Letter to the Patriarchate

December 20, 2013

His All Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew

Rum Patrikhanesi

342 20 Fener-Haliç

Istanbul, TURKEY

ΑΘΠ τόν Οικουμενικόν Πατριάρχην Κωνσταντινουπόλεως κύριον  κύριον  Βαρθολομαίον.

Παναγιώτατε Πάτερ και Δέσποτα,

Ευλογημένος ό ερχόμενος!

Πρόσφατα εσταλλει  στην Παναγιώτητά σας ηλεκτρονικό γράμμα από την κοινότητά μας

Σολτ Λεικ  Σιτι, Γιούτα. Επιτρέψτε μου να σας πληροφορήσω ότι οί αποστολείς αποτελούν  το 13% τής μαρτυρικής κοινότητάς μας. Ο σκοπός μου δεν είναι να αντιπαρατεθώ στα όσα εγράφησαν. Είναι όμως απορίας άξιον στά όσα αναφέρονται οι εν λόγω αποστολείς. 

Είναι αναντίρρητο και καθ’όλα αποδεκτό  και σεβαστό θα προσθέσω , στο να  υπάρχη αντίθεση γνώμης σέ ορισμένα ζητήματα. Στη περίπτωση μας όμως η αλήθεια είναι μόνο μια.

Σάς παραθέτω το ένθετο το οποίο εστάλλει από το κοινοτικό συμβούλιο στους ενορίτες κατά το οποίον είς εκ των υπογραφόντων εκθειάζει τον τρόπο με τον οποίον το συμβούλιο  χειρίζεται τά οικονομικά της κοινότητος. Δυστυχώς όμως  στο εν λόγω γράμμα αναφέρονται ακριβώς τα αντίθετα. Ένα από τά πολλά παραδείγματα.  click here

Παναγιώτατε,

Θα λάβω το θάρρος να παρομοιάσω τη μαρτυρική  κοινότητα μας με το Φανάρι το οποίο γνωρίζει από πόνους και οδύνας ως και από στεναγμούς και δάκρυα. Έχει την εμπειρία τού Γολγοθά και της Αναστάσεως. Σας παρακαλώ θερμά όπως επιλειφθείτε  της υποθέσεώς μας προσωπικά και εύχομαι για μια ταχεία επίλυση του προβλήματος μας.

Εύχομαι ολόψυχα το πνεύμα τών Χριστουγέννων να φωτίση τις ψυχές μας με το φως της αλήθειας.

Με Σεβασμό.

Ιωάννης Αρμάου

cc: Archbishop Demetrios

HAND-PICKED TO "ANNOY THE MET"?

It has been "suggested" that the current Parish Council, and the latest PC nominees and electees, are "hand-picked" to annoy the Metropolitan of Denver. The assertion is nonsense!

The elected Parish Council has tried mightily to work with the Metropolitan and the local clergy since its election, despite the Metropolitan's going back on his word countless times, his nearly constant provocative correspondence, and his obvious encouragement to the local clergy and their former anointed appointed to remain imperious and uncooperative. 

No group of people has been more patient, or has tried harder. Sadly, to little avail. Despite proper elections and general assemblies, despite a now open and transparent governance, the Metropolitan's heart - like the Pharaoh's - remains hardened.

Let's talk about the Met and his local toadies' actions in this community for oh, say, the past half-dozen-plus years.

These are the scheming minority who, in collusion with an unloving Metropolitan:

- condoned an action by the Proistamenos who "tattled" to the Metropolitan and managed to remove a respected elder from the Parish Council. Not being enough, that led to that elder's sacramental sanctioning - albeit temporarily. After the fact, the Met claimed that he had been "misled", and though he lifted the sanctions, having been "misled", he did NOT reinstate said gentleman to the Parish Council. In the meantime, of course, as with all provocateurs and snitches, the Proistamenos raised his hands and claimed to "know nothing" and threw his own superior under the bus! (He of course, has a good example in that the Metropolitan has thrown his brother bishop, Archbishop Demetrios, under said bus numerous times as well.)

- condoned and remained SILENT, following clergy and hierarchy directives, during Parish Council nomination "culls", betraying their own brothers and sisters in the community. 

- condoned the suspension of elections and General Assemblies, in direct violation of the UPR. 

- condoned and congratulated themselves upon serving as "anointed appointed", lording it over the "less holier-than-thou" VAST MAJORITY of this community, who were left VOICELESS and UNREPRESENTED while the anointed appointed "led", and led badly. 

- engaged in utterly dishonorable and despicable actions designed to impugn the integrity and destroy the reputation of a community elder who has given vast amounts of time, talent and treasure both to this community and to Greek Orthodoxy throughout the nation and the world. In fact, the anointed appointed still - shamefully - refer to this highly respected professional as a "robber"!  Our Metropolitan has not discouraged such shameful behavior!

- condemned the majority when they resorted to the only "voice" they had left, the withholding of funds to their beloved community, and then being FORCED to resort to civil courts when the anointed appointed would not, in violation of both the UPR and civil law, provide a mailing list upon a proper request. (This community paid for both its own lawyers and their counsel as well in that fiasco!) 

- condoned a winter meeting that essentially held a gun to the community's head, with a carpetbagging "hired gun" from Houston who castigated elders forced to remain outside their own church - in sub-freezing temperatures - and STILL won't admit that this community has the fortitude that our forefathers would be PROUD of, to tell them and all their ilk - whether they be hierarch, clergy, archon, "anointed appointed", "NO! OXI!"

- condemns the majority and still demands a split of this community - still holding it HOSTAGE! - despite numerous surveys and votes indicating that the community is not in favor of such action. Unbelievably, the splitters claim that those who object to their ongoing hard-headedness are not "unifiers" and are "spewing hate". 

