Dear People of God of the Southwest California Synod,

May the peace of God prevail in the midst of uncertainty, hardship, and conflict.

We are aware in a variety of ways of the unfolding tragedy again befalling the Armenian people at the hands of others who wage war against them in their own homeland. Archbishop Hovnan Derderian of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America has written me and other judicatory leaders in Southern California, asking that we stand in solidarity with the Armenian people by offering our prayers to God and our support for a people again being so terribly violated. He also asks that we address the leaders of the United States as advocates on behalf of those being oppressed and killed in the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

I write to you this week, sharing with you Archbishop Derderian’s letter, my response, and a link to a pastoral letter also written this week by ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton. I ask you to join many others around the world as we pray for peace and an immediate resolution to this war that is being waged against an innocent and unsuspecting people. In the attached documents, you will find two prayers that you may choose to offer. I have written letters to both of the Senators and a number of Representatives in the State of California. I encourage you to also be an advocate on behalf of the Armenian people. With the significant number of Armenian people living in and around Glendale, perhaps an important communication might be sent to Congressman Adam Schiff of the 28th district (https://shiff.house.gov/contact) and other nearby districts. Please see the attachments below.

Thank you for any responses are able to offer.

Praying with you for the compassion and care of God,

Bishop Murray D. Finck
bishop.finck@socalsynod.com 

October 6, 2020

Archbishop Hovnan Derderian
Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America
3325 North Glenoaks Boulevard
Burbank, California 91504

Dear Archbishop Derderian,

May the peace and compassion of God continue to embrace you, along with those you serve and represent, in these troubling days. Thank you for your letter and the pleas for your people. I have been following the tragic news of the increased hostilities and aggression against the Armenian people in the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, of which the Southwest California Synod is a part, has addressed this crisis in consultation with our ecumenical partners and friends within the National Council of Churches of Christ (NCC) and the World Council of Churches (WCC). With so many other people and expressions of faith, we are outraged by the loss of innocent lives at the hands of Azerbaijan military forces and Syrian rebel fighters. We lament that these surprise assaults have also been supported by the government of Turkey. Along with the NCC, we ask the leaders of our nation to exercise needed measures of diplomacy that will lead to an imminent end of this conflict. We hope the United States Department of State will be instrumental in reaching a resolve that halts these attacks against the Armenian people in their homeland.

The NCC has asked its member churches to convey these messages to the elected officials of the United States. As Bishop of the Southwest California Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, I stand in solidarity with you and the Armenian people as we contact our governmental leaders and ask the congregations and people of the Southwest California Synod to do the same. I will also ask the leadership of our congregations to offer prayers this weekend and in the weeks ahead on behalf of a people suffering and dying because of these surprise attacks.

We pray with you the prayer that comes from your Armenian tradition:

“Listen to the cry that rises from every corner of this fragile earth, from our human family torn by violent conflict. It is to you we pray, O loving Lord--today, in the days to come, and always--for the repose of the departed, for the healing of the spiritual and moral afflictions tormenting us, and for an end to the violence that can only lead to ruin and destruction. Amen.” 

In addition to our advocacy, we will pray for you, for your church, and for your people, asking God to move the leaders of the nations involved to peaceful resolutions in the hours and days to come. May God bless and keep you and those you serve.

In the never-ending love of God,
Southwest California Synod of the ELCA| (818) 507-9591| news@socalsynod.org| www.socalsynod.org