[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 15]
[Senate]
[Pages 20706-20707]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.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

[[Page 20707]]

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.

                          ____________________