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PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH USA OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZES THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
[ Part 2.1.2: "Attached Text" ]
ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 17, 2014
Contact: Taniel Koushakjian
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (202) 393-3434
Web: www.aaainc.org
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH USA OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZES THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
Church Calls on President Obama, Congress to Recognize and Condemn
Armenian Genocide
WASHINGTON, DC - During the annual Presbyterian Church (USA) General
Assembly, held last month in Detroit, Michigan, a resolution was
adopted officially recognizing the Armenian Genocide, reported the
Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly). The resolution also urges
Presbyterian congregations to commemorate the Armenian Genocide
centennial in 2015, and directs Church leadership to "call on the
President and the Congress of the United States of America to recognize
and condemn the death and expulsion of the Armenians."
During the 1915-1923 Armenian Genocide the Presbyterian Church
directed relief funds to Armenians, and its General Assemblies
vehemently protested the "atrocities," according to a statement on
the PCUSA website.
Over the last 50 years, Presbyterian support to struggling Armenian
communities has come through the Jinishian Memorial Program (JMP)
which operates relief, development and spiritual missions through
inter-church partnerships in Syria, Lebanon, Turkey, Jerusalem,
and Armenia.
"The late Vartan Jinishian established his endowment as a direct
response to the needs of the Armenian orphans of the genocide," stated
former Assembly Board of Directors Chairman Michael Haratunian. "He
was a Presbyterian and entrusted the Presbyterian Church of America to
manage his foundation for the benefit of needy Armenian families. As
a member of its advisory committee, my colleagues and I worked to
ask the church to reassert its long history of support for Armenian
Genocide recognition and they did so this year with this unanimously
adopted resolution," Haratunian said.
This historic resolution - the first of its kind for a major American
church body - was adopted by the 1.8 million-member Church in response
to overtures from three of its regional presbyteries: Chicago, Los
Ranchos (southern California), and Palisades (New Jersey). Other
major religious institutions have passed resolutions recognizing the
Armenian Genocide, such as the National Council of Churches in 2007,
the Union of American Hebrew Congregations in 1989, and the World
Council of Churches in 1983.
Rev. Dr. Christine Chakoian, Senior Pastor of First Presbyterian
Church in Lake Forest, Illinois, and Rev. Dr. Vartkes Kassouni,
a retired pastor in Southern California currently serving as Parish
Associate in Tustin Presbyterian Church, were the overture advocates.
Also lending his testimony as an ecumenical partner was the Rev. Fr.
Garabed Kochakian, Pastor of St. John's Armenian Church in Southfield,
Michigan.
The Jinishian Memorial Program leadership played a key role in
initiating and supporting the process. JMP director Eliza Minasyan
says the JMP global team feels encouraged by the acknowledgement this
action brings to the communities served by the Jinishian program:
"Especially for our colleagues in Syria right now - these are genocide
survivors of great faith and courage who are helping children and the
sick and displaced in a time of great danger - this brings them hope
that they are not abandoned."
In summary, this resolution takes four key actions:
First, urges member congregations to recognize the Armenian genocide;
to express deep sympathy to the Armenian people and designate April
24 every year as the day of remembrance; and to honor the provisions
of American and international law to prevent recurrence of such crimes.
Second, supports the designation of genocide for the death of 1.5
million Armenians and the expulsion of one million more from the
Ottoman Empire in the years 1915-1923.
Third, directs the Stated Clerk of the General Assembly to call
on the President and the Congress of the United States of America
to recognize and condemn the death and expulsion of the Armenians;
to communicate this resolution to our ecumenical partners nationally
and internationally.
Fourth, encourage official observance of the 100th Anniversary of
the Armenian Genocide in worship services on Sunday, April 26, 2015
in all PC (USA) churches.
Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the
largest Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public
understanding and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a
501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.
