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15.09.2010

ARMENIAN PROTESTANT COMMUNITIES IN THE US AND CANADA

   

Tigran Ghanalanyan1

For decades various Armenian Protestant Communities has been forming in the Diaspora. Among them Armenian Protestant communities in the US and Canada stands out. Those communities play an important role in the life of the Armeniancy in the US and Canada in general and in spiritual, educational and public spheres in particular.

Armenian Protestant Churches of the US and Canada are included in the Armenian Evangelical Union of North America. This union was established in 1971 in Detroit. Armenian Evangelical Churches which are spread all over the North America created 2 unions back at the end of the 20th century. In 1901 the US Eastern States’ Union was formed (which also included Armenian Evangelicals from Canada), and in 1908 Armenian Evangelical Union of California was formed. But later the necessity to act in unity made those unions unite and establish Armenian Evangelical Union of North America which included Armenian Evangelical churches from both the US and Canada.

The headquarters of the Armenian Evangelical Union of North America is in Glendale and the pastor (executive director) is Hovsep Matosian. The later was elected for this position in 2004 and in 2004 he was reelected for a term of three years2. The Armenian Evangelical Union of North America is of vital importance for uniting Armenian Evangelical churches on the continent and providing their normal activity.

Armenian Protestant Community in the US

Armenians has started establishing in the US since 17th century and Armenian community in the US was formed at the end of 1870s. Then the community had grown as a result of Hamidian massacres in the Ottoman Empire and later as a result of the Genocide. Today the number of the Armenians in the US is about 1 million 270 thousand3, among which there are about 25 thousand Armenian Evangelicals4. But the part they play in the life of the Armenian community is much bigger as compared to their number. “Small but strong Armenian Protestant Community” – the Armenian Protestant Community, according to a widespread opinion, is considered to be the oldest and most distinguished part of the Diaspora in the US”5. This formulation characterizes the value, role and potential of the Armenian Protestant community. Armenian Protestants in the US, alongside with their peculiarities, are an inseparable part of the Armenian community. Armenian Evangelical churches in the US are of great organizational importance. Armenian Protestant Community in the US plays an important part in arranging natural activity, representation of different aspects of Armenian civilization. Among various Armenian organizations in the US (clerical structures, political organizations, unions of compatriots and etc) Armenian Evangelical Church takes a special and unique place.

Armenian Evangelicals established in the US in the 19th century, and at the beginning of the 20th century their first unions were formed. Since that time Armenian Evangelicals have undertaken an important role in the life of the Armenian community in the US. Armenian Evangelicals started up eager clerical, educational, cultural, associate, public activity in the US. The structure of the Armenian Evangelical Church includes churches, missionary and clerical associations and other various organizations.

According to the AMAA Directory 2010: Armenian Evangelical Churches, Institutions, Organizations, Pastors and Christian Workers Worldwide published by the Armenian Missionary Association of America, today there are 26 Armenian Evangelical churches working in the US among which 14 work in California. By the number of the Armenian Evangelical churches the state of Massachusetts where three Armenian Evangelical churches work takes the second place. There are two Armenian Evangelical churches in the state of New-York. There is one Armenian Evangelical church in each of the following states: Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, Nevada, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Utah. Beside Armenian Evangelical Churches there are also five Armenian Evangelical Fellowships6.

The eager charity and educational activity was started up by the Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA) – organizing and executive body for arranging the Evangelical activity of the Armenian Evangelical Churches, which was established on June 7, 1918 in the city of Worchester, Massachusetts. The AMAA has branches and offices in more than 20 counties in the world, including the RA (since 1991) and NKR (since 1995). The AMAA implements its programmes in the RA and Artsakh in association with French “Hope for Armenia” organization. The programmes have mainly two orientations. Among the main goals of the AMAA are the assistance in the restoration of the districts damaged after the December 1988 earthquake, care of the children of the deceased fighters for the liberation and orphans, bringing of the rising generation in a Christian spirit, health services, as well as rendering support in the spheres of agriculture, building and education to two Armenian republics7. “Many of specialists agree that due to its long history this organization has great financial base and highly professional human resources in the United States” 8.

It is natural that the Armenian Evangelical World Council is situated in New Jersey. This comes to prove that the Armenian Protestant community in the US takes in important place in the Armenian Protestant reality. The council has executive body and five Armenian Evangelical Association (of the Near East, France, Eurasia, Armenia and North America), the representatives of the Armenian Missionary Association participate at the meetings arranged by it. The activity of the Armenian Evangelical churches, issues relating preserving of the Armeniancy are discussed there. At the meeting the staff of the office is elected: the chairman, vice-chairman, secretary, treasurer and executive director9.

