Message from the Primate

Good Stewards of Our Lord's Grace

Throughout the year 2004, our Diocese observed its "Year of Stewardship." In local parish orograms, educational activities, insitutional gatherings and publications, we explored the tradition of Christian stewardship, considered how it has inspired teh Armenian people down through the centuries—and imagined ways that it might enrich our communities today.

Scripture, of course, is full of examples of what it means to be a steward of our Lord. One beautiful example comes from the First Epistle of St. Peter: "As each has received a gift, employ it for one another, as good stewads of God's varied grace...in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ." For St. Peter, being a good steward meant employing one's gifts for others, and using htem to glorify God through His son. Clearly, this understanding of stewardship is about much more than just giving and receiving.

In teh following pages, you will see how we worked last year to help people throughout the Diocese, in all our local parishes, employing their time, talent and treasure to achieve this worthy objective. You will see that the project of Christian stewardship proceeds on many fronts: in organized churches and mission parishes, through our Diocese's various ministry programs, and our efforts to broaden outreach among youth and young adults; via pilgrimages to our ancient homeleand of Armenia, as well as the modern "virtual community" of our website, www.armenianchurch.net.

I hope that by reading this Annual Report, you will see that "good stewards" of our church can be found among our clergy, our lay leaders, our many parishioners—indeed, among all who offer their unique gifts for the benefit of one another and for the glory of God. To the countless individuals who contributed their time, talent and treasure to our "Year of Stewardship," I want to extend my heartfelt thanks.

To those of you who have not been active lately in the Armenian Church, I want you to know that whatever gifts God has given you, the Armenian Church has a place for you and your family. I encourage you to get in touch with your local parish, or with the Diocesan Center, to see how you can become more involved in our church, embracing its beautiful past and helping to plan its optimistic future. May our Lord guide you along that path, and may He always bless you and your loved ones.

With prayers,

Archbishop Khajag Barrsamian