Vahan Tootikian
News
Congressional Record: September 20, 2005 (Senate)]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
IN RECOGNITION OF REVEREND DR. VAHAN H. TOOTIKIAN
Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I would like to call my colleagues' attention to a distinguished religious leader in Michigan, Reverend Dr. Vahan H. Tootikian. Dr. Tootikian will be honored at a special testimonial banquet on Sunday, September 25, 2005, in Troy, MI. The tribute will mark his retirement from active parish ministry and will recognize his 30 years as pastor of the Armenian Congregational Church of Greater Detroit and his 46 years of Christian ministry. Since accepting his call to the ministry in 1959, Dr. Tootikian has used his talents and unique skills to encourage and enlighten people around the world. He has earned the respect and admiration of the Armenian and the greater religious community in Michigan, throughout North America, and around the world for his pastoral leadership and his commitment and devotion to service.
Born in Kessab, Syria in 1935, Dr. Tootikian received his primary education at the Armenian Evangelical schools in Syria and his secondary education in Beirut, Lebanon. He simultaneously earned a bachelor of art degree with honors and a bachelor of theology degree with honors from the American University of Beirut and the Near East School of Theology, respectively. He then served as pastor of Armenian Evangelical Churches in Syria and Egypt before coming to the United States in 1965 to pursue religious studies at Hartford Seminary, Harvard Divinity School, and Andover Newton Theological Seminary. While serving as minister of the Armenian Memorial Church in Watertown, MA, Dr. Tootikian earned a master of sacred theological degree in 1970, and a doctor of ministry degree cum laude in 1973.
In 1975, Dr. Tootikian was welcomed into the pastorate of the Armenian Congregational Church of Greater Detroit. Under his spiritual guidance, the Church has flourished and undergone expansion, which has included a new Christian Education Building, the founding of an Armenian library, and the organizing of the Armenian Heritage Committee to preserve and perpetuate the Armenian Christian Heritage.
Over the years, Dr. Tootikian has also provided leadership to numerous organizations, including the Armenian Evangelical Union of America, Armenian Missionary Association of America, and the Armenian Evangelical World Council--AEWC. During his tenure with AEWC, the 1700th Anniversary of Armenian Christendom was celebrated by all Armenian Evangelical Unions in Yerevan, Armenia, and the first Armenian Evangelical Pastors' Conference was held in May 2003 in Evian, France. As a scholar and lecturer, Dr. Tootikian has provided instruction at the University of Michigan and at the Lawrence Technological University. Dr. Tootikian has authored 27 books, with 6 of them currently in use as college textbooks. In addition, he has been a frequent contributor to many magazines and papers, and currently writes bilingual articles for 12 Armenian papers and periodicals. His efforts in support of various educational, philanthropic, religious and cultural organizations have been recognized through many awards and the establishment of endowment funds in his honor.
I know my colleagues join me in congratulating Dr. Tootikian on his service to the community, and on his many achievements in the pastoral ministry. I am pleased to offer my best wishes to him on his retirement, and for many more years of good health, happiness, and contribution to the spiritual well being of many people around the world.
Articles by Rev. Dr. Vahan H. Tootikian
Books Authored by Rev. Dr. Vahan H. Tootikian
(Many of the following are dual English-Armenian editions)
- Reflections of an Armenian (Los Angeles, 1980)
- The Armenian Evangelical Church (Los Angeles, 1982)
- Armenian Congregationalism: From Mission to Membership (Cambridge, Ont., 1985)
- Essays (Los Angeles, 1986)
- From A Minister's Desk (Los Angeles, 1987)
- My Vantage Point (Los Angeles, 1988)
- Perspectives: Religious, Literary, Armenian (Los Angeles, 1989)
- Understanding the New Testament (Detroit, 1991)
- World Religions (Detroit, 1992)
- Christianity: Volume I - From the Beginnings to the 15th Century (Detroit 1993)
- Christianity: Volume II - From the Reformation to the Mid-1990s (1994)
- From Pulpit and Platform (1995)
- Hay Avedaranagan Yegeghetzin (1846-1996)
- The Armenian Evangelical Church: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow (1996)
- Understanding the Old Testament (Southfield, MI, 1997)
- Pastoral Meditations (Southfield, MI, 1998)
- Vokechkdoumner yev Karozner (Southfield, MI, 1998)
- Louysi yev Houysi Shogher (Southfield, MI, 1999)
- From the Depth of My Soul (Southfield, MI, 1999)
- Fifty Years of Christian Service: A Portrayal of Armenian Evangelical Ministers in North America from 1950-2000 (2000)
- The Benefits and Contributions of the Armenian Evangelical Church to the Armenian Nation (2001)
- Garevor Tebker yev Temker Hay Krisdoneyagan Badmoutyan Mech (Southfield, MI, 2001)
- Highlights of Armenian Christendom (Southfield, MI, 2002)
- The Pastor's Manual (2003)
- From A Pastor's Desk (2004)
- Pioneer Evangelical Clergymen in America (2005)
- 160th Anniversary of the Armenian Evangelical Church (Royal Oak, MI, 2006)
- Heart to Heart (Royal Oak, MI, 2007)
- As I See It (Royal Oak, MI, 2008)
- Half a Century of Service (2009)
- Challenges and Responses (Royal Oak, MI, 2010)
- Unity, Liberty and Charity (2011)
- The Love Relationships (2012)
- Keeping the Balance (2013)
- Translated from the English to Armenian: Demos Shakarian's "The Happiest People on Earth" (Los Angeles, 1984)