The Armenia Evangelical World Council also tends to establish normal relations and cooperate with both the Armenian Apostolic Church and the Republic of Armenia. Arranging of the meeting of executive commission of the Armenian Evangelical World Council in Armenia in August 2001 is the evidence of the aforementioned. The special delegation of the Armenian Evangelical World Council visited Cathalicos of All Armenian Garegin II in order to make the cooperation between the Mother Church and Armenian Evangelical Church even closer and during the meeting of the board of the council and president of the RA Robert Kocharyan the issues of the immigration and hard social condition of the people were discussed10.

The relations of the Armenia Evangelicals with Armenia are indispensable. This cooperation boosts both the collaboration of the Armenian Protestants and Armenian Apostolics and strengthening of the ties between Armenia and Diaspora. In this aspect the cooperation of the representatives of the Armenian Protestant community with the Ministry of Diaspora of the RA are characteristic. Within the scope of this cooperation the joint efforts directed to the strengthening of the ties between RA, NKR and Diaspora are important. The issues which are faced by the Armenian Protestant community in the US, having a unique confessional shade, are an integral part of the issues which are faced by the Armenian Diaspora and Armeniancy in general.

The Armenian Evangelicals in the US are not indifferent to the events taking place in that country and all-over the world. The evidence of the later is the support rendered by the Armenian Missionary Association of the America to the victims of the earthquake in Haiti11. This comes to prove that the Armenian Evangelicals of the US are guided by Christian and universal values. Thus, it can be stated that the activity of the Armenian Evangelicals of the US is not only restricted to the Armenian realities. This allows Armenian Protestants of the US to be a part of the Protestant civilizational system. In this context it is important to mention the importance of the synthesis and complementarity of the universal and national values. Due to this, the factor of the Armenian Protestants in the Armenian civilization is getting stronger which, in its turn, promotes the strengthening of the Armenian factor in the world.

An important role in the life of the Armenian Evangelical community in the US is allotted to the Armenian Evangelical educational institutions.

Charlotte and Elise Mertinian’s Armenian Evangelical everyday school was established in 1982 in Sherman Oaks on the initiative and under the patronage of Armenian Missionary Association of America, Armenian Evangelical Union of North America. It has kindergarten, preliminary and middle departments, chorus, sports clubs. Armenian language, history, religion, music and arts are taught. The number of the pupils is about 250. It publishes “Rays and Prospects” annual. The director is Hovsep Inchechikian. And Sahak-Mesrop Armenian Christian School is in Altadena. The director of the school is Shahe Garabedian. Alongside with the high educational level, special attention is paid to educating pupils in the Armenian and Christian spirit.

At the beginning of the 20th century Armenian Evangelicals in the US had their periodical press. Emerging of the Armenian press in the US in that very period was conditioned by strengthening of the Armenian Evangelical community, formation of the organization structures.

Armenian Evangelicals of the US published “Kochak” (1900-1960, Boston, New York), “Djanaser” (1916-1923), “Avetagir” (1945-1947, New York) magazines. Today “Lraber” (since 1965, New Jersey) magazine by the Armenian Missionary Association of America, “Forum” (since 1975) and “Zhats mer hanapazord” (“Our daily bread”), “AMAA” (Armenian Missionary Association of America) periodicals12 are published.

Armenian Protestant Community in Canada

Armenians established in Canada at the end of 19th century. But the Armenian community in Canada was formed in 1950s. Today there are more than 81,5 thousand Armenians living in Canada13.

Armenian Protestants are also a part of the Armenian community in Canada. Their organizational units are four Armenian Evangelical churches and Armenian Missionary Association of Canada. Here, Armenian Evangelical Church does not have many followers but at the same time it is one of the important structures of the Armenian community in that country.

Here Armenian Evangelicals also participate in the Armenian community life and in this aspect confessional differences do not make serious obstacle. Just the opposite, for the Armenian Evangelical community in Canada the same Armenian cultural, social and political, educational issues are topical as for the rest of the Armenians in Canada.

The national issues which are faced by the Armeniancy are topical for the Armenian Evangelicals in Canada either. The example is Prof. Stepan Asturyan’s lecture on “On Turkey’s entry into the EU and its further relationship with Armenia” arranged by Zorian Institute on June 10, 2005 in Toronto, which was encouraged by the Armenian Evangelical Church14.

