Three ecumenical gatherings were held at the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America on Tuesday, December 5, 2017.
At noon, members of the Faith and Order Commission of Southern California’s Christian Forum held a meeting at the Akian Conference Room in the lower gallery of St. Leon Armenian Cathedral. The main topic on the agenda was the idea of hope. Representing the Armenian Apostolic Church were the Primate H. E. Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Diocesan Vicar General the Very Rev. Fr. Pakrad Dz. V. Berjekian, Rev. Fr. Nerses Hayrapetyan and the Ecumenical Officer of the Western Diocese Mr. Hayk Madoyan. At the meeting was also present Primate of Greek Orthodox Church of Metropolis of San Francisco, H. E. Metropolitan Gerasimos.
Members of Southern California’s Christian Forum convened a meeting at the “Hampar Family” Primates Reception Room at 3 PM. In all, representatives of close to twenty dominations were present at the meeting. The concept of hope, from the theological perspective, was analyzed. Members were split up into groups and lively discussions followed. The purpose of the meeting was aimed at strengthening commonalities between Churches. Representing the Western Diocese were the Diocesan Vicar General the Very Rev. Fr. Pakrad Dz. V. Berjekian V. Rev. Fr. Dajad Dz. V. Yardemian, the Rev. Fr. Krikor Zakarian, the Rev. Fr. Nerses Hayrapeyan and Mr. Hayk Madoyan.
The last ecumenical gathering of the evening was the eighth annual ecumenical prayer service which was established by the Primate shortly after the consecration of St. Leon Armenian Cathedral in 2010. In accordance with tradition, the ecumenical prayer service honors institutions or individuals who have strengthened the community either through mission or individual achievements.
This year’s honoree was the Most Rev. Bishop Mary Ann Swenson (ret.) of the United Methodist Church. During the evening, a special prayer was held for the soul of Mr. Levon Paronyan, the late father of Dr. Aramayis Paronyan, the Grand Benefactor of St. Leon Armenian Cathedral.
The evening service was followed by a light reception organized by the Good Samaritans of St. Leon Armenian Cathedral whose mission is to provide support to needy families in the Diocese as well as in Armenia.
We are glad to inform that close to 40 ecumenical guests have participated in our three gatherings combined. The aim of the gatherings was to make the unity of Christian Church more feasible.
List of participants in the 8th Annual Ecumenical Prayer Service
Bishop Mary Ann Swenson
United Methodist Church, Vice-moderator of the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches
Rev. Fr. Anthony Attallah
Coptic Orthodox Church
Rt. Rev. Fr. Alexei Smith
Ecumenical and Interreligious officer of Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles
Rev. Fr. John Bakas
Dean of St. Sophia Greek Cathedral in L.A.
Cor-Bishop George Bet-Rasho
St. Mary Assyrian Church of the East
Rev. Fr. Ashur Elkhoury
St. Paul Assyrian Church of the East
Mr. Gabriel Meyer
Executive Director of SCCF
Rev. Dr. Ray Kibler III
Chairman of SCCF’s Faith and Order commission
Rev. Dr. Michael Kinnamon
Former General Secretary of NCC, from Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Rev. Dr. John G. Huber
Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod
Rev. Sally Welch
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), former President of SCEC
Rev. David Berkedal
Faith Lutheran Church
Mr. Tom Reed
Layman from Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Sister Tracey Sharp
Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles
Mrs. Madelon Maupin
The Church of Christian Science
Rev. Jeff Utter
United Church of Christ
Mr. Joseph Baker
Pentecostal Church
Mr. Ken Ellis
United Methodist Church
Joe Thackawell
Intervarsity
Rev. Raafat Girgis
Presbyterian Church USA
Rev. Berdj Djambazian
Minister to the Union of Armenian Evangelical Church of N.A.
Rev. Joe Garabedian
Armenian Evangelical Union of N.A.
Rev. John Melikian
Armenian Evangelical Union of N.A.
Rev. Stephen Wilson
Armenian Evangelical Union of N.A.
Judith Lin
Alvaro J. Cortes
Rev. Sarah Manapa
