Women are not excluded from “most important functions” of church
Published: Thursday August 27, 2009
Sir:
Simon Y. Balian, in addition to being an attorney (as noted by the editor), is a former celibate priest of the Armenian Church (Fr. Yeznik), who abandoned his rank and resigned from the priesthood. ("The exclusion of women from the priesthood").
I unequivocally disagree with Mr. Balian's assertion that Armenian women are excluded from the "most important functions" of the Armenian Church. Ordination to a clerical rank is not the only way one can serve the Armenian Church and people. I am surprised Mr. Balian has conveniently disregarded this fact, since I doubt that as a former priest and current layperson, he believes that he no longer serves the Church.
His statement further relegates the countless contributions made by women to a lesser status, solely because they cannot offer Holy Communion and the other sacraments. Service to our faithful comes in many forms, and the mission of the Church - to lead people to God - is not accomplished by our clergy alone. It is the combined efforts of all our faithful, ordained and lay, men and women, who work tirelessly on this rewarding task.
Finally, if Mr. Balian is so concerned with what he regards as the plight of dedicated and supportive Armenian women, then perhaps he should have maintained his rank, remained a member of the clergy, and raised this issue to the hierarchy of the Church from within, at the numerous opportunities afforded to the celibate clergy to interact with our primates, patriarchs, and the Catholicos of All Armenians.
Very truly yours,
Paula Devejian
Vagharshapat, Armenia
The writer, who is married to a priest, serves as Internet development director at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and an Armenian Church representative at the World Council of Churches Central Committee.

International

The issue seems to be whether or not one deems any other type of service or ministry in the church as "equal" to that of the priesthood. According to Yn. Devejian, her service to the church (or the service of any other layperson) is just as sacred as her husband's. However, there remains a slight theological problem: serving the church as, say, an internet developer is not sacramentally recognized. One is not consecrated - sealed with holy muron and set aside for a holy purpose - ordained - to be an internet developer, or a Sunday School teacher, or Parish Council member, or any other lay position of "equal leadership." So those women who feel called to serve the church in a deep, profound way, who feel that God is calling them to set their lives aside for a holy purpose, cannot respond to that call because the church does not recognize it.
By Phoebe16 at August 27, 2009