Parish Council Chairs

On Thursday morning, parish council chairs gathered for a meeting with members of the Diocesan Council. On the agenda was a discussion of ways the parishes could work together and how the Diocese could help strengthen their ministry.

The chairs talked about the opportunities that are available for the Armenian Church and the challenges facing the Church. Michael O'Hurley-Pitts, Diocesan Director of Stewardship and Development, spoke to the delegates about the need to live Christian lives to instill a sense of stewardship in parishioners.

"A parish cannot expand or survive if it has at it corp a crisis of conviction," he told the chairs.

He urged them to strengthen their base by reaching out to those members who have drifted away from the Church. He said he would work with parishes when asked to provide resources and guidance from the Diocesan Center.

Additionally, he outlined communications efforts made by the Diocese. These include the newly redesigned Armenian Church Magazine and several e-newsletters (one general e-newsletter sent Thursday afternoons, a bi-monthly e-newsletter for parish leadership, a bi-monthly e-newsletter for Sunday and Armenian School teachers, and monthly e-newsletters for ACYOA Jrs. and college students). Chairs were urged to provide the Diocese with e-mail addresses of anyone who should receive any of the e-newsletters. Contact information can be sent to info@armeniandiocese.org.

The chairs also discussed parish dues assessments and clergy stipends.