Primate Engages Parish Leaders in Diocese-Wide Community Building Initiative

BURBANK — The Primate of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church recently completed an extensive series of meetings with parish leaders throughout the Diocese, as part of the Diocese’s continuing efforts to strengthen parish life and communities.

Between May and July 2026, His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian—through 20 separate in-person and virtual meetings—met with over 250 pastors, Parish Council members, ministry and parish committee leaders, deacons, and active parish volunteers.

The meetings were part of the Diocese’s Community Building initiative, developed under its Institutional Innovation Initiative to strengthen sustainable parish membership and leadership. Dr. Hratch Tchilingirian, Director of Institutional Innovation, joined the Primate in the meetings, which were held primarily via Zoom. Each session included remarks by the Primate, a presentation by Dr. Tchilingirian, and an open discussion with parish leaders.

The initiative builds on the Diocese’s Mission, Vision and Values and emphasizes that a vibrant church community requires more than programs and events. Community-building is understood as an essential expression of the Church’s mission—one that depends on intentional outreach, meaningful relationships, active participation and a strong sense of belonging.

Throughout the meetings, the Diocese’s three interconnected pillars of Faith, Fellowship, and Heritage were emphasized. These pillars are at the core of efforts to strengthen evangelization and spiritual formation, create welcoming and engaged parish communities, and preserve Armenian Christian identity through ministry, service, culture, and education.

The discussions also focused on four areas that are essential to the vitality of parish communities: (a) community-building, (b) leadership development, (c) stewardship and sustainability, and (d) strategic planning. Parish leaders explored ways to make these focal areas part of their ongoing agenda and periodic deliberations.

“A central message of the Community Building initiative is that sustainable parish membership begins with meaningful connections,” explained Dr. Tchilingirian. “The parish is first and foremost a community of faith, not simply a building or an organization, but essentially a community of people who share a common Christian faith and Armenian heritage.”

The Primate’s meetings were designed to lead to practical parish-level action, rather than concluding with discussion alone. Each participating parish was asked to identify in the coming months two or three priority areas for community-building and develop practical plans for implementing them over the next 12 to 18 months. Parishes were also encouraged to strengthen collaboration among clergy, Parish Councils, ministry leaders and parishioners.

The meetings included parishes throughout California as well as Arizona, Colorado, Oregon and Washington, reflecting the geographic breadth and diversity of the Western Diocese.