“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)


The word the Athenians used for their Assembly was Ekklesia, the same word used in the New Testament for Church
(and it is the greatest philological irony in all of Western history that this word,
which connoted equal participation in all deliberation by all members,
came to designate a kind of self-perpetuating, self-protective Spartan gerousia -
which would have seemed patent nonsense to Greek-speaking Christians of New Testament times,
who believed themselves to be equal members of their Assembly.)

- Thomas Cahill, Sailing the Wine-Dark Sea: Why the Greeks Matter




ΦΙΛΟΤΙΜΟ: THE GREEK SECRET


Saturday, April 28, 2012

LET THE GAMES GO ON, AND ON, AND ON .......

We recently posted a couple of blog articles (Let the Games Begin / Let the Games Continue) that a member of the finance committee objected to; specifically, he had a problem with our comparing the impasse we keep witnessing to “a game” to be won or lost. The irony of this statement is obvious.

The reference to "let the games begin" is an historic allusion to the Roman period, where so many early church members met their fate in the arena. It is also an accurate description and apt metaphor describing a small minority's ongoing and continuing attempts to split the community. They want this to happen no matter what they have to do to accomplish it, or how badly it continues to damage our community and its parishioners.

Instead of simply holding the upcoming assembly, looking for ways forward, and having an election, we are witnessing ongoing gamesmanship on the part of this minority that clings to power and to a discredited set of aspirations (please specifically see the “policies” section buried at the end of the assembly packet) they still seek to foist on the community.

We are told that there is no appreciation for the time and efforts of these people. Regrettably, there has been a lack of appreciation all around. Throwing other hard-working, dedicated stewards under the bus including stewards who have served for several decades, members of the Audit Committee, elected HCF board members, nominees who have been culled, largely for simply daring to disagree, secret negotiations for dividing the community, clergy and hierarchical threats of sanctions, etc. - all seem to have become standard procedure these past years.

We didn't hear or or see this person being overly upset when others were castigated, culled, called "robbers", were banned from entering their own church, were forbidden to take part in services, had their faithfulness and reputations questioned, and, in one of the most egregious instances, had their livelihood and that of their family threatened. No one saw this gentleman, or his like-minded cronies, step forward in defense of other equally dedicated stewards.

Further, he asserts that there was a poor management model in running two churches under one council. Major companies run operational entities throughout the world under one overall Board of Directors. Are we to believe that two relatively tiny entities, each within a 20-minute driving distance from the other within the same city, in the age of the Internet, cannot be effectively governed by one Parish Council? It is not the model that is flawed; it is the management team, its intent and its style.

We agree that Parish Councils - fairly ELECTED ones - might name a variety of their members to various committees without appointing unelected “consultants”. The UPRs do not mention “consultants”, referring most likely to intra-council expertise. But, fine, we acknowledge it's been done in the past. During a time when the rest of this nonsense was not occurring, unelected committee appointees probably would not be an issue. Right now, however, we have yet another unelected, appointed person, representing a minority view, telling a sorely tried majority what they must do.

This nonsense should have stopped long ago. The survey told them, the Archbishop told them, several votes have told them, the Special General Assembly told them – they don’t have the numbers.

The gentleman asserts that the majority’s resistance efforts and rhetoric has driven an "irreversible" wedge in this community. In fact, that wedge exists and persists because a small group of people, along with clerics, still trying to "save face", continue to wrangle for things this community does not want or need.

They still seek to shove through their own agenda, to eliminate the Hellenic Cultural Foundation (which was overwhelmingly enacted by the General Assembly as a fundraising model utterly similar to Leadership 100 - and whose members were ELECTED), to see this community foreswear its historic legal exception that allows it to own its own assets. The answer was NO last November despite threats and intimidation; it should be NO now.

Finally, there is the assertion that the dissension and game-playing overshadows the church's mission of salvation. That is the real point, isn't it? Our hierarchy and clergy, thanks to the misbegotten new charter and UPRs, are now becoming Machiavellian politicians, CEOs, fundraisers, tax collectors, day-to-day administrators, apparently more interested in their own prerogatives than in their apostolic duty toward their flock - ALL their flock - among whom they have sown further dissension.

George Santayana, philosopher, said it best. "Fanaticism is redoubling your effort when you've lost your aim."

