The Uniting Church in Australia was recently honoured with the Armenian National Committee of Australia’s Freedom Award at the Annual Banquet of the Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC Australia) in Sydney.

On Friday 4 November 2016, Stuart McMillan, president of The Uniting Church in Australia Assembly and Rev. Dr Krikor Youmshajekian, President of the Armenian Missionary Association of Australia and Minister of St. Andrew’s Uniting Church, Longueville, accepted the Award for the Church. The Award, one of several honours to be handed out on the night, was presented by ANC Australia Honorary Chairman, Greg Soghomonian and ANC America Chairman, Raffi Hamparian.

The Armenian National Committee Freedom award is presented to an individual or organization that has championed human rights, including but not limited to the recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

In 2015 The Uniting Church in Australia’s 14th Assembly passed a unanimous motion recognising the Armenian Genocide. The motion was moved by Reverend Dr. Krikor Youmshajekian.

At the Banquet Mr McMillan thanked ANC Australia for the honour, confirming that the Uniting Church was delivering on their promise to encourage the Federal government of Australia to recognise the Armenian Genocide. “I wrote to the Prime Minister and urged, on behalf of the Uniting Church in Australia, that his government recognises the Armenian Genocide,” said McMillan.

Thousands of Armenians survived the Armenian Genocide through the work of the Uniting Church in Australia. In 1915 The Armenian Relief Fund of Australian was established by Rev John Ferguson, then Minister of St. Stephen’s Church Macquarie Street, Sydney.

The NCCA would like to congratulate The Uniting Church on being honoured with the Freedom Award and providing leadership on behalf of Armenians for over 100 years.