Join us for a virtual Webinar on Zoom

with Rev. Dr. Harotune Selimian

ARMENIAN CONGREGATIONALISM: PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE

Wed, Nov 12, 1-2 pm EST // 6-7 pm GMT

co-sponsored by the Congregational Library & Archives

and Theological Commission of the International Congregational Fellowship

This event is free and open to all, but registration is required at this link:

https://congregationallibrary.org/events/armenian-congregationalism?fbclid=IwY2xjawNaIHZleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFidGY0U2NDTDVZSkRteGtjAR5HEshsprDQMcdUoBUp3MreV9muDmSSfnCLVHjedEKbUTxt2mXbpY81z2n-5Q_aem_rv6NYyEcOTlIlWrbyIrHCg

Program Description

In this presentation, Dr. Haroutune Selimian will explore the historical and theological foundations of Armenian Congregationalism, with particular focus on how our community has persevered through crisis. Drawing from church archives, the Armenian Evangelical press of the 19th and 20th centuries, and his own experience as pastor of the Bethel Church in Aleppo, he will reflect on the enduring convictions that have shaped our identity: congregational polity, the authority of Scripture, local witness, and the call to faithful resilience.

Our churches have walked through genocide, exile, war, and systemic marginalization. Yet, the values at the heart of our Congregational tradition, freedom of conscience, covenantal fellowship, and Christ-centered service, have not only survived but deepened. Dr. Selimian will share how these values continue to sustain our ministry in Syria today, especially amid the overlapping crises of displacement, economic collapse, and regional instability.

This talk also looks forward. How can a small, war-torn church continue to be a living theology of presence? How do we remain rooted in our biblical convictions while adapting to the future needs of our people and region? Dr. Selimian hopes to offer not only historical insights, but also a theological framework and practical testimony that resonate with Congregationalists around the world.

Rev. Dr. Haroutune Selimian

Rev. Dr. Haroutune Selimian is a scholar-pastor who has led the Armenian Evangelical Bethel Church of Aleppo since 1993. He serves as President of the Armenian Protestant Community in Syria and holds a Ph.D. in historical sciences from Yerevan State University. His academic work focuses on the 19th-century Armenian Evangelical movement, and he actively engages in interfaith and ecumenical dialogue across the region. A graduate of Near East School of Theology and McCormick Theological Seminary, he is Moderator of the International Congregational Fellowship and a key voice for peace building, theological reflection, and bridge-building amid displacement and crisis.