- condemn still, those who correctly identify the clergy, particularly the Proistamenos-of-Prophet-Elias-only, as an ongoing instigator of dissension and disunity. His and his toadies' continuing EFFORTS in encouraging a split are directly responsible for sluggish stewardship. No one will give generously while this poisonous situation continues!

When pointing to past and ongoing outrages, the majority is blamed for the dissension in the community, blamed for the community-at-large laughing at us, blamed for trashing a tradition lasting 2,000 years. That these situations exist, is not because of the majority of good Orthodox Christians in this valley, but because of flawed apostolic successors and a benighted minority who think themselves holier-than-anyone-who-disagrees with them!

In truth, it is the minority dissenters, who have ignored their minority status - and the FACTS on the ground - along with an egotistical and compassionless clergy, who are entirely responsible for the ills troubling our beloved community.

Merry Christmas! Καλα Χριστουγεννα! Και ο Θεος βοηθος!

PS - Those who are tired of these antics have in past years, to avoid the hassle, have avoided Prophet Elias and mainly attend services at Holy Trinity. As such, the former "anointed appointed" have continued to lay false claim, improperly, to this COMMUNITY'S church in Holladay! We encourage all members of the Greek Orthodox Church of Greater Salt Lake to attend BOTH churches, as was the intent of our wise forebears!

JOHN SALTAS RESPONDS TO LATEST PROTECT OUR CLERGY EMAIL

Moderators' Note: Mr. Saltas has given his permission that his response to P.O.C. be posted. 

On Dec 11, 2013, at 1:01 AM, John Saltas wrote:

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Dear POC

Thank you for another soul less email.

I am taking your advice though and am sending my response not just to you but to the entire "rogue" parish council and to the Metropolitan as well. In your email, you asked this question:

Is it possible to step back from the cliff’s edge before our Parish falls into a thickening mire of conflict and hatred?

It appears that you, or some of you, have been quite busy at that already......Here's just one of many samplers from the Devil's right hand, Facebook, where Dimitri Tsagaris has been compared to Nikita Khrushchev, and the parish council labeled a bunch of communists, devils and heathens:



You've already crossed the hatred abyss POC. Please keep on going. You're a disruptive, faceless coward with a keyboard. Nothing more. On that score, I will credit Mary for signing her name and she has once or twice exposed a bit of clever wit. But you? A spud. A potato. All eyes and thin skin. No heart nor brain. All rot when exposed to the light of day.

Enough of your protracted maligning of so many good people of this community!

My message to the council: Affect the will of those who voted for you. If you indeed had a mission of "unity" then never forget why that mission originated and who was behind the mayhem that begat the mis-unity in the first place. I suspect that POC and those who brought this community to its financial knees these past, many years are one and the same or combinations thereof. Why else doth they protest so much? Why do they hate dancers and basketball players? Why do they play with decoder rings when a cup of coffee and some eye contact is more effective? 

Why do they get so many facts wrong? Why do they "make sh*t up"? Oh, oops. Forgot. It's because the faceless and anonymous (and the afraid) can and do lie with impunity. And if you think that is a lie, ask yourself this: Have you ever seen a Klansman without a hood?

My message to the Metropolitan: Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

John Saltas

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Mr. Saltas wrote the above in response to this e-mail

Date: Tue, 10 Dec 2013 22:29:32 -0700
Subject: Brace Yourself For Another Church Closure Compliments of the Parish Council
From: protectourclergy@gmail.com

To:

As predicted, our rogue Parish Council is again pursing its agenda to secede from the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese, but this time without the pretense of a “heavy heart”. We must brace ourselves for yet another closure of our Churches while dance and basketball programs continue unhampered.  See the attached “Salt Lake Parish Council Letter 12-9-2013” for a complete display of its secular and legalistic approach to managing Christ’s Church. The code words “eliminate the highest clergy compensation package” translates to “we are firing Father Michael”.

The Council persists in its belief that the vast majority of our Church members agree with their tactics and goals, in spite of the letter signed by over 500 members pleading for a return to normalcy. The Parish Council claims that it is implementing the directives of the Parish Assembly, but the truth is that its decision to terminate a Priest is contrary to the motion made in August to reinstate clergy salaries.

His Eminence did not ignore the decision of the August Parish Assembly. He specified only one prerequisite to his considering a reduction of clergy, that being to follow the UPR requirement that all Parish funds be under the control of the Parish Council. This would be a simple task that the Parish Council has inexplicably refused to follow.

The inevitable result from the most recent Parish Council action will again be the closing of our Churches. We need to understand that such closing is not a refusal by the clergy to perform their duties over a pay issue, but in fact is the only option that the Hierarchs have. The Parish Council surely anticipates this consequence, but again, places its agenda before the wellbeing of the entire Parish, young and old, regardless of where they worship.

The Parish Council has orchestrated the current financial situation and has made no effort to improve stewardship, discredit the campaign to withhold stewardship, or truly unify the community. Most recently it resorted to giving away funds that the Parish Assembly directed towards Church operations. The disbursement of $20,000 to the Holy Trinity Philoptochos from the Greek Festival account is not only unauthorized, but if the Council’s claims that the parish is near insolvency are true, it is an extravagant and reckless expenditure, regardless of the philanthropic nature of the Philoptochos.

The hypocrisy of this clergy reduction is exemplified in the fact that those who most ardently advocated for a third priest in 2007 are those who now push to discharge clergy, and never in the interim worked towards increasing stewardship to cover the cost of a third priest. But rather, they promoted withholding of stewardship as a form of political protest.

Further irresponsible behavior on the part of the Parish Council can be seen in the circumstances surrounding the “elections” held last Sunday. Election results, for unknown reasons, were first published through unofficial social media sources.  We have learned that the tally reports 84 in-person votes from PE, which conflicts with eye witness accounts of the voting activity, and also included 54 absentee ballots (along with 13 via email) which equates to 20% of the total 272 votes cast. If the election was in any way valid, these results would seem to be somewhat questionable.

