Armenian Clergy Should Maintain Independence From State Interests
A seat at the table requires an independent voice
An opinion piece from The Armenian Weekly examines the September 16 meeting between Armenian spiritual leaders and President Donald Trump at the White House, questioning the institutional dynamics of the gathering.
While acknowledging that Armenian clergy should have access to U.S. policymakers, the article argues that American-Armenian churches risk compromising their independence when foreign governments organize and frame such meetings. The gathering included leaders from the Eastern and Western Dioceses of the Armenian Apostolic Church, the Catholicosate of Cilicia prelacies, the Armenian Catholic Eparch, and Armenian Evangelical representatives.
The article contends that Armenian-American religious institutions are rooted in American civic life and maintain moral obligations beyond any single government's diplomatic objectives. It calls for clear institutional boundaries, suggesting that churches should ordinarily control their own participation, agenda and messaging rather than serve as guests within a diplomatic program.
