The Annual Meeting of the Armenian Evangelical World Council (AEWC) was held on August 4 and 5–2000 at the Armenian Evangelical Emmanuel Church of Aleppo–Syria. The meeting was attended by the following members of the Council: Revs. Megerdich Karagoezian and Avedis Boynerian–representing the Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East (UAECNE); Rev Joel Mikaelian–representing the Armenia Evangelical Union of France (AEUF); Rev. Dr. Vahan Tootikian–representing the Armenian Evangelical Union of North America (AEUNA); and Rev. Movses B. Janbazian–the representative of the Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA) and the Stephen Philibosian Foundation (SPF).
The participants in the meeting deliberated on a number of old and new agenda items–as well as discussed issues related to the life–witness and service of the Armenian Evangelical Churches worldwide. Highlights of the agenda included: progress report on the preparation of a common Armenian Evangelical Pastors’ Handbook; report on the revision of the common Armenian Evangelical Statement of Faith adopted in 1997; celebration of the 1700th anniversary of adoption of Christianity as the state religion of Armenia; revision of the bylaws of the Council; clarifying and strengthening of the Armenian and Evangelical identity of the member churches of the Council; enhancement of the fellowship and cooperation between member churches; and reports from the AMAA and member church unions represented at the meeting.
The importance of celebrating the 1700th anniversary of the Christianization of Armenia was again stressed at the Council’s meeting. It was reemphasized that Armenian Evangelicals everywhere mark this important milestone with special activities aimed at preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ to our people–and helping Armenia’s rededicate themselves to the faith of their forebears. It was also emphasized the Armenian Evangelicals should participate on next year’s Armenian Evangelical youth conference to be held in Armenia; organize pilgrimage tours to our homeland; hold special celebratory activities; and take part as much as possible in the local celebrations organized by the Armenian Apostolic "Mother" Church.
Since the officers of the AEWC are elected rotationally from the constituting bodies–the participants in the meeting also elected the new officers of AEWC for biennial 2000-2002 as follows: Rev. Dr. Vahan Tootikian–President (AEUNA); Rev. Megerdich Karagoezian–Vice President (UAECNE); Rev. Gilbert Leonian–Secretary (AEUF); Mr. George Philibosian–Treasurer. The Executive Committee of the Council will be constituted by these officers and Rev. Movses B. Janbazian–representing the AMAA–and Rev. Rene Leonian–the Representative of the Evangelical Church Unions of Armenian and Eurasia.
The Armenian Evangelical World Council is the worldwide fellowship of the Armenian Evangelical church unions and major service organizations. It was organized in 1981 to pursue the purposes of the former Armenian Evangelical Inter-Union Council–to affirm and strengthen the uniting bonds between Armenian Evangelical churches–and to enhance the witness and service of Armenian Evangelicals worldwide.
The AEWC provides Armenian Evangelical churches an effective forum for dialogue–fellowship and cooperation.
Executive Committee
Armenian Evangelical World Council