Window Quarterly
Vol. 3, No. 2, 1993
Copyright 1993

[Permission is granted to use, print, reproduce this article 
provided the following acknowledgment is given:  From 
Window Quarterly 3, 2 (1993); ACRAG c. 1993. 

***

ENGLISH AS THE LANGUAGE OF THE CHURCH IN 
AMERICA

by Ara Dolarian

The American born Armenians who do not have the 
Armenian language skills are no less Armenians than those 
who speak the language. Both share the same culture, 
traditions and religious heritage. Both are the children of the 
fortunate survivors of the tragic events of 19th and early 20th 
century. They are also potentially the catalysts that will keep 
the Armenian Church alive in the United States.
	
Regrettably, most American Armenian do not have the 
Armenian language skills. They are unable to fully 
participate in the practice of their religion. Though the doors 
of the Church are open, in reality, the doors are closed since 
the English speaking population does not understand the 
Church's religious rites and teachings. Through the years, the 
Church has protected and preserved our religious, cultural 
and national identity. It has been the repository of the 
wisdom, truths, and philosophical thoughts that have 
historically bound the Armenian Christian community 
together.
	
Most Armenian speaking people believe that preserving the 
Armenian language in the practice of the religion is a key 
factor in the preservation of the Armenian Church and the 
perpetuation of the Armenian culture. Unfortunately, the 
Armenian language no longer unites the Armenian 
community. The lack of Armenian language skills prevents 
the English speaking population from becoming 
meaningfully involved in the Church. If the Church hopes to 
continue its role to teach, unify, and lead its followers in 
worship, the Church must recognize and understand the 
changing characteristics of American Armenians and 
celebrate the Church's services in English. This is critical if 
the American Armenians are to retain their identification 
with the Church and perpetuate it in this country.
	
The questions of language would not have been a factor had 
we as Americans lived in a closed Armenian community 
where Armenian was the spoken language. That is not 
possible or desirable if the American Armenian is to be a 
participant in the mainstream of the American society.
	
The Church's hierarchy must decide whether it wishes to 
reach out to the American Armenian population. It must 
decide if it wants to be alive in the lives of these children of 
the Church. Without such an effort on the part of the Church, 
the assimilation process into American congregations will 
continue to accelerate.
	
The American churches have and continue to aggressively 
reach out to attract the American Armenians to their 
congregations. They clearly and convincingly communicate 
those fundamental Christian teachings which our people 
need. In as much as the Armenian Church has been unable to 
satisfy the religious aspirations of many American born, they 
have no alternative but to go with those who worship in a 
meaningful and relevant way.
	
Though the American born Armenians may have strong 
emotional and intellectual ties with their background, as they 
become more integrated into the mainstream of American 
society, their identification with their past becomes more 
difficult to maintain.
	
The power of the dominant American culture is undeniably 
powerful, rich and attractive. It offers the population all the 
rights and options a free society can offer. Among those is 
religious freedom. The concept of religious freedom must be 
clearly appreciated as a golden opportunity for the Armenian 
Church. It offers the freedom to enhance and expand our 
Church's mission. It would seem to be in the Church's best 
interest to take advantage of this long awaited opportunity to 
reestablish our faith in the lives of the American born 
Armenian and communicate the Church's understandings 
with its people.
	
The Armenians have withstood impossible obstacles and 
challenges throughout their history and sustained themselves 
with their Christian faith. The contemporary American 
culture places another challenge at the door of the Church. 
Meeting this obstacle and overcoming it will assure it a more 
meaningful and productive future in this part of the world.

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