A word of congratulations and encouragement to our Armenian Evangelical sisters and brothers
April 2016
It is with great joy that we greet you in the name of our risen Savior, Jesus Christ!
In the midst of this Easter season, as we celebrate the wonder and hope of resurrection, we also approach the 170th birth anniversary of the Armenian Evangelical Church. As inheritors of the legacy of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions (ABCFM), we are especially proud and honored to send you our congratulations, as our history is intertwined in mission and common cause, and our present remains linked through partnership.
Established in Constantinople, Turkey (Istanbul today) on July 1, 1846, “midwived” (as your leadership has put it) by our early missionaries, the Armenian Evangelical community has engaged in theological reform, participated actively in educational and social progress, and maintained a deep Christian witness and presence throughout the Middle East, and indeed the world. You have also experienced the trauma of Genocide, and now the impact—with so many others—of the Syria war, but have remained strong and proud, looking forward even as you carry the memory and reality of great tragedy with you. Your strong sense of survival and identity includes your profound commitment to service and the betterment of the whole of society.
Our churches are enriched by the membership of and relationships with Armenian Evangelicals here in North America—in our churches and through the Armenian Evangelical Union of North America—and the global relationships and engagement we share are strong, most notably with the Union of Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East, including Haigazian University, and the Armenian Missionary Association of America. Spiritual, educational, and formational ministries continue to be your emphases, and we are proud to participate with you in those.
As you prepare to mark this important anniversary in the life of your church and community, please accept our congratulations and prayers for your continued presence and witness.
In Christ,
Rev. Dr. John Dorhauer, General Minister and President, United Church of Christ
Rev. Dr. Sharon Watkins, General Minister and President, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Rev. Dr. James Moos, Executive Minister, Wider Church Ministries, UCC, Co-Executive, Global Ministries
Rev. Julia Brown Karimu, President, Division of Overseas Ministries, Disciples, Co-Executive, Global Ministries
Dr. Peter Makari, Executive, Middle East and Europe, Global Ministries