The final session of the 120th Diocesan Assembly convened on Monday, August 8, as an online meeting over the Zoom video platform.
Some 75 Diocesan leaders and parish representitives—Clergy, delegates, and parish council chairs—took part in the meeting. Assembly chair Gregory Saraydarian (Holy Martyrs Church, Bayside, NY) led the meeting as he had during the general sessions in May.
Diocesan Primate Fr. Mesrop Parsamyan opened the meeting with a brief message and prayer, broadcasting from the rehabilitation center in New York State where he is recovering following his automobile accident in July. After expressing gratitude to Diocesan leaders and the public, and reassuring listeners about his returning strength, Fr. Parsamyan concluded his opening prayer with these words: “Strengthen our hearts, O Lord. Guide each step we take, as we walk on the path of service to you. Protect your faithful children from every harm. And let your peace and justice prevail in every corner of the globe.”
The business agenda for the session revolved around financial matters of the Eastern Diocese. Diocesan Council Treasurer Roseann Manoogian Attar delivered the official report on the Diocese’s finances, answered questions from the delegates, and also addressed current and future-year budget projections.
A presentation from the Auditing Committee, and a discussion of parish dues assessments—including the progress of a pilot program running in several parishes, which replaces the “dues-based” system with a voluntary “stewardship” system—rounded out the session.