WHAT IS THE NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY

Dear Brothers and Sisters, 

Today I would like to reflect on the NRA, which has begun this afternoon, hosted by St. Sarkis Church in Douglaston, New York. Please don’t get the false impression that we are gathering in a church as the N[ational] R[ifle] A[ssociation], but as the National Representative Assembly. Frankly speaking, we too use a weapon, with one major difference; ours is a spiritual one, the Word of God, the Gospel that brings life, hope, and joy rather than death, hatred, frustration, and lamentation.  

After this clarification, let’s familiarize ourselves with its authority and mission. The NRA is the highest body governing the churches under the jurisdiction of the Prelacy. It is comprised of delegates representing the communities, each according to their membership. The communities that have less than a hundred members are entitled to have two delegates, and thereafter one delegate is added for every hundred members. Large communities do not have the right to more than seven delegates.       

The NRA is endowed with the authority to supervise and control through the Religious and Executive Councils the ecclesiastical and administrative bodies under its jurisdiction.  

Let’s take a look at how the NRA works over its three days of sessions. The Prelacy, being part of the large family of the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia, receives His Holiness Aram I’s blessing and message to the delegates, followed by messages by the Prelate and the Executive Council Chairman, who presents an overview of the annual activities.  

Each year, the Assembly adopts several themes proposed by the Executive Council to be discussed in separate panels. Following day-long discussions, each panel presents its conclusions and submits draft resolutions for approval by the Assembly. Elections are held during the final days. 

Along with administrative matters, during the Assembly the delegates and guests participate in morning and evening services and a Badarak, which will be held today on the occasion of the feast of the Ascension, as well as a banquet, during which the Prelacy distributes prestigious awards to outstanding servants of the communities.      

The delegates, upon their return to their communities, inform their boards and general membership meetings about the Assembly.  

We would like to thank all our communities for their steadfast financial and moral support as well as their valuable input in the realization of our spiritual, cultural, and social goals.