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Challenges and Priorities 217

ethical and moral issues confronting contem-
porary societies. It is called to study these
matters from the perspectives of theology,
medicine, psychology, and pastoral respon-
sibility; it must guide its faithful in an
awareness-building process through teaching
and preaching; and it must provide pastoral
care whenever and wherever necessary.
We are no longer a local church and a
homogeneous society. We are now a church
and a nation without borders. Our ways of
life are becoming increasingly diversified;
our traditions and values, which largely
ensure our national, ecclesial, and cultural
identity, are changing. Indeed, we are ex-
periencing a paradigm shift. Global and
contextual approaches and old and new
perspectives are in tension. It is no longer
possible to preserve the old way, which, in
any case, is not a credible way of ensuring
the integrity and vitality of our Church. We
must not allow our fears to hinder us from
creative interaction with the new realities
that surround us. Christianity should not
become a treasury of ancient traditions to be
simply preserved; it should be a quality of
life in Christ that is constantly renewed.
Being church in the midst of the com-
plexities of the world is a challenge. The Ar-
menian Church must take this challenge very
seriously, and it must respond to the impera-
tive of renewal boldly and responsibly.