Statement by The Participants of the international conference “The church and the family in the 21st century: Values and challenges”
10.10.2019
With the blessings and under the high patronage of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, the International Conference entitled “The Church and the Family in the 21st Century: Values and Challenges” was held in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, the spiritual center of the Armenian Apostolic Church from October 9 to 10, 2019 under the slogan "Strong Family – Powerful Homeland" which is aimed to emphasize once again, through reports and discussions, the importance of the Christian perception of family and marriage in modern society, considering with appreciation those families, which follow the family spiritual traditions and values with loyalty and devotion.
The preservation and dissemination of the Christian family model and the implementation of spiritual care for the family is of key importance to the Church mission. Accordingly, taking into account the demands and challenges of the 21 st century, the conference reflected on the broad public perceptions of the family and Christian values, as well as their underlying issues, summarizing the materials in question in the following thematic divisions: “Christian Family and Modern Challenges" and "The Role of the Church and the State in Preserving and Strengthening the Christian Family".
As a result of their observations and discussions, the participants of the International Conference came to the following conclusions:
1. According to the Christian perception, the family is invariably and necessarily anchored in God's revelation and message in the Bible (Gen. 1,28 Mt. 19,1-12, Luk. 16,18, Mark 10. 6-9). Christian perceptions of family and family relations are based not upon historical-cultural factors, human ideologies and principles, but on God’s true revelation. Therefore, the family is the committed union of man and woman, where the God-given commandment "And the two shall become one flesh" (Mark 10:9) is shaped by overcoming your "Ego". The family, as a social institution consecrated by the divine message, is called for the natural growth and perfection of the human race, “Be fruitful and multiply; populate the earth abundantly and multiply in it" (Gen. 1.28).
2. Globalization processes in the modern world create serious challenges to the preservation of value systems, including family values of nations endangering their existence or distorting them. In this context, manifestations, wich are incompatible with orthodox Christian perceptions, emerge, which deprive marriage of the content and meaning of a complete and inseparable union of men and women, causing breakdown of families, frustration of spouses and children.
3. In order to overcome the crisis of the family nature and functions in the 21 st century, it is necessary to unite the efforts of the Church and the State for the preservation of family values and the spiritual upbringing of society. A perception must be rooted in the public that balanced and effective solutions need to be found in keeping with current demands and challenges in order to reconsider the role of the Church and the clergy in strengthening the Christian family, providing spiritual nourishment and bringing up the society.
Taking into account current demands and challenges, it is necessary to find balanced and effective solutions to re-evaluate the role of the Church and the clergy to strengthening of the Christian family, providing spiritual nourishment, and upbringing of the community.