All this come to prove that besides spreading spiritual and associational activity, the Armenian Evangelical Church also sounds national Armenian issues. This fact is important in the context of spreading common activity of the Armenian Protestants together with the other strata of the Armeniancy.

In 1960 in Toronto Armenian Evangelical Church, which head was Rev. Samvel Albarian, was established. There are two Armenian Evangelical churches in Montreal – Armenian Evangelical church and First Armenian Evangelical Church. The head of the First Armenian Evangelical church is Rev. Georgis Dabbo, and the head of the Armenian Evangelical church is John Zarafian. In 1979 in Cambridge Armenian Evangelical church was established. This is the forth Armenian Evangelical church in Canada which is now headed by Rev. Hovhannes Sarmazian. Besides these four churches there is another important Armenian Evangelical structure in Canada – Armenian Missionary Association of Canada. It plays an important role in solving the organizational issues of the Armenian Evangelical community in Canada, arranging public, clerical, cultural life of the community. The chairman of the Armenian Missionary Association in Canada is David Torunian and the executive director is Mihran Jizmejian15.

The Armenian Evangelicals in Canada spread publishing activity too. Since 1981 Armenian Evangelical church in Montreal has been publishing “Lusardzak” triennial magazine. There are mainly local and international religious and Armenian cultural news published16.

Thus, one can state that Armenian Evangelical communities in the US and Canada are inseparable parts of the Armenian communities of those countries. There is a number of Armenian Evangelical churches, missionary organizations and magazines in the US and Canada. The activity of various Armenian Evangelical organizations is arranged by the Armenian Evangelical Union of North America. Armenian Protestants, who have many peculiarities, play an active part in the life of the local Armenian communities. Their activity often goes beyond the scope of community life and embraces the scope of the life of the whole Armeniancy. They play great role in different spheres of the clerical, national, associational, public, cultural life of the Armenian communities in the US and Canada.

1Expert of the Armenian Studies Centre of “Noravank” Foundation

2Տեր Սարգիսեան-Գրիգորեան Ն., Հայ ավետարանական համայնք. Հյուսիսային Ամերիկայի Հայ Ավետարանական միության գործունեությունը - http://www.chanitz.org/2008/12/blog-post_18.html

3Մալխասյան Մ., Հայերն աշխարհում, Երևան, 2007, էջ 94։

4Հայ սփյուռք հանրագիտարան, Երևան, 2003, էջ 47; Հայերն աշխարհում, հանրագիտական համառոտ բառարան, Երևան, 1995, էջ 21։

5Սասունյան Հ., Ամերիկահայ կառույցներ, «Ազգ», 23.12.2006 - http://www.azg.am/AM/2006122325

6AMAA Directory 2010: Armenian Evangelical Churches, Institutions, Organizations, Pastors and Christian Workers Worldwide, p. 17-19. http://www.amaa.org/Directory%20for%20website.pdf

7Հայ սփյուռք հանրագիտարան, Երևան, 2003, էջ 703:

8Սասունյան Հ., Ամերիկահայ կառույցներ, «Ազգ», 23.12.2006 - http://www.azg.am/AM/2006122325

9Հայ Ավետարանական եկեղեցիների Համաշխարհային խորհրդի գործադիր մարմնի հերթական ժողովը (17 հոկտեմբեր 2008) - http://www.azad-hye.net/media/r1/armenian-evangelical-world-council.htm

10Բադալյան Մ., Հայ ավետարանական համաշխարհային խորհուրդը Հայաստանում, «Ազգ», 25.08.2001 - http://www.azg.am/AM/2001082516

11Armenian Evangelicals praised for Haiti relief efforts - http://www.reporter.am/go/article/2010-03-02-armenian-evangelicals-praised-for-haiti-relief-efforts

12Հայ սփյուռք հանրագիտարան, Երևան, 2003, էջ 50-51։

13Կանադայի հայ համայնքը - http://hayernaysor.am/newsday.php?p=0&c=0&t=0&r=0&year=2009month=10&day=07&shownews=3812&LangID=4#3812

14Ծուլիկյան Հ., «Եվրոպական հանրաքվեները և հայ-թուրքական հարաբերությունները», «Ազգ», 06.07.2005 - http://www.azg.am/AM/2005070601

15AMAA Directory 2010: Armenian Evangelical Churches, Institutions, Organizations, Pastors and Christian Workers Worldwide, p. 9. http://www.amaa.org/Directory%20for%20website.pdf

16Հայ սփյուռք հանրագիտարան, Երևան, 2003, էջ 341։


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