Friday, April 27, 2012

URGENT! - URGENT! - URGENT!


Dear Parishioners,

Please be aware that the General Assembly package contains 3 policies relating to financial matters.

These 3 policies should not be passed or adopted for the following reasons:

First, they attempt to implement the two resolutions, defeated soundly by a 3-to-2 decision of the Special General Assembly in November 2011, while some of us were left out waiting in the cold.  The Metropolitan still is trying to make an end-run around the Parish Assembly.

Second, there are no safeguards for the community; and,

Third, the “policies” have not been thoroughly vetted by our community.  The “policies” need to be discussed, by experts from our community, and then placed before the general assembly for consideration.

Anything and everything that diminishes the right of the General Assembly to be in total and complete charge of our financial health, should not be passed.

Any other reason given by the proponents for the passage of the policies is bogus; they only want to do the bidding of the Denver Metropolitan.

Let’s us be ever so vigilant to safeguard our community.  Let us NOT be intimidated; we must not succumb to anyone’s threats.

Please come and attend the General Assembly next Sunday.  Please fill out and return your stewardship pledge.

Best regards,

Nick J. Colessides

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

PART 2 - LET THE GAMES CONTINUE! (see previous blog: LET THE GAMES BEGIN!)

A member recently sent us an e-mail and "requested/suggested" that the blog moderators post a “rebuttal” in answer to the Audit Committee Report for the year 2009. The member implies that since the Audit Report of 2009 has been discussed on the blog, it might be “fair” to post such a response. The gentleman making the request is a member of the "Finance Committee." (One might be tempted to consider what a swell job they have done! Oh, and by the way, under what authority does such a committee exist? Appointment/election by the General Assembly? No. Mentioned in the much-vaunted UPRs? NO.) At any rate, he and that committee, whoever they may be, hold absolutely no authority according to the UPRs, subsequently leaving his request - or is it a demand? - somewhat moot.

No matter. He brings up an old and dead issue that could have easily been addressed in a more timely manner. Instead it is brought up nearly TWO YEARS later. After all, we've had all kinds of other decrees, demands and assertions sent out by the various unrepresentative, appointed parish councils these past long years, who have had unlimited control over this community’s checkbook, haven't we? (We would further point out that the Audit Report was discussed on this site AFTER its presentation to the community and not before.)

The fact is, the ELECTED Audit Committee did NOT exceed its reach or its duty. The committee reported on the documentation for that year that the existing parish council and clergy ALLOWED them to see. They were delayed for weeks due to stalling, demands for signatures on questionable confidentiality agreements, etc. Nowhere did the Auditors – again, ELECTED by the General Assembly – exceed their authority. In fact, they probably were overly gentle in their conclusions, despite outrageous provocations, hoping, vainly, to unite and to heal this sorely tried community.

Furthermore, a "rebuttal" to an audit committee's work is apparently heretofore unheard of and questionable. We have taken time to inquire as to the issue to several out-of-state ecclesiastical contacts – thus far, we have found that this just hasn't happened anywhere else. We should also consider that the last audit we had, again, by a duly elected, properly qualified, audit committee was in 2009.

It is now 2012! Under these same UPRs, that these people are so fond of cherry-picking and quoting, should we not have had further audits? Especially under these trying circumstances? Surely.

We have also learned that the justification given by those who have pushed for this rebuttal NOW, is that they are simply reporting and answering the questions from the audit in the next "regular" general assembly. Strangely enough, however, the minutes from the June 6, 2010 meeting where, in addition to the Audit Committee’s report to the community, other key motions passed and were to be part of the official record, have not been copied and distributed. Official records which are key to the type of discussion THEY wish to hold are NOT included in the packet! (We would herein note that the 2010 meeting was also videotaped by a member, since resigned, but then serving on the parish council. There is NO EXCUSE as to why this record is not included!)

Is it not curious that current appointed parish council members, who were also serving at that time as well, have claimed that they did not send a the rebuttal earlier since this Sunday's meeting will be our next "regular" General Assembly - a damning statement in and of itself! The UPRs they LOVE to quote clearly spell out how often communities are to hold REGULAR GENERAL ASSEMBLIES!

So - you want the rebuttal posted here, Mr. Finance Committee Member? Fine. Produce the minutes from that last “regular” General Assembly held nearly TWO YEARS AGO, and we will gladly post everything!

