Conference in Dzakhgadzor, Armenia

On February 4-5, Dn. Timothy Aznavourian, along with five students, were given the opportunity by the dean of Gevorkian Theological Seminary, the Very Rev. Fr. Garegin Hambardzumyan, to take part in a two-day conference commissioned by the World Council of Churches, the United Nations, and the Armenian Round Table. The conference, entitled “Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and the Church”, took place in Tsakhkadzor, north of Yerevan.
 
In 2015, the UN ratified a set of 17 SDGs for each one of its member states to achieve by the year 2030. These SDGs include the elimination of poverty and hunger, the establishment of just and strong civil institutions, as well as taking action on climate change. The conference focused on the Church’s role in helping to achieve these goals for the Republic of Armenia.
 
Dn. Timothy was chosen to be the secretary for the group discussions. He presented the group’s finding during the conference, which suggested that the Church can assist in achieving these SDGs through its preaching, clergy leading by example in their everyday concern for climate change action, as well as including units on Green Theology in our Sunday Schools.
 
“I am very grateful to the organizers of Sustainable Development Goals and the Church as well as to the Very Rev. Fr. Garegin Hambardzumyan, for giving me this unique opportunity to participate in this conference. Furthermore, I am grateful for having been able to make connections with the people who are involved in achieving these SDGs in Armenia on a daily basis — an experience which will continue to influence the way I think theologically and pastorally,” remarked Dn. Timothy.