National Workshop on Christian Unity
Equipping Church Leaders in the Quest for Christian Unity
Sponsored by the National Ecumenical Officers Association

Featured Speakers

P  R  E  A  C  H  E  R:    O  P  E  N  I  N  G    P  R  A  Y  E  R    S  E  R  V  I  C  E
Armenian Bishop Vicken Aykazian,
President Elect of the National Council

of Churches of Christ in the USA

Bishop Vicken Aykazian is the legate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern) in Washington, and ecumenical officer.  He studied theology at the Armenian Patriarchate in Jerusalem and was ordained a deacon in 1968 and later a celibate priest in 1971. 

In 1992, His Holiness Vasken I, Catholicos of All Armenians at Holy Echmiadzin in Armenia, ordained him a bishop.  He has also served as Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church in Switzerland from 1992 to 1996. As pastor of the Armenian Church of Switzerland from 1980 to 1992, he established and organized new church communities in Zurich, Bern, Kreazlingen and Lugano. 

Bishop Aykazian was born in Siirt, Turkey, and is fluent in English, Armenian, French and Turkish. Bishop, who holds a Ph.D in history and is working on a second Ph.D in theology at Catholic University in Washington, is an active ecumenist. In addition to his contributions to the National Council of Churches as a member of the Governing Board, he has been active in the World Council of Churches as a member of the Mission and Evangelism Unit, the Orthodox Task Force and the Central Committee. 

Bishop Aykazian is President Elect of the National Council of Churches USA, and is a leading force for ecumenical cooperation among Christians in the United States. The NCC’s member faith groups — representing a wide spectrum of Protestant, Anglican, Orthodox, historic African American and Living Peace churches – include 45 million persons in more than 100,000 local congregations across the nation.

K  E  Y  N  O  T  E     S  P  E  A  K  E  R
Brother Jeffrey Gros, FSC

Professor of Church History,
Memphis Theological Seminary

--sponsored by The Order of St. Lazarus

Brother Jeffrey Gros, FSC, has provided thirty years of ministry in the field of Ecumenism. He began his work in the Diocese of Memphis as an ecumenical officer, then served ten years as Director of Faith and Order for the National Council of Churches, and then 14 years as Associate Director of the Secretariat for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Brother Gros is currently a professor of Church History at Memphis Theological Seminary.

Brother Gros received a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Masters of Education (Biology Education) degree from St. Mary’s College in Winona, Minnesota. He earned a Masters degree in Theology from Marquette University and a Ph.D in Theology from Fordham University.

Brother Gros has been involved in editing numerous books including: Deepening Communion (co-edited with William Rusch, US Catholic Conference, 1998); Introduction to Ecumenism (with Ann Riggs, Eamon McManus, New York: Paulist Press, 1998); The Church as Koinonia of Salvation; Its Structures and Ministries (co-edited with Randall Lee, Washington/Chicago: USCCB/Augsburg-Fortress, 2000); Growing Concensus II (co-edited with Lydia Veliko, Washington: USCCB, 2005) and The Ecumenical Christian Dialogues and the Catechism of the Catholic Church (coedited with Daniel Mulhall, Paulist, 2006).

Brother Gros has many professional memberships including the Catholic Theological Society of America (former Board Member), College Theological Society, National Association of Evangelicals, National Association of Diocesan Ecumenical Officers (Associate), Society for Pentecostal Studies, and the North American Academy of Ecumenists (former Board Member).

He is well-known to the National Workshop on Christian Unity and has spoken to a wide range of religious groups including the American Academy of Religions, College Theological Society, Faith and Order Commission USA, and Councils of Churches in various states and many varied religious and educational groups throughout the world.

B  I  B  L  E    S  T  U  D  Y    L  E  A  D  E  R
Brenda Girton-Mitchell

Associate General Secretary for Justice and Advocacy, National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA

--sponsored by the American Bible Society

The Reverend Brenda Girton-Mitchell is a native of the state of Indiana. She is inspired in her ministry by a very supportive spouse, Mr. James A. Mitchell and resides in Silver Spring, Maryland.

The Reverend Girton-Mitchell received a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education from Ball State University and a Masters degree from Indiana/Purdue University in Indianapolis. She graduated with honors from Chicago Kent College of Law. Ms. Girton-Mitchell has been admitted to the Bar in the State of Illinois, the District of Columbia and to the United States Supreme Court. She received her Master of Divinity degree from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC.

The Reverend Girton-Mitchell was licensed to preach in 1998, and was ordained at Metropolitan Baptist Church in Washington, DC in 2004 and now serves as Minister for Christian Discipleship, a member of the Metropolitan Community Development Corporation, and the Millennium Building Committee.

The Reverend Girton-Mitchell is a life member of the National Council of Negro Women, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, and the Washington Urban League. She also holds membership in the National Bar Association, Washington Bar Association, Women’s Bar Association, and is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. She serves as chaplain for the National Bar Association and is on the Board of Wesley Theological Seminary.

The Reverend Girton-Mitchell has received numerous awards including the National Bar Association Presidential Award, the Charlotte Ray Award, and she is the recipient of the Sagamore of the Wabash Award, the highest award given to any civilian by the State of Indiana.

  T H U R S D A Y   S P E A K E R   P A N E L / D I S C U S S I O N  
"How Faith Influences Christians

in Political Office"

A Moderator and Four Panel Members

Representing Four Perspectives

--Two panelists who have been elected members of Congress and members of Christian Churches, one of whom is confirmed: The Honorable John LaFalce, former Congressman from Buffalo, NY;  

--The Reverend Elenora Giddings-Ivory, Director of the Washington, DC Office of the Presbyterian Church, responsible for its advocacy;

-- A pastor who has in his congregation elected political leaders.

Holding our National Workshop in the Washington area turns our attention to political issues related to faith. The intersection of faith and politics has often become contentious on the American scene, and how the faith of people in political life influences their political decisions is not a simple issue. Questioned and criticized or approved and applauded, issues have the potential of working against an ecumenical understanding of how churches come together in unity and accord. We hope, in our panel, to go beyond simplistic divisions to the more basic and personal questions of the influence of faith on those who make political and juridical decisions for our society.

To contact us:

Communications and Public Relations Committee Chair, Fr. Don Rooney

Phone: 540-373-6491
Fax: 540-373-0251
Email: click here

NWCU2007 Communications
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