Take Our Church Back!: Define Sermon

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Define Sermon

Congratulations to all the children of Holy Trinity and Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox Churches of Greater Salt Lake City, who participated in the Oratorical festival. Those who will participate in the Metropolis competition will do so as members of the Greek Orthodox Church of Greater Salt Lake and not from the "Prophet Elias parish" as was mistakenly announced today by the proistameno of Prophet Elias only.

A good sermon can go a long way in setting the tone for the upcoming week. It is an opportunity for the clergy to connect with their flock and inspire them. Lately, the proistameno of Prophet Elias only has taken the liberty of turning the sermon into an question and answer session. Here are some highlights from his "sermon" today:

He explained how we have a new parish council. Our question is: Is this parish council legal? We believe it is NOT.
He explained how the Prophet Elias "parish" nominees were sworn in but the Holy Trinity "parish" nominees refused to be sworn in. Our question is: When was the split finalized making two parishes?
He unsuccessfully tried to explain how the current "parish council" came to be. What he didn't explain is that one "member" was not part of the initial interim parish council and therefore in violation of the directive of the metropolitan.

After concluding with the mundane, he asked if there were any questions. Seeing none he was convinced that everyone understood the state of affairs. He did happen to mention that those with questions will post them to the blog or talk about them at Einstein's. (Glad we could be of service)

It might benefit Fr. Kouremetis to review the linked Protocol from the metropolitan which states in part: "In this light, I exhort each of you who are pastors to ensure that the sermon or homily in the Divine Liturgy is always focused on the readings given to us by the Church for our edification and is invariably in accord with the Apostolic tradition of our faith." http://www.denver.goarch.org/protocols/1996-Protocols/protocol-96-08.html

For the record, the Gospel reading today was from Matthew 6:14-21

2 comments:

Steve Gamvroulas said...: I have a few questions.

At what point does a person, regardless of position, decide that they have either become ineffective or they are the cause of dissent and strife?

What should a person do once they have recognized that they are the cause of these afflictions?

How long should it take for that person to step down from his/her position in hopes of reversing what had been ravaged?

Is it not the goal of any leader to build rather than destroy?

Would we allow these pernicious or sinister behaviors to take place within our own homes?

Would any person not battle for the sanctity and unity of their own family?

Is HIS Church and our community not also our family?; March 7, 2011 at 9:00 AM
Bill Rekouniotis said...: Oh, oh, I have a question. When are you leaving Dodge, Marshal Dillion? Giddy up.; March 7, 2011 at 10:15 PM

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CONSEQUENCES OF UPR "THEOCRACY"

The UPRs, as currently enacted, have succeeded in proving that power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Having witnessed events first-hand for so long now, it is hard not to come to the sad conclusion that some of our clergy actually seem to relish the controversy, despite any inherent intellect, ability and talent.

Unfortunately this “brave new church”, spawned by these vaunted UPRs, and by this ridiculous and inept notion of the church as a military-style hierarchy, fosters a lack of humility, tact and compassion. It promotes utter disrespect and disregard for the laity, which, in turn, promotes disrespect for the clergy. The schism the regulations profess to prevent is the schism they are now engendering.

FALSE INFO? WE DON'T THINK SO!

The Metropolitan accuses many of providing false information with regard to parish property. He cites that the UPRs state that the parish holds title to all its real estate and personal property. He asks "what is the argument"?

One could be tempted to find comfort in this citation, if not for two other existing UPR conditions.

The first is that the Parish Council holds all control of said properties owned by the parish. Since the Parish Council can be disbanded, presumably at the whim of a peevish hierarch, where has the control shifted?

Second, if the laity becomes so exasperated with this sorry state of affairs that it reduces funding (the only real power left to it under an obnoxious system where the laity is utterly marginalized) and if a community is declared in disarray, or in schism, it is the hierarchy that comes in to take the real property. (This action was, in fact, attempted in 2009 in Charlottesville, Virginia.)

CONSIDER ...

There is a danger in the amassing of the Church property under one control. As the Catholic Church learned (the hard way) in sexual abuse cases that the the entire property holding will be subjected to payment of a lawsuit. Much better to decentralize!

This is a well-known business practice where corporations incorporate separate facilities so if one has poor results it can be dissolved without damaging the entire corporation. A single store could become bankrupt but not the whole.

- Peter C. Peropoulos - Houston, Texas

THE CHURCH AND THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE

From the Special General Assembly, June 27th, 1999: "First and foremost we are a church (ekklesia--meaning the people) any decisions should help minister to the people, effective, and efficient ministering to our peers. The Church has to do with people; people are the most important." - Fr. John Kaloudis

==========================

«Η έκκλησία δεv είvαι εξoυσία, ειvαι διακovεία.»

"The Church's purpose in not that of dominion or power; it is that of service."

- Ieronymos, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece

==========================

“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”

- The Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.

ON A COLD AND RAINY OCTOBER AFTERNOON ...

Today, October 24th, 2010, at 2:00 p.m. nearly 350 Greek Orthodox Christians gathered to say that voices may NOT be stilled or stifled. Of those who attended, 347 registered to participate and to vote; 339 actually cast ballots. Three questions (in synopsis form here) were asked, with both English and Greek ballots provided:

1. Asked if those assembled agreed with the decreed split, or if they would prefer to remain united. Vote: 328-FOR UNITY; 11-FOR SPLITTING

2. Asked if those assembled would favor the formation of a committee to appeal to the Archdiocese, the Eparchial Synod, and the Patriarchate. Vote: 330-FOR; 9-AGAINST

3. Asked if those assembled favored exploring legal action to prevent or challenge the division of the Parish in civil court, recognizing that the option would involve considerable expense. Vote: 248-FOR; 91-AGAINST

“Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them,

and they that are great exercise authority upon them.

But it shall not be so among you:

but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;

And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:

Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto,

but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:25-28, KJV)

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Define Sermon

2 comments:

THE LEADER WE DESPERATELY NEED!

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STEWARDSHIP

SAYS IT ALL!

TRANSLATION? (Please note the translations are not exact)

CONSEQUENCES OF UPR "THEOCRACY"

A QUESTION OF "RESPECT"?

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT

HELLENIC MUSINGS

Misconstrued? WE THINK NOT!

One Year Later!

ΑΙΩΝΙΑ H MNHMH!

FALSE INFO? WE DON'T THINK SO!

MOVING FORWARD!

CONTACT US

CONSIDER ...

A "MUST READ"!

BLOG ARCHIVE

CALL TO ACTION & AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT

AN EXAMPLE FOR ALL COMMUNITIES!

THE CHURCH AND THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE

ON A COLD AND RAINY OCTOBER AFTERNOON ...

THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE IS THE VOICE OF GOD!

SHAME (Dropi) & DEMOCRACY

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