Next year's plans

NEXT YEAR'S PREPARERATIONS

Wrapping up its work, the 2003 Diocesan Assembly thanked its hosts from St. Gregory Church in White Plains, NY. Next year's Assembly will be hosted by the Church of the Holy Martyrs in Bayside, NY.

DUES DISCUSSION

The delegates also discussed a proposal to change the formula for assessing parish dues, relying more on the number of members to set the fee rather than assessing various income streams at varying levels.

"The Diocesan Council studied this whole issue several years ago, various formulas for assessment, and we noticed in every formula some go up and some go down. At the end of the analysis, we decided we might as well stay where we are because everyone will have something to complain about," said Diocesan Council Chairman Haig Dadourian. "So the Diocesan Council is neutral on this proposal."

The proposal did not pass.

During a later discussion, the delegates asked for guidance in assisting newly arrived Armenian immigrants. Dr. Sam Mikaelian, executive director of the Diocese, told delegates the staff would put together guidelines to better support parish efforts aiding immigrants.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE DEBATE

On Saturday afternoon, the Assembly discussed a vernacular language badarak proposal that would allow more leeway for parishes to obtain permission to use English in more portions of the Divine Liturgy.

The highly charged issue was tabled at the request of the Diocesan Council, which will commission a study that will research and study other non-Armenian churches, conduct surveys and focus groups of parishioners, interview and survey parishes with experimental programs, research other Armenian dioceses, conduct a theological evaluation of vernacular language use in Armenian liturgy, consider other existing research, and evaluate sociological and linguistic issues.

The survey will begin on May 31 and the preliminary findings of survey will be brought before the Diocesan Council in September. Following discussion, the Council will bring the issue up before Catholicos Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, when the council members travel to Armenia in November.

The Primate said the issue of the language of the badarak was discussed one year ago during a Supreme Religious Council meeting in Etchmiadzin, resulting in a policy on where limited English can be used in the liturgy.

"This has been a topic of discussion for many years," the Primate said. "We all understand that it is, as we say, a hot topic. No matter if you are on one side or the other, it is a difficult topic."

The Primate said while he was in Etchmiadzin two months ago, he had a two hours discussion with the Catholicos which covered the use of English in services.

"It was a very open and sincere conversation. His Holiness is very sensitive not only on the issue of language, but in many other issues related to the modern world and how the Armenian Church can respond to the needs of our churches and dioceses," he said. "His Holiness' recommendation was that the Diocesan Council bring this request in November, and this will be a good format to discuss this issue."

Ararat Center support grows

Ararat Center gets more support

Ararat Center Support Grows

CONFERENCE CENTER DONATIONS GROW

Before lunch on Saturday, Rose Najarian Kedeshian, a member of the board overseeing the new Diocesan Ararat Youth and Conference Center, challenged the delegates to support the effort to pay off the site's purchase. The site had a price tag of $1.2 million, but $850,000 had already been raised.

"We just want to close this gap," said Najarian Kedeshian, who announced two anonymous donations from St. Leon Church of Fair Lawn for $10,000 and asked delegates to give $1,000 for each child and grandchild who have attended programs that will now be held at the Ararat Center.

As delegate after delegate rose to the microphone to voice their support, more than $100,000 was raised. Many other delegates also made pledges in private throughout the day. The delegates were urged to continue the efforts in their home parishes.

"The point is not the money," said Fr. Haigazoun Najarian, pastor from Wynnewood, PA, and the one who got the original idea for buying the site rolling during the 2000 Assembly. "When we were walking on the grounds of the site this week, it was so beautiful. The feeling was so good, to feel the earth as if the earth was belonging to us. This was ours. For people who have not always had a home, this was ours now. It's open to all the Armenian Community, to bring them together as a family."

Last day of business

NEXT STEP

Through the three days of discussions, small group workshops, and face-to-face meetings, the delegates got a lot of work done, passed next year's budget, and focused on the idea of stewardship. They participated in a spirited discussion on the need to increase the number of dues-paying members and active parishioners. They shared fellowship with other Armenians.

The Diocesan Council will work with the parishes to organize regional follow-up workshops to implement the goals and ideas discussed throughout the Assembly.

"What we're trying to do is empower you to go back to your parish and do the things that have to be done," Haig Dadourian said. "I cannot over emphasize that you here in this room are the ones who are empowered to get things done in the parishes. It's up to you to really see to it that stewardship is happening in your parish."

Mission Parish Leaders

MISSION PARISH DISCUSSION

In a discussion of the Diocese's Department of Worship, delegates asked what the Diocese was doing to address the needs of mission parishes, saying sending a visiting priest is not enough.

"The only restraining factor we have is the lack of adequate manpower," Dadourian said. "What it is going to take is enough on-hand visitations to be able to gather enough density and critical mass within a region to get things organized and form a permanent parish council. We do need enough personnel to do that, but at this point in time we're spread thin."

The Primate said that the Diocese is concerned about reaching out to mission parishes. Currently mission parishes receive visiting priests for three-day visits, who then return and log their actions with the Diocese.

"I am not satisfied. We are trying to improve ourselves," said the Primate, who welcomed further comments from the mission parish leaders who were in attendance. "We are trying to organize, based on that information received at the Diocesan Center. We try to find ways to address needs in the mission parishes."

Armen Karapetian, the chairman of the Armenian Church of Atlanta, told the delegates that the Diocese has helped get the new parish organized to the point where they are working on building a sanctuary.

"As far as the Diocese is concerned, they have been fantastic in terms of support," he said. "Of course we are few and running 100 miles per hour and cannot expect things to happen overnight. But the Diocese has been fantastic in supporting us and we're grateful to everyone who has helped us. And we're looking forward to becoming full-fledged delegates one day."

Stewardship discussion continues

STEWARDSHIP FOCUS CONTINUES

The last day of the 102nd Diocesan Assembly in Rye Town, NY, started on Saturday, May 1, 2004, with a prayer led by Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan, pastor in Richmond, VA.

"Whatever gift we give to God is greatly multiplied and will come back to us in unexpected ways," he said. "May the blessings of the Lord come upon us, and may we find many stewards for our faith for generations to come."

The delegates than began to complete the business of the Assembly. First on the agenda was the completion of the report by the Diocesan Council, which the delegates have been discussing over the past three days. Discussion focused on the need to continue supporting the Midwestern Hye Summer Camp.

"Hye Camp should be supported with as much vigor as we can," said Diocesan Council Chairman Haig Dadourian.

Archbishop Khajag Barsamian told the delegates that the Diocese was working to offer scholarships to children from the Midwest and South to enable them to attend St. Vartan Camp, which will be housed this year at the Diocese's new Ararat Youth and Conference Center, 30 miles south of Albany, NY.

"We support Hye Camp. We support St. Vartan Camp. And, hopefully, we will begin a camp in the South," the Primate said. "Our goal is to strengthen our camps and hopefully if we can enlarge our camps."

Delegates also discussed the Diocese's communication and stewardship efforts. Delegates were concerned that the Diocese -- because of budget considerations -- had cut back the publication schedule of it's The Armenian Church magazine from quarterly to twice yearly and urged the Diocese to produce more issues.