Diakonia and diaconal education in the programmes of Armenia Round Table

 An international conference dedicated to the modern developments of diaconal work and the present state and perspectives for development of the diaconal education took place under high patronage of His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenian at Gevorgyan Theological Academy in Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin through November 27-28, 2012.
 
About 40 people, representatives of different confessional churches, Academia and faith-based organizations from Great Britain, Kirgizstan, Belarus, Russia, and Armenia attended the conference. The Armenian part was represented by the Church leaders of the Armenian Apostolic Church and Armenian Catholic Church (AAC), Gevorgyan Theological Academy, different church structures, YSU Theology and Sociology Departments, WorldVision and UMCOR, etc.
 
The participants and speakers made presentations on the peculiarities of the diaconal work in different countries and in the context of various confessional traditions, the current developments and practices in the world and in Armenia. The professors of the Gevorgyan Theological Academy and the YSU Theology and Sociology faculties presented the history of diakonia in Armenia, current state of the diaconal education and teaching of the social work in the frame of secular disciplines, discussed the perspectives for development of the diaconal education curricula.
 
The Conference was organized with the support of the UNFPA Armenia and East Foundation.