February 16, 2006

To: Pastors, Boards of Trustees, and Sunday School Directors
Re: National Conference for Christian Educators

By now I trust you and your Sunday School teachers have seen the Program for the upcoming Conference for Christian Educators, scheduled to take place at The Salvation Army Wonderland Conference Center in Sharon, Massachusetts, on the weekend of March 17-19, 2006.

It is our hope and expectation that you are facilitating the participation of your teachers.

We consider the Sunday School teachers as one of our most valued assets. The teachers are the single most important ingredient in any effective Sunday School program. Time, energy and money invested in our teachers is the most prudent educational investment, for in due time it will yield fruits that would benefit our faith community at large. It is for that reason that we have directed the Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC) to provide seminars and workshops for our teachers on national and local levels.

These programs are available for your teachers because they need them. Teachers’ continuing education is not an elective nor is it negotiable. The Prelacy Sunday School guidelines require that our teachers attend training seminars. It is through such educational programs that our teachers would grow and deepen their understanding and commitment to the essential content of our Armenian Orthodox Christian faith, the faith that they are required to plant in the hearts and minds of our new generation.

We, therefore, urge you to do your utmost to encourage your teachers to attend this Conference as well as promote this program in your parish:

  • Give all your teachers the opportunity to attend this event. Although we expect all our teachers to attend, we recognize however that some will not be able to attend for legitimate reasons.
  • If a large percentage of your teachers can attend, we suggest that you close the Sunday School. No teacher should be discouraged from attending because you have to keep the Sunday School open. This action will send a huge message to the Sunday School students and to their parents, not to mention to the whole community, that our Church takes Christian education very seriously.
  • Facilitate your teachers’ attendance.
  • Place an announcement in your Sunday bulletin and on your website that the Prelacy is sponsoring a National Conference for Sunday School Teachers, with a link to the conference page on our website.
  • Seek out potential Sunday School teachers to attend.

If you have any questions, contact Deacon Shant Kazanjian, the Director of AREC 212.689.7781/4481 or arec@armenianprelacy.org.

Thank you for your partnership in this ministry and may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

Prayerfully,

Archbishop Oshagan
Prelate