Start of Business

Start of Assembly Business

The Diocesan Assembly began just after 2 p.m. on Thursday, May 4, 2006. This year there are a total of 123 delegates and clergy able to attend. After confirming a quorum, delegates were introduced to the candidates for the various offices of the assembly – chairman, vice chairman, and English and Armenian secretary. After receiving a welcome from the host parish, the delegates then heard from the Canadian Diocesan representative.

"The Diocesan Assembly offers the best occasion to work and to pray together in an atmosphere of prayer and love," he wrote in the message read to the delegates by a clergyman from his diocese. "Today more than ever we need to seek new ways and directions for our church, particularly in the Diocese in the United States and Canada It is our wish that in the near future more cooperation develops among the Diocese of North America and Canada."

Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate, then welcomed the three newest priests in the Diocese: Fr. Daniel Karadjian from the St. Sarkis Church of Charlotte, NC, which is at the Assembly for the first time as a full-fledged parish; Fr. Bedros Kadehjian, pastor of the St. Kevork Church in Houston; and Fr. Kapriel Mouradjian, pastor of the Church of the Holy Resurrection Church in New Britain, CT.

The Primate also welcomed representatives of the St. Sahag and Mesrob Church of St. Paul, MN, who are at the Assembly for the first time as a full-fledged parish.

The delegates than voted for Assembly officers, before collecting names of deceased delegates to be remembered during Sunday's Divine Liturgy at St. Leon Church in Fair Lawn, NY.

Delegates than looked at the minutes of the last Assembly, submitting changes to document to correct errors.

After approving the agenda, delegates then heard from Fr. Shnork Souin, pastor of the St. Mary Church in Livingston, NJ, who spoke about the Clergy Conference, which ran May 1 to 4, 2006, and was co-chaired by Fr. Haigazoun Najarian and Fr. Untzag Nalbandian. The Primate told the clergy about four clergymen from the Republic of Armenia who will soon be coming to work in the Eastern Diocese; spoke about the successful efforts of Bishop Vicken Aykazian, Diocesan legate; and outlined the Diocese's theme for the year: "The Year of Church and Home: Building One Spirit." Thee lectures spoke about suicide as it relates to the theology of the church.

On Wednesday, Diocesan staff spoke about efforts to build the "Year of Church and Home." Clergy shared their input on the proposals and plans, and asked for more involvement and responsibility in the effort.

The clergy also voted to table the proposed bylaws changes until next year's Assembly. The conference closed with a Divine Liturgy celebrated by the newest priest in the Diocese, Fr. Kadehjian.

The Assembly than heard the results of the election for this year's Assembly. The Chair is Dr. Garo Garibian. Lisa Manoogian will serve as English secretary, while Fr. Hovsep Karapetian will serve as Armenian secretary.

Posted by Jake at May 4, 2006 03:39 PM