###
NR: # 2014-040
Available online: http://bit.ly/1mlVp30
[ Part 2.2, Image/JPEG 33KB. ]
[ Unable to print this part. ]
[ Part 2.1.2: "Attached Text" ]
ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 17, 2014
Contact: Taniel Koushakjian
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (202) 393-3434
Web: www.aaainc.org
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH USA OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZES THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
Church Calls on President Obama, Congress to Recognize and Condemn
Armenian Genocide
WASHINGTON, DC - During the annual Presbyterian Church (USA) General
Assembly, held last month in Detroit, Michigan, a resolution was
adopted officially recognizing the Armenian Genocide, reported the
Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly). The resolution also urges
Presbyterian congregations to commemorate the Armenian Genocide
centennial in 2015, and directs Church leadership to "call on the
President and the Congress of the United States of America to recognize
and condemn the death and expulsion of the Armenians."
During the 1915-1923 Armenian Genocide the Presbyterian Church
directed relief funds to Armenians, and its General Assemblies
vehemently protested the "atrocities," according to a statement on
the PCUSA website.
Over the last 50 years, Presbyterian support to struggling Armenian
communities has come through the Jinishian Memorial Program (JMP)
which operates relief, development and spiritual missions through
inter-church partnerships in Syria, Lebanon, Turkey, Jerusalem,
and Armenia.
"The late Vartan Jinishian established his endowment as a direct
response to the needs of the Armenian orphans of the genocide," stated
former Assembly Board of Directors Chairman Michael Haratunian. "He
was a Presbyterian and entrusted the Presbyterian Church of America to
manage his foundation for the benefit of needy Armenian families. As
a member of its advisory committee, my colleagues and I worked to
ask the church to reassert its long history of support for Armenian
Genocide recognition and they did so this year with this unanimously
adopted resolution," Haratunian said.
This historic resolution - the first of its kind for a major American
church body - was adopted by the 1.8 million-member Church in response
to overtures from three of its regional presbyteries: Chicago, Los
Ranchos (southern California), and Palisades (New Jersey). Other
major religious institutions have passed resolutions recognizing the
Armenian Genocide, such as the National Council of Churches in 2007,
the Union of American Hebrew Congregations in 1989, and the World
Council of Churches in 1983.
Rev. Dr. Christine Chakoian, Senior Pastor of First Presbyterian
Church in Lake Forest, Illinois, and Rev. Dr. Vartkes Kassouni,
a retired pastor in Southern California currently serving as Parish
Associate in Tustin Presbyterian Church, were the overture advocates.
Also lending his testimony as an ecumenical partner was the Rev. Fr.
Garabed Kochakian, Pastor of St. John's Armenian Church in Southfield,
Michigan.
The Jinishian Memorial Program leadership played a key role in
initiating and supporting the process. JMP director Eliza Minasyan
says the JMP global team feels encouraged by the acknowledgement this
action brings to the communities served by the Jinishian program:
"Especially for our colleagues in Syria right now - these are genocide
survivors of great faith and courage who are helping children and the
sick and displaced in a time of great danger - this brings them hope
that they are not abandoned."
In summary, this resolution takes four key actions:
First, urges member congregations to recognize the Armenian genocide;
to express deep sympathy to the Armenian people and designate April
24 every year as the day of remembrance; and to honor the provisions
of American and international law to prevent recurrence of such crimes.
Second, supports the designation of genocide for the death of 1.5
million Armenians and the expulsion of one million more from the
Ottoman Empire in the years 1915-1923.
Third, directs the Stated Clerk of the General Assembly to call
on the President and the Congress of the United States of America
to recognize and condemn the death and expulsion of the Armenians;
to communicate this resolution to our ecumenical partners nationally
and internationally.
Fourth, encourage official observance of the 100th Anniversary of
the Armenian Genocide in worship services on Sunday, April 26, 2015
in all PC (USA) churches.
Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the
largest Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public
understanding and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a
501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.
###
NR: # 2014-040
Available online: http://bit.ly/1mlVp30
[ Part 2.2, Image/JPEG 33KB. ]
[ Unable to print this part. ]