Is it possible to step back from the cliff’s edge before our Parish falls into a thickening mire of conflict and hatred? The Parish Council seems steadfast in its desire to bring ruin upon us all, but we should at a minimum question their intentions and authority to do so. We suggest contacting the Council members directly to express your opinions and dissatisfaction. We also recommend communicating your concerns and frustrations with His Eminence Metropolitan Isaiah.

Listed below are the email addresses for the Parish Council and the contact information for the Metropolis.

Parish Council
George Adondakis gadondakis@nicholasandco.com
Gus Colessides gcolessides@gmail.com
Steve Gamvroulas sgamvroulas@gmail.com
Philip Kithas philipkithas@comcast.net
Alicia Mares alicia_mares@bd.com
John Mastakas john@usemetro.com
Maria Oneida mariaoneida@comcast.net
Tom Peters twp@psplawyers.com
Chris Sakellariou csakellariou@hotmail.com
Sakis Sakaellariou jsiouris@hotmail.com
Pete Saltas pete.saltas@gmail.com
Pete Sefakis pns@yahoo.com
Tikey Skedros tsked@aol.com
Dimitrios Tsagaris dimitrios.tsagaris@gmail.com

Metropolis of Denver
Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Denver
4550 East Alameda Avenue
Denver, Colorado 80246-1208
Tel.: (303) 333-7794 • Fax: (303) 333-7796
Email: metropolis@denver.goarch.org

Second Note from the Parish Council: December 10, 2013

Moderator's Note: The second correspondence sent from the Parish Council today may be viewed here.

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December 10, 2013

Dear Parishioners,

Our Thanksgiving dinner was a great success thanks to a wonderful group of volunteers and some very generous donations. We would like to give special thanks to AAA, Nicholas & Co, Kessimakis Produce, Stone Ground Bakery, Costco, Village Inn and the LDS Church. There were also two anonymous donations of $2,500.00. We were able to serve 1,112 dinners at the Memorial Hall, delivered to 427 shut in’s and had 400 people take dinners home for a grand total of 1, 939 meals.

Special thanks to all of our co-chairpersons, Yannis Armaou, Bill Rekouniotis, Zeljko Milovic, and Philoptochos, to just name few. There were many other volunteers that worked behind the scenes for several days prior to and or during the event.

272 ballots were cast at the Parish Council Elections. Your newly elected Parish Council members are:

Nick Bapis
Greg Skedros
Ted Sargetakis
Cindy Skedros
Alicia Mares
Maria Oneida
Yannis Armaou
Steve Gamvroulas

There will be a Community Christmas Card this year. If you would like to participate you can use the Parish website to give your $10.00 donation or you can submit it to the Church offices. The final date for submissions will be Monday December 16th.

The Parish Council will once again be hosting the New Year’s Eve party. Tickets will be sold at both churches on Sundays.

Adults: $30.00
Children, 12 and under: $15.00
Children, under 5: free

Doors open at 7:00PM with Cocktail Hour at 8:00PM and Prime Rib Dinner at 9:00PM.

Please plan to share this wonderful evening with us.

We are grateful for all of your continued support.

In His Name and Service,

Your Parish Council

"Spirituality" That NO ONE NEEDS!!!

Current "wisdom" from one of the (self) anointed, (self) appointed:

...

No one can argue that when a Parish Council takes the Oath of Office to uphold the Uniform Parish Regulations, and as a Parish, we accept clergy, who administer the Mysteria of the Faith, we acknowledge THEY are an extension of Apostolic Succession, which, in fact ratified OUR Uniform Parish Regulations after OUR Clergy-Laity Convention.  

... 

Each of us SHOULD have a Spiritual Father to guide us BEFORE we stray, and WE should reach out to them whether or not we think we are improving.  We set a bad example to our children by trashing UPRs and Clergy.

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How seriously LAUGHABLE! Somehow the doctrine of Apostolic Succession ratifies "OUR" Uniform Parish Regulations? The ones that have been passed by lay "leaders" handpicked by the clergy in kangaroo-court legislative sessions? The same ones that are stagnating our once thriving churches, communities, our Greek-American lobby efforts?

We would submit that if the original Apostles and Evangelists went to the ancient pagani and proposed a set of strictures such as contained in the current Uniform Parish Regulations, the apostles would not have had to wait for the Romans to arrest and torture them, the peasantry would have taken take care of the job themselves!

The Uniform Parish Regulations are DIRECTLY responsible for the lethargy in which our community, in particular, and in fact, the church in this country as a whole, finds itself.

If these rules and regulations are so well thought out, so wonderful, SO JUST, why does this particular statement NEED to be added in the regulations?

Article 15, Section 7:

The Parish shall furthermore abide by the decisions of the Clergy-Laity Congresses irrespective of whether it was represented thereat, (emphasis added) the administrative determinations of the Archdiocesan Council, and such interim legislation as may be adopted between Congresses by the Archdiocesan Council.

Why the need for such a statement? Unless one well knows, in advance, that something will be SHOVED down the throats of an unsuspecting flock in an unjust, unfair manner?

As for the types of "spiritual fathers" the self-anointed, self-appointed suggests we all "need", one should look at another side of such "devotion". We invite him and our readers to investigate such at the following Web site: http://gotruthreform.org.

Such spiritual fathers NO ONE NEEDS!!!

CORRESPONDENCE FROM THE COMMUNITY'S PARISH COUNCIL: December 10, 2013

Moderator's Note: This correspondence was sent out today by our Parish Council. It may be viewed in the original form here.

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December 10, 2013

Dear Parishioners,

Please find below the Salt Lake Parish Council Letter of 12-9-2013.

Your Parish Council met last night for a scheduled Parish Council meeting to discuss important community issues including the Parish Council election results.

Many Parishioners were present.

