This week, the 122nd Diocesan Assembly will convene at the Marriott Hotel in Springfield, MA. St. Mark Armenian Church of Springfield will host the Clergy Conference (meeting April 30-May 2), and the Diocesan Assembly (meeting May 2-4), bringing together hundreds of Armenian Church leaders from the Eastern Diocese.
Diocesan Primate Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan will preside over the gathering, which marks the second Diocesan Assembly since his election as Primate, and the first assembly he will lead as a bishop of the church.
The General Sessions—scheduled for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, May 2 through 4—will go forward under the theme “Be My Witnesses.” In one of several sets of formal remarks, the Primate will introduce the theme during the Friday morning session, and delegates will then spend time in roundtable discussions, exploring their ideas to encourage Christian witnessing at the local parish level.
Other highlights include an update on the campaign for the restoration of St. Vartan Cathedral, and presentations from the Fund for Armenian Relief, Armenian Church Endowment Fund, and Diocesan program departments, ministries, and auxiliary organizations.
Assembly business will also include elections for the Diocesan Board of Trustees, and other official committees.
The annual awards banquet will take place at the Springfield Marriott Hotel on Friday, May 3. At that time, the Rev. Fr. Mampre Kouzouian will be honored as this year’s “Armenian Church Member of the Year,” and the Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon, executive director of Churches for Middle East Peace, will receive the “Friend of the Armenians” award.
Running concurrently with the Diocesan Assembly will be the 35th Women’s Guild Assembly, organized by the Women’s Guild Central Council. The WGCC will hold its 11th “Women of Wonder” award luncheon on Saturday, May 4, at 12:30 p.m. (Click the following links to view a flyer, and find further details.)
The Divine Liturgy, with the Primate presiding, will conclude the assembly on Sunday, May 5.
Find detailed information about the schedule of events on the host parish’s website, by clicking here.
Check here on the Eastern Diocese’s website and on our Facebook page for updates on the Diocesan Assembly proceedings.