We recognize only too well that this so-called “request” and “rebuttal” is merely the latest ploy designed to allow those who, like you, have sought to split our community, sully our heritage, and who have sundered this community, in order to justify the unjustifiable.

Say, assert what you will. Play the games you want. Fact is: We WILL NOT permit it!

PART 1 - LET THE GAMES BEGIN!

The packet parishioners have picked up from church for the general assembly on Sunday contains the January 31, 2010 minutes, the November 20, 2011 "Special Parish Assembly" minutes, but not the June 6, 2010 General Assembly minutes!

This is a bizarre omission! These minutes, from what was, supposedly our last official scheduled General Assembly, are critical to our community and should be included. At that assembly the Audit Committee presented its report - a report which is highly important to the official record.

Also at this meeting, Mr. Nick Bapis presented a report to the Assembly that was ultimately accepted as part of the official record of the meeting. That record/report should be included in the packet. At that time, Mr. Bapis had initially attempted to introduce and to have placed on the agenda discussion regarding this proposed resolution. His request, perfectly legal and normal, was denied by then-appointed Parish Council. The document was, however, distributed to the attending membership at the assembly in hard copy.

Despite the Parish Council's refusal to place this discussion on the agenda, a resolution, based on the initial document, was ultimately discussed, passed and was voted to be included in the official record and minutes of that June 6, 2010 meeting.

Additionally, in that meeting, the assembly accepted to remove from the Treasurer's (Mr. Floor’s) report the $1.2 million as a loss. That amended detail should be attached to the original report, AND, that report should be included in the packet.

A FURTHER QUESTION: Where is the report? WHERE, IN THE CURRENT “OFFICIAL” PACKET, IS THE OFFICIAL RECORD FROM THE LAST “REGULAR” GENERAL ASSEMBLY? 

We are being asked to consider a now-two-year-old-response to the 2009 AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT, so why aren’t we allowed to see the MINUTES from the same general assembly where the report was presented?

THE ULTIMATE QUESTION: WHY ARE THE MINUTES OF OUR LAST REGULARLY SCHEDULED GENERAL ASSEMBLY NOT INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGE FOR THIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY!?

Thursday, April 19, 2012

WE HAVE BEEN VINDICATED

We have celebrated the Joyous Event of Our Savior’s Resurrection.  May our Resurrected Savior teach all of us lessons of forgiveness and humility.

We fought the good fight.  The community has been fully vindicated in its struggle with the Metropolitan of Denver.  We are not for sale … for trianta argyria.

            With the hiring of an outside law firm:

1.  We prevented from taking place, an unlawful general assembly, called by a then unlawfully appointed parish council; and

2.  A general assembly soundly defeated by a 3 to 2 majority the proposals espoused by the Denver Metropolitan; and

3.  A Utah State Court assumed jurisdiction of our lawsuit, and ruled in plaintiffs’ favor so that we get the necessary information and the desired lists.

Coupled with the Archbishop’s letter of March 24, 2011, we have won the right to have UNRESTRICTED general assemblies and elections.

Let’s exercise those hard fought for and earned rights.  Please make your stewardship pledge; all of us should actively participate in our Community’s affairs, and consider becoming a candidate for the Parish Council.

We can all be thankful to all who participated in the effort.

Please also make your contribution to the “Fund for the Defense of the GOCGSL.”

This is strictly my personal point of view, as an attorney who assisted with the lawsuit.

 /s/

Nick J. Colessides
Attorney at Law
466 South 400 East, Suite 100
Salt Lake City, Utah, 84111-3325

Tele: 801-521-4441
Fax: 801-521-4452

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Please Help Our Community to Stay United

RELIGIOUS TERRORISM AT ITS BEST

Dear Parishioners,

The lawsuit was started because the Denver Metropolitan, his appointed Clergy, and their appointed parish council (who were then in charge), refused to provide the community with a list of eligible members.

It took a Judge to enter his Order forcing them to give us the list. And the list that they gave us was deficient and had many errors. For that we paid and we are paying legal fees. The defendants’ legal fees have been paid by the Church’s insurance policy.  As you all know there is no such a thing as a free lunch. The Church’s insurance premium will be raised by the insurance company from now on, since there has been a call made upon the insurance company to pay for litigation costs. Thus we shall again pay for their legal fees.  And all, because “the few, the proud, the ‘...” refused us our rights; the right to know who is eligible to participate in a general assembly and to vote in the elections which were never scheduled.