Our Proestamenoi were not present and no prior notification of their absence was given. (Fr. Elias notified our President on Sunday Dec 8, 2013 that he would be on vacation).

We were informed by one of the parish council members at the beginning of the meeting that Fr. Michael was not coming. Towards the end of the meeting the same parish council member received a text from Fr. Michael stating that the proestamenoi were directed by our Metropolitan to not attend the Parish Council meeting.

Election results and other important issues will be communicated to the Parish via separate communication.

We are in constant communication with the Archdiocese and pray for resolution of our present difficulties.

In His Name and Service,

Your Parish Council

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December 9, 2013
VIA E-MAIL AND FIRST CLASS MAIL DELIVERY

His Eminence Metropolitan Isaiah of Denver
Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Denver
4550 East Alameda Ave. Denver, CO 80246

Your Eminence,

Attached please find the resolution and motion passed by the Parish Council. Please note that this will take effect on January 1, 2014.

MOTION FROM 11-11-2013 PARISH COUNCIL MEETING:

On January 1, 2014 the Parish Council will implement the Parish Assembly directives made on August 25, 2013 and November 10, 2013 and eliminate the highest clergy compensation package to balance the budget.

In His Name and Service
Respectfully,

/s/ Dimitrios Tsagaris

For the Parish Council

Dimitrios Tsagaris
2013 Parish Council President

CC: His Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew; His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios; Mr. Michael Jaharis; Fr. Michael Kouremetis; Fr. Mathew Gilbert.

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RESOLUTION OF THE GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH OF GREATER SALT LAKE
DATED NOVEMBER 11, 2013

WHEREAS, in 2007 the Greek Orthodox Church of Greater Salt Lake (“GOCSLC”) held its Spring Parish Assembly;

WHEREAS, during that Spring Parish Assembly, the membership in good standing, against the advice of the then parish council and Clergy, approved a request for a third priest to be assigned to GOCSLC;

WHEREAS, since 2007 the GOCSLC has had difficulty in meeting its financial obligations;

WHEREAS, the current Parish Council has repeatedly warned the Community and Metropolitan Isaiah of the pending financial crisis its faces;

WHEREAS, in July 2013, the current Parish Council reduced Clergy salaries by 40% (net overall reduction of 27%) to prevent financial default on its payroll obligations and accounts payable;

WHEREAS, in August 2013 a Special General Assembly was held and the membership in good standing voted to restore Clergy salaries to full compensation levels, including the payment of all back pay, and additionally voted to request Metropolitan Isaiah reassign one of the priests as soon as possible;

WHEREAS, despite the directive from the August 2013 Special General Assembly and repeated pleas from the Parish Council, Metropolitan Isaiah has not reassigned a priest as of this time;

WHEREAS, on November 10, 2013 in accordance with Article 1, Section 31 of the Uniform Parish Regulations, the Fall Parish Assembly consisting of members in good standing (the appropriating and policymaking body) voted in support of and passed an amended balanced budget for 2014 with Clergy salaries reflecting only 2 priests;

WHEREAS, absent the relief provided by the balanced budget, the GOSLC will be in financial stress and struggle to meet its financial commitments by year end December, 2013; and

BE IT RESOLVED that on January 1, 2014 the Greek Orthodox Church of Greater Salt Lake will implement the directives from the Fall Parish Assembly reflecting a balanced budget with only two Clergy salary positions receiving compensation.

Vote on Sunday December 8

                                                                  ARTICLE 25 
                                      ELECTION OF   PARISH COUNCIL

Section 1: Members of the Parish Council shall be elected by parishioners in good standing of the Parish in accordance with the Regulations and the Parish Bylaws. The election of the members of the Parish Council shall be held no earlier than the first Sunday in November, and no later than the second Sunday in December.

Please VOTE AS REQUIRED BY THE UPR's

Latest Clergy Correspondence

We have been fortunate to receive two separate communications from our two esteemed proistamenoi.  The first is their letter to the Metropolitan outlining their reasons why parish council elections cannot take place this coming Sunday.  They repeat the words of the Metropolitan in which he, "declares the assembly meeting invalid along with any decisions which may have been passed."  Declarations have been made but citing references for those declarations are lacking.  NOWHERE in the UPR does it state a general assembly meeting invalid should the clergy choose to walk out. 

We then learn that "there cannot be anyone in canonical good standing at this point without a canonical general assembly."  An interesting statement for our two esteemed proistamenoi to make.  If this is the case and NO ONE in this community is in canonical good standing, the clergy should be prepared to refuse communion to ANYONE who approaches.  With regard to referencing the canons, specifically which canons from which council have been violated rendering a parish general assembly invalid? 

Their second communication explains again an imagined violation of the UPR saying, "elections cannot proceed according to the UPR since nominations for Elections Committee members and Parish Council candidates occurred at Parish Assembly deemed non-canonical by His Eminence."  They further explain that "candidates have not been qualified by the priests nor have they attended a Parish Council seminar."  They fail to mention that they were asked to conduct the necessary seminar never responding to the request.  

Their final objection is the issuance of absentee ballots by the parish council in violation of the directive of the Metropolitan.  Let's be clear, such a directive is a direct violation of UPR Article 25, Section 6.  Is the Metropolitan asking us to violate the same UPR that he continuously cites and holds dear?  You can't have it both ways. 

We thank our esteemed proistamenoi for their correspondence and encourage everyone to vote this coming Sunday.     

VETO OVER ELECTIONS?

The Denver Metropolitan’s most recent missive ( dated November 26, 2013) concerning the validity of elections has reached new lows concerning governance issues.

We applaud the Parish’s Council’s decision to implement the General Assembly’s directive to hold elections this coming Sunday, as previously announced.

I would urge every parishioner to take the time to learn about the candidates. I would urge the parishioners to obtain absentee ballots or appear in person to vote. On Sunday, December 8, 2013 we all need to vote our conscience in selecting our Parish’s leadership for the next year.

