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Tackling the big questions

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  • Tackling the big questions

    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: www.armenianchurch.org

    March 31, 2006
    ___________________

    ACYOA LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE EXPLORES CONNECTIONS OF IDENTITY

    By Jake Goshert

    The three questions are connected in deep and serious ways. Who is He --
    what is the nature of God? Who are we -- as Armenians living in the
    Diaspora? Who am I -- what makes me special?

    The Armenian Church Youth Organization of America (ACYOA) tackled these
    questions during its 7th annual Young Adult Leadership Conference, which ran
    from March 10 to 12, 2006, at the Don Bosco Retreat Center in Stony Point,
    NY. This year 55 young people from 25 parishes gathered with clergy and
    Diocesan staff to explore how these three questions shape an individual's
    sense of identity and faith.

    "Christian youth ministry is not a new or modern concern; in fact, its seeds
    were planted in the gospel accounts of the life of Christ. The questions,
    "How should I live my life?" or "To which path should I dedicate my talent
    and energy?" are important to human beings at every stage of life; but they
    are most powerfully felt during one's passage through young adulthood," said
    Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church
    of America (Eastern). During his visit to the conference the Primate also
    presented each participant with copies of "The Encyclopedia of Armenian
    Christianity" and "The Wonderful Alphabet."

    "In a way, the theme of this conference sums up this matrix of questions
    confronting every young life: "Who is He? Who are we? Who am I?" Most of
    us confront these questions in the reverse order: each of us begins by
    asking, Who am I? And that leads to the question, What is the group I am a
    part of, or Who are we? And if one has a genuine openness of heart, I
    believe that one will eventually be led to the question, Who is He? Who is
    the One who created me, sacrificed for me, comforts and guides me, gives
    meaning and purpose to my existence?," the Primate added.

    The annual gathering is part spiritual retreat, part fellowship hour, and
    part leadership training. Past participants have gone on to serve not only
    on ACYOA's Central Council but on their local community's parish council as
    well.

    "The leadership conference continues to empower the youth in terms of
    becoming better Christians as well as becoming stronger leaders in their
    communities," said Maggie Merdjanian, a participant from the St. Sahag and
    St. Mesrob Church of Wynnewood, PA.

    WHO IS HE?

    Diocesan Council member Fr. Yeprem Kelegian, pastor of the St. Mesrob Church
    of Racine, WI, facilitated a bible study on the topic of "Who is He?"
    During the session participants broke off into four groups and were asked to
    answer questions on different Bible passages regarding the person of Christ.

    Later Fr. Simeon Odabashian, pastor of the Sts. Sahag and Mesrob Church of
    Providence, RI, offered the young audience a brief refresher on the basics
    of the faith of the Armenian Church highlighting the church's beliefs and
    teachings.

    "What an extraordinary experience to come together with these incredibly
    inspired young Armenian Christians and have open discussions both on a
    personal level and as a group," said first-time participant Jack Klachian of
    the St. Sarkis Church of Dallas, TX. "I have never been with an Armenian
    community with this many people my age. And the content of the session
    exceeded my expectations."

    WHO ARE WE?

    Dr. Roberta Ervine, a member of the faculty of St. Nersess Armenian
    Seminary, led an interactive session which helped the participants explore
    their sense of identity.

    Using baby pictures, she highlighted the fact that who we were in the past
    is not who we are today, that people change and evolve. She also spoke
    about how individuals define who they are and accentuate different aspects
    depending on what type of people they are interacting with at any given
    time. Another exercise had different groups reading the same script in
    different ways, showing how accentuating one word or idea can change
    understanding.

    "The leadership conference is an amazing venue to address important issues
    within the Armenian Church," said participant Shant Babikian of the Church
    of the Holy Martyrs of Bayside, NY.

    WHO AM I?

    There was no one speaker providing a concrete answer to the question "Who am
    I?" Instead, answers came from the young participants themselves, each of
    whom was asked to create a collage using magazine cut outs and other
    materials to express who they were.

    Daron Bolat and Saro Kalayjian, both from Washington, DC, pulled all three
    questions together in an exploration of the underlying topic of the weekend:
    "Who am I Called to Be?" This session was followed by a lively question and
    answer period with Fr. Daniel Findikyan, dean of the St. Nersess Seminary.
    Participants asked a wide variety of questions, form the idea of gay
    marriage to premarital sexual relations to if priests get screened at the
    airport.

    On Sunday morning, Fr. Findikyan celebrated the Divine Liturgy. With
    special permission from the Primate, necessary because it is Lent,
    participants were able to receive Holy Communion.

    Fr. Findikyan, who also served as the chaplain for the weekend, began his
    sermon by saying, "Here we are, here He is, and here I am. While we are not
    in an actual Armenian Church, gathered here today, we are the Armenian
    Church, we're at the heart of it. We are the best the Armenian Church has
    to offer."

    He reflected that while the conference challenged participants to look
    inside themselves and take stock of who they were, it also reinforced the
    fact that, like the Prodigal Son, if they stray, they will always be
    welcomed back to "your church, your people, your home. We will embrace you
    upon your return."

    "This weekend was just a reminder that I'm well on my spiritual journey of
    learning who we are, who He is and we I am," said Haigouhi Vartanian, a
    participant from the Sts. Sahag and Mesrob church of Providence, RI.

    BUILDING THE FUTURE

    The final session of the weekend was led by ACYOA Central Council
    Programming Coordinator Greg Andonian, who led a discussion on the past,
    present, and future of the organization. The ACYOA is celebrating its 60th
    anniversary this year.

    "After 60 years of service to the Armenian Church, perhaps it is time to
    redefine ourselves as an organization and move ahead," he said, as
    participants shared ideas.

    The retreat was organized by the ACYOA Central Council: Maria Derderian,
    chair; Karen Khatchadourian, vice-chair; Sarine Zenian, secretary; Ani
    Tovar, chapter relations coordinator; Greg Andonian, programming
    coordinator; Rita Avedissian, treasurer; and John El Chemmas, public
    relations coordinator. Also attending and helping to organize were Diocesan
    staff members, ACYOA Executive Secretary Nancy Basmajian, Youth Outreach
    Coordinator Jennifer Morris, and Daron Bolat, an intern with the Department
    of Youth and Education.

    -- 3/31/06

    E-mail photos available on request. Photos also viewable in the News and
    Events section of the Eastern Diocese's website, www.armenianchurch.net.

    PHOTO CAPTION (1): Participants in the ACYOA National Leadership Conference
    gather to discuss questions of identity, faith, and self-reflection.

    PHOTO CAPTION (2): Sevan Sultanian from the Sts. Anna and Joachim Church of
    Palos Heights, IL, takes part in an exercise designed to explore internal
    perceptions during the ACYOA National Leadership Conference March 10 to 12,
    2006.

    PHOTO CAPTION (3): Fr. Daniel Findikyan, who served as chaplain of the
    ACYOA National Leadership Conference, with young participants who served on
    the altar during services.

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