I would like to offer my comments on a passionate writing offered in your May 14, 2022 paper by Stepan Piligian.
I know Stepan. I like him, and I have high regard for his spiritual passion.
I do, however, feel that his essay, “The decline of our church requires an outreach revolution,” is void of a crucial first point or battleground location.
Mr. Piligian makes a “plea” to church leaders and feels that our “leaders are fearful of change.” As a parish priest, I can undoubtedly share that the foundation—the success of outreach, education, cultural enrichment and more—rests not first with clergy, rather with mom and dad, godparents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, who dutifully surround and control the environment of our children all week long.
Too many parents stop leading and encouraging church life once their children are married. We must always be their parents, leading them with love. The first finger pointing out deficiencies should not be aimed at administrative bodies, much less our holy sees. We all need to first examine our own family. Where have we been lately on Sundays? What do we donate to keep the church doors open, programs running, furthering clergy education and more?
I know of no clergyman who wouldn’t want a full house on Sunday, or people in and out of church during the week. I know too many clergymen who cannot break through the non-church agenda of well-intentioned, good parents. It’s a struggle for all of us, but it doesn’t emanate from 630 Second Ave and not from East 39th Street. Rather, it begins in our homes where mom and dad justifiably reign.
To their credit, there are diocesan and prelacy parishes that effectively shun the societal exit from keeping the Sabbath holy. In those communities, both large and small, you will find active parents and extended family members who, from the cradle, encourage church life to their young children. That’s where the spiritual battle is won.
Stepan, keep on writing. Keep the discussion going.
With prayers,
Reverend Fr. Kapriel Mouradjian
Pastor, St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Church
Binghamton, NY
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Bravo, Fr Kapriel. It starts in the home. Thank God I was one of the lucky ones. May God bless our clergy, their service and their efforts.
I have attended Armenian Churches since the 1950’s in Philadelphia, Rhode Island, Detroit, San Diego, Glendale, the San Fernando Valley, Fresno, Chicago, Washington DC, Albany, and a dozen other cities. I have watched generations of Priests, Bishops, Archbishops and Catholicoses. Online you can hear their sermons. Anyone can compare on line the sermons of an Armenian priest in Armenian or English and see with rare exception the poor quality of their teaching skills vs a standard world class priest,minister,rabbi,or teacher. Why do they have to be world class? Because what they are providing is access to salvation. Anyone today can type up sermon on YouTube any topic and passage of scripture and be presented with magnificent lectures and education. The Church is a second or even primary home to Armenians…their FATHER’S House. A community must be created and sustained to have people come home. That community is started and sustained by inspiration (the word inspiration means to breath in the spirit). Too often that community is created and sustained by individual families with strong generational ties. If you live in any community long enough, you will see your Priests say the same sermon at the same time each year.No wisdom is passed to long term congregants. No new education is given. No inspiration is given. As for role models, most priests receive cash for weddings, funerals, baptisms and keep the cash and never share it with the Church community NOR declare and pay taxes on that cash. Great role models for honesty. Let us look for Armenian Priests volunteering at Nursing Homes (they ask families for cash to visit) or hospices, or homeless shelters, or jails (yes to tend to Armenian and non Armenian souls). As for those with titles I will remind us all of the old Armenian village saying: “A title is a name one man gives to another man to distract them both from God”. The Church is very effective in doing just that.