The Denver Metropolitan’s new “hat-trick” is invoking his veto power. A power he does not have. He also seeks to vest his appointed clergy, with the same veto power over the election of the Parish’s council.

The people are the Church. In matters of faith veto power rests exclusively with our Savior. Last I heard we do not celebrate the Denver Metropolitan’s, or Fr. Michael’s or Fr. Matthew’s birthday on December 25.

Cast your ballots in a timely manner so that you alone can have your say as to how our Parish will be governed. Let us all leave Theology to knowledgeable Theologians.

Merry Christmas to everyone.

Nick

P.S. Happy Name Day to all the Barbaras, Savas, Nicks, Annas, and Spiros on their respective Name Days celebrated within the next 10 days.

Letters Sent from the Parish Council, 5 December 2013

The following packet of letters was sent out today by our Parish Council. The original packet, sent via e-mail, may be viewed here.

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December 5, 2013

Dear Parishioners,

Elections for Parish Council will proceed this Sunday, December 8th as previously communicated. The letter below from Metropolitan Isaiah clearly states that the elections can proceed as planned.

Below is a letter from Fr. Michael and Fr. Matthew appealing to the Metropolitan to postpone elections. This letter is a request to the Metropolitan, and is not direction to delay or cancel the election process. As such, the election procedure will commence as planned this Sunday, December 8th at both Holy Trinity and Prophet Elias.

Also below please find a Notice of Appeal to the Holy Eparchial Synod that will be filed today.



In His Name and Service

Your Parish Council

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November 26, 2013

Rev. Michael Kouremetis
Rev. Matthew Gilbert
Rev. Elias Koucos
The Members of the Parish Council
The Greek Orthodox Community of Salt Lake City
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral
279 South 300 West
Salt Lake City, UT 84101
Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox Church
5335 S. Highland Dr.
Holladay, UT 84117

Beloved in the Lord,

I thank you for your letter of November 13, 2013 infonning me of what took place at the meeting of the parishioners which was supposed to be a canonical parish assembly. For the clergy and at least one hundred parishioners to leave the meeting before it ended in a proper manner forces me to declare the meeting invalid along with any decisions which may have been passed.

In regard to candidates for the eight parish council positions to be filled, according to my letter to you dated October 23, 2013, their names, along with the names of those already received, may be given to the Board of Elections by December 8, 2013. This way the list of candidates for parish council elections will be compl eted by December 9, 2013, if the elections will take place on the second Sunday of December, as the uniform Parish Regulations provide (Article 25, Section 1). If, for necessary reasons, this time frame appears to be too short, I grant pennission for the elections to take place on Sunday December 15, 2013.

Please keep in mind that the candidates who plan to run for the new parish council must have been approved by the two proista menoi (Article 25, Section 2), as well as the approval of the list of parishioners who plan to vote for them. On the basis of this regulation both Father Matthew Gil bert and Father Michael Kouremetis must approve of the list of parish council candidates, as well as the roster of those parishioners who are qualified to vote.

If for whatever reasons, these directions are not followed and the parish council elections do not take place, I will have no choice but to appoint eight of the qualified candidates who wish to serve our Lord Jesus Christ and His Church in Salt Lake City for the next two years, 2014 and 2015, and who will join the continuing seven members of the council.

It is time for all the Greek Orthodox people who consider themselves as members of our Archdiocese family here in the United States and who reside in the Salt Lake City region, to want to work together in the spirit if Christian love and to continue our two thousand year Apostolic Christian heritage to the glory of God and for the salvation of all His people.

May our loving God guide and bless all of you as you demonstrate that you belong to Him as heirs of His coming Kingdom.

With paternal blessings

/s/

Metropolitan Isaiah of Denver

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December 3, 2013

Received via fax December 4, 2013

His Eminence Metropolitan Isaiah
Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Denver
4550 East Alameda Avenue
Denver, CO 80246-1208

Your Eminence,

We are writing to inform you that parish counci l elections cannot yet take place because the Uniform Parish Regulations of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese are not being upheld.

Having received your letter of November 26, 2013, in which you confirm and "declare the assembly meeting invalid along with any decisions which may have been passed'', we remind Your Eminence that we cannot proceed with parish council elections because the invalid assembly negated, as well, the appointment of an election committee and any parish council candidate nominations that were received at the invalid assembly.

There cannot be anyone in canonical good standing at this point without a canonical parish assembl y. As a result, we cannot proceed to determine who is in canonical and fmancial good standing as referenced in Article 25 Section 2 which states, "A candidate for the Parish Council must be a parishioner in good standing of the Parish for at least one (1) year immediately preceding the date of the election and must live his or her life in accordance with the Faith and canons of the Church. The Priest determines whether the Parishioners are in canonical and financial good standing as specified in Article 18, Sections 1 through 3".

Therefore, we cannot proceed with a parish council candidates' seminar nor allow parish council elections to take place without first having a canonical parish assembly.

With love and respect,
we are Kissing Your Right Hand.
/s/
 Fr. Michael Kouremetis
Fr. Matthew Gilbert

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GREEK ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE OF AMERICA

BEFORE THE HOLY EPARCHIAL SYNOD GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH



IN THE MATTER OF: THE GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH OF GREATER SALT LAKE, APPELLANT.

APPEAL TO THE HOLY EPARCHIAL SYNOD OF THE GREEK ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE OF AMERICA

December 5, 2013

To: His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America, and the Holy Eparchial Synod of Bishops of the Archdiocese of America

This is an Appeal to the pursuant to and in accordance with PART IV, ARTICLE 35, Dispute Resolution Procedures, “Addendum B, Dispute Resolution Procedures,” of the Regulations of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, 2007, (the “UPRs”).