It is a travesty and we should not stand for it. We do not need forgiveness for what we are doing; it is the “right thing” to do !!  It is the fair thing to do !!

We offered to stipulate to a “stand-still” agreement (freeze all legal proceedings) to save litigation costs, pending the promised free general assembly and elections. They have refused the offer.  We hoped for healing of this Community.  They continue to press with the litigation.  We need to resist their affront.  It just isn’t fair.

WE NEED YOUR HELP.

Please help and ask your friends to help, with raising the necessary funds to continue to defend our rights as parishioners.

Please make your contributions to: “FUND FOR THE DEFENSE OF THE GOCGSL” and mail it or give it to the committee (c/o Yiannis Armaou, 2751 Highland Drive, Salt Lake City, Utah 84106) who has undertaken a “yeoman’s efforts” to save our community and to stay united.

Kalo Pascha to all.

Best regards,

Nick

Nick J. Colessides
Attorney at Law
466 South 400 East, Suite 100
Salt Lake City, Utah, 84111-3325

Tele: 801-521-4441
Fax: 801-521-4452

Sunday, April 8, 2012

A Hope of Resurrection for Christ's Church in this Valley?

On April 13, this blog will have been operating for five years. This same time a year ago we commented on the true costs - the lost opportunities - that this community has endured for nearly a decade. We have tried our best to bring light to the injustices, yet to provide hope in documenting the efforts made by so many parishioners to restore our community to its former vibrance. We, along with others who write and comment here, are proud to be just one small part of that effort. Each year at this time, during the Lenten period, we reflect on the community's ongoing situation, and pray that this will be the year of its resurrection.

Our forebears were progressive and visionary. Such a mindset has been currently discouraged for far too long in this community. This, unfortunately, is the case in other Greek Orthodox parishes throughout this country as well.

At a time when our faith should be a beacon, not just to its faithful, but to all peoples, it is becoming fossilized by its own arcane rules and regulations designed to consign the laity to a regimented, unthinking conformity.

Yet, there is room for hope. Much has been accomplished. The laity in this community, along with others in the country, has declared that it will not foreswear or forsake its legacy.

Twice a majority of the parishioners (in addition to letting its will be known via the Parish Council's own survey) in this community met and asserted that the community would avail itself of the "dispute resolutions" found in the Uniform Parish Regulations currently imposed upon us. This majority did everything to prevent legal action. Many contacted religious and secular leaders. Six went to New York - at their own expense - to meet with our national religious leaders. This community followed the dispute resolutions to the letter, yet found itself thwarted by the local and regional clerics and their minions. They refused to implement the direction of the Holy Synod and Archbishop Demetrios. Thus, sadly - and only after EVERY other option was explored - the civil courts, necessarily, became the last resort. Nothing else seemed to provide any impetus to remedy an intolerable and stagnant situation.

Only our sheer will to do what our parents and grandparents would have done, to refuse to split, to refuse to be intimidated by dire threats of sanctions, excommuications, etc., has persuaded the agents of stagnation. Although the progress seems achingly slow, we have, in the face of relentless adversity, accomplished much:

  • The court recognized that it had jurisdiction, albeit limited to civil conduct, to help the community address questions of proper and transparent governance.
  • We have succeeded in gaining representation on yet another interim parish council. 
  • We have conducted a special general assembly at our church and have freely elected a corporate board.
  • The elected corporate board members - to their immense credit - have determined to foreswear any sort of unseemly showdown and allow the current interim parish council the opportunity to implement, in a timely manner, our first fully sanctioned General Assembly since June 2010. 
  • Further, the interim parish council has announced a parish council election at the end of May, where all eligible stewards may run without fear of clerical interference. (We pray this is true.)
Finally, we remain hopeful of a Lenten period this time next year free of the heartache we have endured the past five-plus years; and, with the wishes for a true Resurrection of our Risen Lord's Church in this community and throughout the World, we, the Moderators thank each and every one of you and wish you all    

Καλό Πάσχα και Καλή Ανάσταση!

Sincerely,

Yannis Armaou - Barbara Billinis Colessides
Γιάννης Αρμαου / Βαρβάρα Μπυλίνη-Κολεσίδη