Youth Forum #1: Dare to Step Up

On Sunday 31 August some 30 Church youth participated in a forum to discuss how the Church can bring youth closer into its fold by exploring the attitudes and outlook of youth today.

The forum was presided by His Grace Bishop Haigazoun Najarian with Reverend Father Avetis Hambardzumyan, representatives from the Church Council and facilitators of youth programs also present.

The afternoon commenced with a Q&A session as youth candidly shared their opinions, concerns, hopes, needs and aspirations demonstrating a keen desire to become more closely connected to their Church. A presentation by two youth who attended the Pan-Armenian Church Youth meetings in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin in July, told of their personal experiences with counterparts, inspired and encouraged to learn our holy traditions and faith doctrines, to develop bonds with other dioceses and connect more closely with Holy Etchmiadzin.

Group brainstorming sessions produced a wealth of information to be analysed in preparation for a second forum. In a move forward, ten enthusiastic young adults ‘dared to step up’ to form the new ACYA committee and to establish the formal structure of the youth body.

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