This Appeal is being filed by and on behalf of the Greek Orthodox Church of Greater Salt Lake.

This Appeal is taken from certain determinations having been made by His Eminence Metropolitan Isaiah of Denver, as more particularly set forth in the attached letter dated November 26, 2013, marked Exhibit “A” and by this reference is incorporated herein and made a part hereof, and all related matters leading up to the above referenced letter.

It is hereby respectfully requested that the Holy Eparchial Synod considers this matter, at such time as convenient to the Holy Eparchial Synod, and to the parties.

Appellant respectfully submits that it will be filing its Appellate brief within 30 days from date hereof. Dated this 5th day of December, 2013.

By Order of the Parish Council of the

Greek Orthodox Church of Greater Salt Lake

_______________________________________________

Dimitrios Tsagaris, President

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

The undersigned hereby certifies that a copy of the foregoing has been served as set forth herein below:
Via Fax: 212/570-3592

Via Email:

The Holy Eparchial Synod of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
c/o His Grace Bishop Sevastianos of Zela
Secretary Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
8-10 East 79th Street
New York NY 10021

Via Fax: 212/570-3592

Via Email:

His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios

Office of the Archbishop

Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America

8-10 East 79th Street

New York NY 10021


Via Fax: (303) 333-7796

Via Email:

His Eminence Metropolitan Isaiah

Metropolitan of Denver

4550 East Alameda Avenue

Denver CO 80246-1208

by Email and Federal Express overnight service, this 5th day of December, 2013. Dimitrios Tsagaris, President

PARISH COUNCIL ELECTIONS TO BE HELD SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2013

The Parish Council sent correspondence to the community today. The original letter, along with a previously cited letter from the Metropolitan of Denver may be viewed here.

We have added the text from the Parish Council's letter regarding Parish Council elections below.

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December 2, 2013

Dear Parishioners,

Below please find the most recent letter from our Metropolitan.
Although the letter is dated last Tuesday, November 26th, it was not sent to the Parish Council until after 4pm Sunday, December 1st.

As previously announced, elections will take place this coming Sunday, December 8th at both churches following services and going until 3pm.

Absentee ballots are available at the offices at Holy Trinity and must be returned by Friday, December 6th by 5:00 pm.

The following candidates are running for 8 positions on the Parish Council.

Yannis Armaou
Nick Bapis
Steve Gamvroulas
Jim Kastanis
Alicia Mares
Dr. Maria Oneida Hardwick
Sakis Sakellariou
Ted Sargetakis
Jim Sifandonakis
Cindy Skedros
Greg Skedros
Jim Zarkos

Dated November 26, 2013; Released December 1, 2013

To view the latest salvo from the Metropolitan click here.

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The Metropolitan implies in his first paragraph that the information of the clergy walking out of the general assembly with "at least one hundred parishioners" came from the parish council.  NOWHERE in ANY correspondence from the parish council regarding the recent parish assembly is any number of walkouts listed. It is apparent the Metropolitan receives his information from those he chooses to listen to for his own motivations. 

Regarding the orchestrated walkout:  We ask Your Eminence, why would the proistameno of Prophet Elias only, at a community function the night before the meeting, approach the individual who would be parliamentarian and say the priests had been instructed to walk out should any discussion regarding the benevolent funds occur?   WHO exactly gave those instructions?  Could they have come from you??  When the orchestrated walkout occurred, there was no discussion of the benevolent funds taking place.  Just so you can't claim to being misinformed, there were not "at least one hundred parishioners" who walked out.  Nor were there at least fifty parishioners who walked out.  Your Eminence would be more accurate to state that "about thirty parishioners" walked out (out of 256).  Oh by the way, some of them returned to the meeting. One more thing:  Please tell us which Article and Section of the UPR indicate a general assembly meeting invalid if the clergy orchestrate a walk out.

Regarding the validity of the meeting:  His Eminence states that he has been forced to declare the meeting invalid because of the orchestrated walkout by the clergy.  Hmm...  if memory serves, there was a general assembly held in August where NO clergy bothered to even show up.  Where is His Eminence's letter telling us he is forced to declare that meeting invalid?  ΤΑ  ΚΑΛΑ  ΚΑΙ  ΣΥΜΦΕΡΟΝΤΑ.  Should the decision to reinstate clergy salaries made at that meeting be invalid also? 

It seems also that the Metropolitan has resorted to his pre 2012 tactics to control, yet again, the outcome of this parish's elections.  His motivations are clear.  Declare ineligible those who don't see things my way so I can appoint those who will.  Your Eminence, we lived this nightmare of yours in the past with no success and refuse to relive it again.  The vast majority of the members of this community consider themselves "members of our Archdiocese family here in the United States" and "want to work together in the spirit of Christian love to continue our two thousand year Apostolic Christian heritage to the glory of God and for the salvation of all His people."  Unfortunately, you have failed to recognize the many who fit this criteria and believe that the only ones who do, are those who are willing to do your bidding.

Benevolent Funds

The recent letter from the Metropolitan raises more questions than it answers.  If the letter was written on Tuesday, November 26 and addressed to the assigned clergy, the parish council and the members of this community, why was there a six day delay in its release.  Presumably, the assigned clergy had the letter, sat on it until Sunday, December1 before forwarding it to the parish council.  Any complaints regarding this blog receiving the letter before it was released to the parish are reminiscent of a pot and kettle.

An issue remains that, by its being ignored, should be alarming.  No real resolution has ever come from the questionable use of the benevolent funds of the assigned clergy.  According to the National Herald, the proistameno of Prophet Elias only, had his secretary as a co-signatory on his account.  Is this true?  If it is true, according to the February 4, 2013 letter from the Metropolitan, "You could be defrocked from the holy priesthood, if you were known to divulge such confidential information."  Having anyone other than the clergy as a signatory on this account would certainly "divulge such confidential information."  Why would the Metropolitan and Archdiocese look the other way?  Could they be trying to hide the truth? If so, why?

