The annual Clergy Conference of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America convened April 29 to May 1, 2019, at the Babson College Executive Conference Center in Babson Park, MA, hosted by the St. James Church in Watertown.
Several dozen clergymen, active as parish pastors and in other capacities throughout the Eastern Diocese, came together for the three-day gathering to pray and plan for the future.
They were led by a Diocesan Primate elected to that office just one year earlier: the Very Rev. Fr. Daniel Findikyan, who presided over the gathering for the first time.
Elected chairman of the conference was the Rev. Fr. Aved Terzian (of Worcester, MA), with Rev. Fr. Abraham Malkhasyan (Bayside, NY) as vice chair, Rev. Fr. Voskan Hovhannissyan (Belleville, IL) as Armenian secretary, and Rev. Fr. Avedis Kalayjian (Racine, WI) as English secretary.
The Rev. Fr. Arakel Aljalian, of the host parish in Watertown, gave a message of welcome.
A message from the Catholicos of all Armenians, His Holiness Karekin II, was read to the conference. Visiting representatives from the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin—the Rev. Fr. Gabriel Vardanyan and Rev. Fr. Ghevond Temkin—spoke about developments at the Gevorkian Seminary, and the emerging church-state relationship following last year’s “velvet revolution.”
In his address to the clergy, Diocesan Primate Fr. Daniel Findikyan spoke with optimism and enthusiasm. Striking a note that he would return to throughout the week, the Primate said that the church’s focus should be to “build up the Body of Christ”—effected through education for all ages, expanding ministry groups, increasing the role of the diaconate, and establishing pathways for meaning participation in the liturgical and spiritual life of the church.
Clergy Presentations
A presentation by the Very Rev. Fr. Mamigon Kiledjian (Diocesan Center, NY) highlighted his activities as Diocesan director of music ministry, working with local parish choirs, organists, and deacons. The Rev. Fr. Hovhan Khoja-Eynatyan (Evanston, IL) of the Sacred Music Council (SMC) addressed the group’s ongoing work on a website, the Kiraki mobile app, parish Junior Choirs, and new print projects.
Three priests—the Rev. Fr. Hovnan Demerjian, Rev. Fr. Tadeos Barseghyan, and Rev. Fr. Vart Gyozalyan—spoke about the graduate programs they completed with the support of the Diocese. The Rev. Fr. Hratch Sargsyan demonstrated the way he employs Social Media in his ministry, which led to a discussion of guidelines for clergy participation in social media. Also discussed was the Kavazan app for Armenian clergy, launched by the Diocese last year and utilized by a number of parish priests.
Dr. Roberta Ervine of St. Nersess Seminary gave an inspirational talk on Scriptural interpretation in the Armenian Church. Dn. Eric Vozzy (Diocesan Center, NY) spoke of his experience as a baptized member of the Armenian Church, who was later raised in a Pentecostal environment but eventually returned to his baptismal church.
The conference received greetings from the Massachusetts Council of Churches via its executives the Rev. Laura Everett and Anthony Barsamian. Diocesan Development officer Laurie Onanian shared practical advice on building fundraising relationships.
Diocesan Council members Paul Mardoian and Roseann Manoogian Attar updated the clergy on research into tax and retirement concerns.
The conference concluded on the morning of May 2 with the Divine Liturgy at the St. James Church, celebrated by Fr. Gabriel Vartanyan, which Fr. Ghevond Temkin delivering the homily.