Women’s Guild Fall Symposium
01 November 2011
She pointed out that the more than 30 women from parishes in the Eastern Diocesan who attended this symposium, and the day's "Crosses + Icons" art exhibition, "have been the leaders in our church community for many years."
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Titled "God's Call, Your Response: Lay Leadership Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow," the daylong gathering drew a number of participants despite the season's first snow storm last Saturday. The day began with a prayer led by Archbishop Yeghishe Gizirian, followed by the presentation of flowers to the current executive board members from the first Women's Guild Central Council in 1986 under the chairmanship of Lucy Dabagian.
Elizabeth Sahagian, one of the original members, paid special tribute to the founding members of the "Primate's Women's Advisory Council," the precursor to the WGCC, including Lucy Dabagian, Ruth Bedevian, Katherine Papalian, Sarah Kapikian, and the late Dovie Tilbian and Anne Ajamian.
Following lunch, Dr. Roberta Ervine, professor of Armenian Studies at St. Nersess Armenian Seminary, started the symposium with an inspiring address celebrating the women saints throughout the history of the Armenian Church. "Forty three days of the church year are devoted to celebrating women," she said. "This is one of the uniting themes of the church."
She pointed out that these women saints came from royalty, wealthy and middle class families, as well as from the military, business and clergy groups. The majority were virgins or married, but there were also widows, prostitutes, and children among them.
"We celebrate them because each made a choice, a decision not to let society decide their life, not to be like everyone else, but to decide what they wanted to be," she said. "They made the choice to be an Armenian Christian. They have inspired Armenians and non-Armenians alike."
Dr. Rachel Goshgarian, formerly director of the Diocese's Zohrab Information Center and currently an assistant professor at Lafayette College in Pennsylvania, spoke about increasing youth participation. She stressed that the most successful programs are "innovations in an established organization that push our church in a new direction. We need to encourage the youth on how to participate."
Dr. Nicole E. Vartanian, senior advisor for Policy and Program Development in the Provost's Office at New York's Hunter College, spoke about last summer's Diocesan youth pilgrimage to Jerusalem. "The trip was dedicated to the concept of encouraging the youth to serve their communities. The future of the church depends on passing the torch to the youth and bringing young women to these conferences," she said.
A dynamic panel discussion
A dynamic panel discussion was held later in the afternoon, moderated by Arda Haratunian, who has had a 25-year career in communications, public affairs, and public policy analysis. She outlined a package for leadership which includes imagination, thought and communication, collaboration, credibility, true commitment, sincerity, and leading by example.
Carol B. Aslanian, senior vice president of Aslanian Market Research, the research division of Education Dynamics, related that though she did not grow up in the Armenian Church, she grew up in a loving Armenian family. She said that her life was "turned around" when she went to Armenia, and when in 1991 she met AGBU president Louise Simone. "As I get older, I want to do more with my Armenian heritage," she said, adding that she is currently mentoring a young Armenian.
Dr. Lynn T. Cetin, a pediatrician, instructor, and full partner at Pro Health Care Associates, LLP, in Lake Success, N.Y., spoke about the role of the choir and the ACYOA in her young adult life. For four consecutive years, she was the youngest female chair of the Holy Martyrs Church parish council in Bayside, N.Y. She noted that she was "not very Armenian" when she attended the University of Pennsylvania, but said that three women—Lillian Chapian, Lynn Jamie, and Mary Selvinazian—helped her learn about her Armenian heritage. "You don't have to be at the helm to lead," she said. "You lead by example."
Dr. Goshgarian, in her comments as a panel member, emphasized that the focus of the Armenian people should extend beyond tragedies like the Genocide to include a rich cultural experience, such as Armenian language lessons and the arts. "A community becomes stronger with these attributes," she said. Dr. Vartanian added that the pool of lay leaders should be expanded so that the same people are not always called upon to serve.
In the question and answer session, it was pointed out that there should be outreach programs in the community, including help to the elderly and more opportunities for the youth. In conclusion, Arda Haratunian said "there's a role for every one of us in our church. It's much easier now to be Armenian than it was 20 years ago."
The Very Rev. Fr. Simeon Odabashian, Diocesan Vicar and WGCC clergy advisor, brought warm greetings from the Primate, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, who was away on a pilgrimage to Diarbekir (Dikranakert), Turkey, for the re-consecration of St. Giragos Armenian Church. Archbishop Yeghishe Gizirian, addressing the participants, said, "You are the arms of our church. Bring that light and your Christian values to our community."
Crosses + Icons: Celebrating Spirituality
At the conclusion of the symposium, participants attended the opening of the Crosses + Icons art exhibition in the Diocese's Gulbenkian Hall. The exhibition—curated by Vicki Hovanessian, collector and director of VH Contemporary Art, with the collaboration of Raphy Sarkissian, a faculty member at the School of the Visual Arts in New York—featured works by four Yerevan-based artists addressing the idea of "spirituality through individually developed visual methods."
The artists and their artwork included the iconic mastery of Sarkis Hamalbashyan, the abstract works of both Hamlet Hovsepyan and Mariam Khachatryan (Moko), and the khachkars of Ararat Sarkissian. Both Hamalbashian and Sarkisyan have been decorated with medals by the Armenian government.
"Crosses and icons as powerful metaphors of our transient, material bodies connect us to our immaterial, spiritual selves," said Hovanessian. Sarkissian said that this exhibition "is a slice of Vicki Hovanessian's resolute commitment in spreading the art creativity of Yerevan around the world."
Hovanessian said that the WGCC asked her to organize the art exhibition. "The reason I accepted was because I really believe in the work and mission of this selfless and dedicated group of women," she said. "My mission in showcasing these artists from Armenia, with whom I've been working for 15 years, is to keep them on the soil of their homeland."
Rita Oscherician said the event was characterized by "warm fellowship, friendship and dedication to future goals. It strengthened our organization's resolve to mentor young women and bring them into the mainstream of church activities."