Distributing funds to family members is certainly questionable.  The Metropolitan excuses these expenditures as "seminarians" who, "as well as other college students at all colleges have unexpected needs that require financial assistance."  This might very well be true.  Two points:  no other seminarians were offered financial assistance and, no other seminarians have a family member who has access to this type of account.  The Metropolitan also excuses five other expenses as having to do with "worship services involving visiting clergy and chanting."  Aren't expenses involving visiting clergy and chanting parish expenses that would come from the parish general fund and not a benevolent fund?  Again, why would the Metropolitan and Archdiocese look the other way?  

Why , according to the National Herald, was the secretary's name on the benevolent fund account?  WHY did  Fr. Kouremetis allow this?

John Saltas Responds to "Protect Our Clergy"

Moderator's Note: Mr. Saltas has given us permission to respond to an e-mail sent by "Protect Our Clergy" here.

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Dear Person(s) who are holier than me:

As a writer myself, I want to compliment you on your improved style, story rhythm, and all around good story telling efforts. Fiction is my favorite genre, and your skills prove why.

Just a small couple of squibbles though.

1. With apologies to Inigo Montoya, I don't think the words "silent" and majority" mean what you think they mean.

2. When you query about "an ex-parish council member getting into a fight and having to be escorted from the premises" I get your deep wit. What I don't get is how you missed a former parish council president flipping the bird to the wife of our parish president. That had a richer context for sarcasm and it's too bad you didn't riff off that.

2A. On that same line, and recognizing the humor of your line, the ball was also dropped when you didn't take the opportunity to compare Sunday's fictitious scene to the real one a couple of winter's ago when the blessed and graced among you stood strong against the efforts of the mighty Kal Sargetakis and others to enter a warm church hall, making sure they shivered in the snow. Holier than thou indeed!

3. I'm not convinced, despite what I read here, that there are flaws in the budget, or proposed budget, or amended budget. Or whatever. A writing tip here: don't go to a well that has no water--it's plain as your glowing halo that a fellow who is bigwig with the San Francisco Reserve (Kapos, to name but one credible financial mind among those in charge of the budgets and audits), that your grassy knoll conspiracies just don't hold...uhhhh...water. Try again. I'm with you, you just didn't try very hard on this one.

4. With regards to orchestration of events during the assembly, I must compliment on the orchestration of your own, the walk out of less than 30 people (yes, I counted) in some sort of Masonic Priesthood brotherhood ritual. My question regarding that is who among you got the text or wink to move up and out first--or was it a group text? Look if you're going to make a "a large number of parishioners" leave, at least do it with the flair of David Copperfield or the mystery and magic of our fellow Greek, Chris Angel. Next time, everyone should disappear.

Otherwise, job well done!!

Take care.

Looking forward to the next email.

John Saltas
Your "secret" Admirer

DRAFT

In a perfect world all lay people would be generous stewards .. giving freely because it is what the Lord asks of us and we Laity would give for their own spiritual benefit -- not because it is required by a decision of a Clergy-Laity Congress. (emphasis added) They would give without demanding financial transparency and accountability on the part of Church leaders. (BECAUSE THEY WOULD NOT NEED TO?) In a perfect world Church leaders would be loving and caring stewards of the resources entrusted to them. They would be skilled in dispute resolution. They would lead by personal example: by persuasion and consent rather than by command and force. The problem of leadership in our present circumstances and in the American age we live in is that Church leaders need to understand that they cannot be effective by themselves… (emphasis added) they are useless without followers. (emphasis added) They need to learn a new style of leadership.. just as the Laity must develop a new quality of followership. Church leaders in America must be responsive to the people and the people must be active and informed participants in the process.

- from "The Meaning of a Hierarchical Church" - by George Karcazes

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A CRY FOR HELP, PLEASE!!!

Yesterday, November 10, we again we witnessed the logical consequences of illogical Uniform Parish Regulations and a warped Charter. 

When our clergy hear reality that affects THEIR bottom line, they leave. 

In the meantime, the evening before, the clergy threatened that any mention of "benevolent" funds would ensure the same result.

Is this any way to lead the Church - the Bride of Christ? 

We beseech the Archbishop and the Patriarch to intervene!

The situation is intolerable.

Thoughts from Nick Colessides: KEEP ON WALKING!

Dear Parishioners,

May I suggest  that the Clergy “keep on walking,” after they walked out from the General Assembly;  if they had any filotimo they should never come back.  And, if we have any sense and intestinal fortitude, we should NOT accept them back.

We do not need cowards to think that we are in need of their ministry; they have nothing to offer us.

It will do them good to find out where their next meal will come from;  maybe from the Benevolent Fund?

Let us tell them exactly what President Ligeros told Bishop Demetrios of Los Angeles in 1964:  Don’t let the door hit you in the rear end.  Bishop Isaiah should know the drill; he was one of the clergyman that Bishop Demetrios took with him.  I was there;  I saw it happen.

See if you can convey this message to the Denver Metropolitan, and the Archdiocese in New York.

Best regards,

Nick

The former anointed appointed might have a point regarding their observations if:

a) they remembered that during their dismal misrule the books were NOT open for anyone to inspect (a violation of the UPR they hold dear); this Parish Council has had them open for inspection at anytime by any parishioner.  In addition, upon inspection by the anointed appointed, they themselves found no improprieties.

b) while decrying audits of benevolent funds [which do fall under the purview of GAAP Accounting Standards under rule 501(c)(3) regardless of UPR paranoia] they fail to note that there were improprieties;  these are not "discretionary" funds to be used by the esteemed clergy for their family or individuals who are themselves signatories on the accounts they espouse untouchable. 

c) their claims for "unity", and adherence to the UPRs, ring hollow in view of their ongoing justification of a separate corporate identity for Prophet Elias only by a self elected, unauthorized group of parishioners; 

d) they applied the dearly held UPR uniformly during their misrule

Reaching Back to Go Forward: Looking Back to the Previous Century and Saying: OXI!

