."

Echoing the notion that strengthening the church is intertwined with building the Armenian community was Alex Dadourian, chair of the Diocesan Development Committee, who told the delegates that anything that strengthens the Armenian Church strengthens Armenians.

"The Armenians in America have to lead the way. We must think about how we can help Armenianism here in the U.S. to grow," he told the delegates. "No one else can do that but us."