The Diocese
Posted: 10/08/2026
As part of its ongoing Institutional Innovation Initiative, the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America has developed a growing collection of practical resources, guidebooks, training materials, and reports designed to strengthen parish life, clergy ministry, lay leadership, and community engagement.
Launched under the leadership of His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate, the initiative seeks to translate the mission of the Armenian Church into practical tools that respond to the changing needs of parishes and communities. At its heart is the principle that the Church is not only a place people visit on Sundays but a way of life—rooted in Christian faith and inspired by Armenian heritage, as the Diocese’s mission clearly emphasizes.
A major focus has been parish leadership. The Parish Council Guidebook, published in English and Armenian, provides an orientation to Church governance, leadership responsibilities, parish best practices, committee development, and diocesan and parish bylaws. The Innovating Our Parish guidebook offers practical approaches to faith formation, leadership development, cultural engagement, fellowship, service, and youth participation, while Practical Ideas for Community Building: 65 Suggestions for Parish Leaders provides adaptable ideas for strengthening participation and belonging.
Resources have also been developed for specific ministries. Faith in Action: Innovating Our Parish Ladies Society encourages greater emphasis on spiritual fellowship and Christian service. The 125-page Deacons & Altar Servers Manual brings together theological, liturgical, historical, and practical material to strengthen formation and service at the altar.
Clergy development is another important component. The Diocese’s Evangelism (Աւետարանչութիւն) program brings together the work of the 2026 Clergy Conference and subsequent clergy discussions as part of a three-year focus on renewing the Church’s evangelizing mission. The Diocese has also developed Criteria and Procedures for Recruitment of Candidates and Already Ordained Clergy, establishing spiritual, academic, personal, and professional standards for clergy recruitment.
Alongside these resources, a series of Institutional Innovation reports documents the Diocese’s broader process of renewal. The reports cover the development of the Mission, Vision and Values, the Primate’s 2026 parish leadership meetings, education and leadership initiatives, parish visioning workshops, and other areas of institutional development.
The proposed Innovation & Media Center looks toward new forms of engagement, envisioning a creative hub that uses storytelling, media, technology, and innovative programming to communicate Christian faith and Armenian heritage, particularly to younger generations.
“Turning the vision of our Diocese into action is at the heart of this work,” explained Archbishop Hovnan. “We are deeply grateful to Dr. Tchilingirian for his dedicated leadership and invaluable contributions to bringing this vision to life. Since taking the helm of our Institutional Innovation Initiative in 2024, he has brought fresh thinking and renewed energy to the mission of our Church,” added the Primate.
As the Western Diocese approaches its centennial in 2027, the Institutional Innovation Initiative is building on a century of ministry while equipping parishes and leaders for the challenges and opportunities of the decades ahead.
