PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Jake Goshert, Coordinator of Information Services
Tel: (212) 686-0710 Ext. 60; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
October 13, 2004
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PARISH LEADERS LISTEN, TALK ABOUT NEED FOR STEWARDSHIP
By Jake Goshert
This fall, as part of its “Year of Stewardship”, the Diocese of
the Armenian Church of America (Eastern) has been holding regional
one-day conferences where parish leaders can discuss aspects of the
term “stewardship.”
The two sessions held so far — September 25, 2004, hosted by the St.
Gregory the Enlightener Church of White Plains, NY, and October 2 at
the Sts. Sahag and Mesrob Church of Providence, RI — were resounding
successes for the 100 or so leaders who attended.
There will be a regional meeting on October 16 at the St. Gregory the
Illuminator Church in Chicago, IL. Sessions at the St. Mary Church
of Washington, D.C., and in Florida will be scheduled later this year.
“The regional meeting was very beneficial. It provided each of the
parishes an opportunity to exchange ideas on stewardship campaigns
and to learn what approaches are being used and which of those has
been successful,” said Jeri Humphries, parish council chair of the
St. Mark Church of Springfield, MA. “The major challenge seems to be to
re-educate our parishioners on the principle of ‘stewardship,’ to help
them understand the difference between stewardship and membership.”
“We should emphasize that stewardship needs to encompass all three
components — time and talent and treasure — and the major emphasis
need not be on treasure initially,” Humphries added. “Once you engage
parishioners in giving their time and talent, there will be a greater
connection with the church that will, in the end, lead to parishioners
giving their treasure to support and perpetuate their church.”
Invited to the sessions are parish council chairs, Diocesan delegates,
and clergy. Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Eastern
Diocese, attends every session, as do Diocesan Council members and
Diocesan staff.
“We want to encourage our local leaders to speak of stewardship
as any and all substantive support of our church. It is not just
writing a check; stewardship is creating a sense of community among
the parishioners,” the Primate said. “We also want to show how the
Diocese can help parishes, and how the parishes can help each other
in building stewardship plans.”
The meeting agenda includes discussions on the history of stewardship
in the Bible and in the Armenian Church tradition; on building a
parish stewardship program that encourages giving of time and talent
as well as financial support; and on ideas for creating a year-round
effort at building support for the church.
“The concept of stewardship is very good. It’s very important.
It sends a message we’re concerned about your church, both in the
present and the future,” said Fr. Diran Bohajian of the St. Leon
Church of Fair Lawn, NJ. “To me, stewardship says we’re actively
working to strengthen the church spiritually, not just financially.
And we’re welcoming people’s donations of all kinds. Some give time,
others have skills or money. When you put them together, that is what
makes our Christian community come alive.”
Participants in each session crafted “action plans” detailing ways
parishes could help themselves, ways parishes can help each other,
and support needed from the Diocese. Follow-up steps will be collected
from all the sessions to create a plan of action for building stronger
local communities of faith.
The day-long sessions also include a discussion of proposed Diocesan
by-law changes and an open forum for local leaders to discuss any
issue with the Primate and Diocesan Council members.
— 10/13/04
E-mail photos available on request. Photos also viewable in
the News and Events section of the Eastern Diocese’s website,
PHOTO CAPTION (1): Participants at the regional stewardship workshop
on September 25, 2004, at the St. Gregory the Enlightener Church of
White Plains, NY, talk about “stewardship.”
PHOTO CAPTION (2): This fall’s regional stewardship workshops, such
as this one on October 2, 2004, at the Sts. Sahag and Mesrob Church
of Providence, RI, feature discussions on stewardship, proposed
Diocesan by-laws changes, and an open forum with the Primate and
Diocesan Council members.
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