Archbishop Aykazian Attends Annual Meeting of Christian Churches Together
30 January 2009
More than 100 leaders of churches and Christian organizations nationwide gathered in Baltimore from January 13 to 16, for the third annual meeting of Christian Churches Together, an organization founded in September 2001 as a forum to broaden and expand fellowship, unity, and witness among Christian churches in the United States.
His Eminence Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, Legate of the Eastern Diocese and President of the National Council of Churches, represented the Armenian Church of America (Eastern). Mr. Raffi Balian, a member of the Legate’s Committee, accompanied Archbishop Aykazian.
During the meetings, the church leaders developed strategies to advocate for combating poverty in America.
Also under discussion was the Middle East peace process, including the plight of Christian communities in the Near East.
On Thursday, January 15, the church leaders met with senior advisors of incoming President Barack Obama and leaders from more than 20 Senate offices to discuss ways to help the poor in America, and also to help end violence in the Middle East among all communities, including the region’s Christians.
In the meeting with members of the Obama Administration, Mr. Daniel Shapiro, one of the President’s senior Middle East advisors, asked Archbishop Aykazian to speak about the state of Christians in the region. Archbishop Aykazian discussed the shrinking number of Middle East Christians and the problems facing their communities. He indicated that he would be ready to assist the new administration “to act as a bridge to the communities in the Middle East.”
As the gathering closed, Archbishop Aykazian was elected to the Steering Committee of Christian Churches Together.
Throughout the meeting, participants gathered for worship services in the range of traditions represented in Christian Churches Together, including the Orthodox, Evangelical, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal, historic Protestant, and racial and ethnic churches.
According to Christian Churches Together, a total of 43 denominations are represented in the organization. For information, visit www.christianchurchestogether.org.
