HY RU EN
Asset 3

Loading

End of content No more pages to load

Your search did not match any articles

Uniting Church in Australia Recognizes Armenian Genocide

Stuart McMillan, President of Uniting Church in Australia (UCA) and Rev. Dr. KrikorYoumshajekian,the Chairperson of Sydney North Presbytery of UCA

The Uniting Church in Australia (UCA) has formally acknowledged that the 1915 Armenian massacres and forced deportations constitute Genocide. The UCA is the third denomination at a national level to acknowledge the Genocide that took place 100 years ago.

The UCA that came into being on June 22, 1977, after three denominations – Congregational Union in Australia, the Methodist Church of Australasia, and the Presbyterian Church of Australia joined together – is the third largest Christian denomination in Australia and the first church to be created in and of Australia. At present a total of 2,500 congregations worship at a Uniting Church, including many congregations that worship in languages other than English.

This year the 14th Triennial Assembly was held on July 12-18 in the Winthrop Hall University of Western Australia in Perth, where 300 members of the UCA elected by Synods and Presbyteries across the country met.

Rev. Dr. Krikor Youmshajekian addressing
the 14th Triennial Assembly of UCA

After the proposal was unanimously adopted, the President of the Assembly, Mr. Stuart McMillan, made a brief comment and asked all to stand for a minute of silence in commemoration of more the 1.5 million Armenians, who were the victims of the Genocide planed and implemented by the Ottoman Empire in the early 20th century.  By the request of Rev. Dr. Youmshajekian a prayer was offered by the NSW Moderator Rev. Dr. MyungHwa Park, both sung and spoken in Korean and English.

The 14th Assembly has also agreed to:

  • Commend the NSW and SA governments in acknowledging the Armenian Genocide and encourage the Federal and other state governments to do the same
  • Affirm the value of recognizing a date on or near the anniversary of the Armenian genocide, as a day of observance and commemoration of the Armenian Genocide.
  • Request the National Consultant Christian Unity, Doctrine and Worship to prepare

(a) A prayer to be provided for all congregations of the UCA for use on the day; and

(b) In consultation with others, educational and liturgical resources for congregations to use. 

Write a comment

If you found a typo you can notify us by selecting the text area and pressing CTRL+Enter