Board of Directors Meet
Members of the St. Nersess Board of Directors met the morning of November 13 in the St. Nersess Library for their semi-annual board meeting. The meeting was presided over by the V. Rev. Fr. Mesrop Parsamyan, Primate of the Eastern Diocese and President of the Board of Directors, who attended by Zoom.
New board members elected in the Spring include Maria Stepanian, who will serve as assistant secretary, Dn. Diran Jebejian, Dr. Andre Markarian, Doug Tashjian, and Michael Zeytoonian. An Emeritus Committee has also been formed, including the Rev. Fr. Karekin Kasparian, Michael Haratunian, Shahe Jebejian, Hagop Kouyoumdjian, and Kevork Toroyan.
In his report, the Rev. Fr. Mardiros Chevian, dean, announced there are five full-time students studying for the priesthood, two full-time students preparing for other ministries, and three part-time students. He shared that Bishop Vahan Hovhanessian has returned to the seminary as a member of the faculty and is teaching Biblical Studies. He also discussed the Vocal Training (funded by Dean Shahinian, Esq) now offered to the students on a weekly basis by a professional voice instructor.
Fr. Mardiros mentioned the successful summer conferences, including the Deacons’ Training in Jerusalem; the Fall lecture series offered to the public on Zoom; and the upcoming December clergy continuing education workshop on “Companionship Model of Caregiving” with presenters Dn. Yervant Kutchukian and Rami Shami.
Karnig Durgarian, board chairperson, introduced the topic of creating committees to actively support the work of the seminary, including development and promotion, facilities and capital improvements, and laws and governance committees.
In addition, Karen Dilimetin, assistant treasurer, presented the seminary’s financial report. Donna Sirounian, fundraising & marketing director, presented a comprehensive development report which included all seminary fundraisers and marketing strategies. Moving forward, the board voted to convene three times a year, instead of two, with the next meeting scheduled for late winter and then again during graduation weekend in May.
