Page 210 - THE ARMENIAN CHURCH_Neat

Challenges and Priorities 211

An active spiritual ministry
Historical factors have made the Ar-
menian Church a powerful national insti-
tution, which has overshadowed its spiritual
identity and evangelistic task. As a com-
munity of faith, the Church's identifiable
image needs to be further sharpened, its
ecclesial mission refocused, and its diaconal
ministry reinvigorated. This shift of emphasis
from a national to a spiritual mission must
include the following considerations:
The Armenian Church must concentrate
its full energy on inner evangelism, social
service, Christian education, theological and
ministerial formation, and community build-
ing. Concerns of a mainly national character,
though integral to the broader responsibility
of the Church, particularly in the diaspora,
should not be given pre-eminence on the
agenda of its ministry.
The primary emphasis of the Church’s
mission must be to deepen Christian faith in
the daily life of its people and nurture com-
munity life with Gospel values. Communism
in Armenia and secularism in the diaspora
have rendered the Christian faith almost
nominal. The growing culture of globaliza-
tion and secularism is questioning the cre-
dibility and relevance of Christian faith. The
Armenian Church should embark with new
vigor on a new apostolate.