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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.net
April 17, 2006
___________________
ARMENIAN CHURCH JOINS IN NEW ECUMENICAL ORGANIZATION
A new ecumenical organization was born in Atlanta, GA, during a meeting from
March 28 to 31, 2006. And the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America
(Eastern) was there to help this "new born baby" make it on its own.
The new group, Christian Churches Together, brings together more than 60
churches, which claim to represent 120 million American Christians. It is
the first-ever group to combine Evangelicals, mainline Protestants, racial
and ethnic Protestants, Roman Catholic, and the various Orthodox and Eastern
churches.
The official formation of the group follows years of discussion amongst the
members.
"Its mission is to enable churches and Christian organizations to grow
closer together in Christ in order to send out Christian witness in the
world," said Bishop Vicken Aykazian, legate and ecumenical officer of the
Eastern Diocese, who represented the Armenian Church at the gathering.
"From its beginning, Christian Churches Together has given a priority to
prayer and worship in order to build a relationship of trust and to be
discerning challenges that need to be addressed in society for more faithful
Christian witnesses."
The first focus of the new organization will be combating poverty in the
United States. During their meeting, the religious leaders engaged in a
Biblical reflection on poverty and spoke with "those who have experienced
poverty first-hand as well as those with academic experience," Bishop
Aykazian said.
The vision of Christian Churches Together in the U.S. began with a diverse
group of Christian leaders, who gathered in the fall of 2001 and expressed a
longing for an extended Christian conversation in America. During the
movement to create this new ecumenical organization, Archbishop Khajag
Barsamian, Primate of the Eastern Diocese, was asked to participate from the
beginning. He appointed Bishop Aykazian to represent the Armenian Church in
the ongoing discussion.
"I am very happy Bishop Akyazian has been following this organization's
formation," the Primate said. "Bringing all the churches together is a
wonderful opportunity to create one voice for all Christian churches as we
tackle important issues in society."
-- 4/17/06
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): Bishop Vicken Aykazian, legate and ecumenical officer of
the Eastern Diocese, far right, takes part in a panel discussion during the
meeting March 28 to 31, 2006, during which a new ecumenical organization,
Christian Churches Together in the United States, was founded.
PHOTO CAPTION (2): Leaders from various Christian churches, including the
Armenian Church, gather in Atlanta, GA, from March 28 to 31, 2006, for
discussions leading to the formation of a new ecumenical organization,
Christian Churches Together in the United States.
# # #
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.net
April 17, 2006
___________________
ARMENIAN CHURCH JOINS IN NEW ECUMENICAL ORGANIZATION
A new ecumenical organization was born in Atlanta, GA, during a meeting from
March 28 to 31, 2006. And the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America
(Eastern) was there to help this "new born baby" make it on its own.
The new group, Christian Churches Together, brings together more than 60
churches, which claim to represent 120 million American Christians. It is
the first-ever group to combine Evangelicals, mainline Protestants, racial
and ethnic Protestants, Roman Catholic, and the various Orthodox and Eastern
churches.
The official formation of the group follows years of discussion amongst the
members.
"Its mission is to enable churches and Christian organizations to grow
closer together in Christ in order to send out Christian witness in the
world," said Bishop Vicken Aykazian, legate and ecumenical officer of the
Eastern Diocese, who represented the Armenian Church at the gathering.
"From its beginning, Christian Churches Together has given a priority to
prayer and worship in order to build a relationship of trust and to be
discerning challenges that need to be addressed in society for more faithful
Christian witnesses."
The first focus of the new organization will be combating poverty in the
United States. During their meeting, the religious leaders engaged in a
Biblical reflection on poverty and spoke with "those who have experienced
poverty first-hand as well as those with academic experience," Bishop
Aykazian said.
The vision of Christian Churches Together in the U.S. began with a diverse
group of Christian leaders, who gathered in the fall of 2001 and expressed a
longing for an extended Christian conversation in America. During the
movement to create this new ecumenical organization, Archbishop Khajag
Barsamian, Primate of the Eastern Diocese, was asked to participate from the
beginning. He appointed Bishop Aykazian to represent the Armenian Church in
the ongoing discussion.
"I am very happy Bishop Akyazian has been following this organization's
formation," the Primate said. "Bringing all the churches together is a
wonderful opportunity to create one voice for all Christian churches as we
tackle important issues in society."
-- 4/17/06
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): Bishop Vicken Aykazian, legate and ecumenical officer of
the Eastern Diocese, far right, takes part in a panel discussion during the
meeting March 28 to 31, 2006, during which a new ecumenical organization,
Christian Churches Together in the United States, was founded.
PHOTO CAPTION (2): Leaders from various Christian churches, including the
Armenian Church, gather in Atlanta, GA, from March 28 to 31, 2006, for
discussions leading to the formation of a new ecumenical organization,
Christian Churches Together in the United States.
# # #