Instead of promoting Christ’s love, unifying the community and taking positive forward thinking steps, this “leadership” intends to pull us back into the previous century. (from a recent e-mail to various community members from Protect our Clergy)

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You bet we do!

The leaders from the previous century were MEN! Men with vision, men with stamina, men who did not cower if a so-inclined priest or bishop cast a cross glance!

Men who knew that a modicum of control had to reside with the laity. Men who knew that clerics and hierarchs, however well intended, were, after all human beings, with human failings.

The former anointed appointed would have us cow to a set of regulations that have us at the mercy of a group of human beings who may be destined for sainthood, or, be a series of Rasputins. Our grandfathers would NOT take that chance. Neither should we!

Even if it means reaching back into the prior century, to a group of immigrants who did not have our education or our advantages, we should heed their wisdom and say, "OXI".

Thoughts from the Former Anointed Appointed Regarding this Year's General Assembly

Our Parish Council “leadership” is at it again, and again your help is needed.

The Parish Council has published a proposed budget that is clearly crafted to eliminate our clergy and will ultimately lead to conflict with our Hierarchs and again result in the closing of our Churches.

These blatant attempts to turn our Christian Parish into a country club have been made even more apparent by the recent public statements of some councilmen who have advocated leaving the Archdiocese and openly admitted that their prime motivation for being on the Council is to remove our clergy.

They have made little effort to alleviate the problems of the Parish and in fact are suggesting a reduction in Stewardship to levels comparable to 1998! Instead of promoting Christ’s love, unifying the community and taking positive forward thinking steps, this “leadership” intends to pull us back into the previous century.

WHY "OXI" IS PARTICULARLY MEANINGFUL THIS YEAR!!!

Moderator's Note: The original letter sent by the Denver Metropolitan may be viewed here. We added it below and have responded to the absurd assertions, point-by-point in said letter.

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October 23, 2013

Reverend Matthew Gilbert
The Esteemed Parish Council
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral
279 South 300 West
Salt Lake City, UT 84101


Beloved in the Lord,

Having been informed that a general assembly is scheduled in the community for Sunday, November 10, 2013 and being aware of the fact that parish council elections for eight seats will take place before the end of the year, I am pleased to make you aware of the proper procedures that are to take place in order for me to be able to ratify the elections.

There are seven, and not eight seats available.

The Denver Metropolitan very well knows this, and knows very well why. He initially promised NO restrictions, and then reneged (yet again!), refusing to ratify Nick Bapis and Yanni Armaou - both of whom were FAIRLY elected.

The insistence on EIGHT, considering the circumstances he himself effected, is grossly unfair to Alicia Mares, a prominent member of this community, who has admirably and tirelessly served for decades at both churches. She is also one of only two women on the Parish Council, and is also serving on the Executive Committee as well. Since the Denver Metropolitan disqualified Mr. Bapis, she became the person with the next highest votes - the EIGHTH highest votes - and, as such, she deserves to hold her position on the Parish Council for another year.

Further, the Denver Metropolitan's mathematics are highly flawed. If Mrs. Mares holds the 8th spot for the extra year, another seven electees will add up to 15 and not 14, as the Metropolitan has suggested.

As you know, in March and April of 2012, I totally relaxed the qualifications of all the members of the community to be able to vote. However, I never imagined that there would have been 142 absentee ballots cast. With the inclusion of such a high number of absentee ballots (which is usually the total number who vote in parish council elections for an average size parish) - WE ARE NOT AN AVERAGE SIZED PARISH - it appears this was the reason most of the candidates who were successfully elected identify with only one of the two churches. This of course, contributed to the continuing tensions and divisions which have not diminished these past seventeen months.

What the Denver Metropolitan had relaxed were the UPRs after having ignored the same, for years, in denying free elections and open general assemblies; this, in direct violation of those same UPRs! If they're "good" for the laity, they should be "good" for the clergy. (NOTE: They're not good for either!)

As for the absentee ballots, (a) What difference did that make? The elected were ELECTED and by a wide margin, whether in person or through absentee votes, and (b) did it ever occur to the Denver Metropolitan that people in late May (instead of December when elections normally were held and were not, thanks to him) had kids finishing school and were taking early summer vacations?

Those chosen were elected by a community tired of the arrogant manipulations of the Denver Metropolitan, the local clergy, and, the community's former anointed appointed, who could not accept that the majority of this community disavowed their vision for the community and disbelieved their belated claims for "unity".

It is THIS ELECTED PARISH COUNCIL that cares about BOTH churches. The Metropolitan's anointed appointed, caring only about Prophet Elias (and about taking it away from the community as a whole), have, to this day, made no secret that if they wrest P.E. from the whole community they will SELL it (at a handsome profit, to the detriment of the others in the community!) and build elsewhere! The Denver Metropolitan, and the local clergy are conspiring with them and working tirelessly in continuing to facilitate this travesty!

That the tensions of the past seventeen months have not diminished - to say nothing of the previous decade - are due to the Denver Metropolitan's ongoing interference, an intractable and unloving local clergy, and a vocal minority of malcontents who will stop at nothing to STEAL a part of this entire community's rightful legacy.

Now that regular parish council elections will take place for the eight (SEVEN!) positions which will be vacated, it is imperative that we return to the proper procedures which are found in the Uniform Parish Regulations. These procedures have to do not only with the candidates for the parish council, but also for the parishioners who plan to vote. Since the Priest determines whether the parishioners are in canonical and financial good standing in order to vote, as specified in Article 18 Sections 1, 2 and 3, the roster containing the names of the parishioners shall be verified by Father Gilbert and Father Kouremetis as stated in Article 25 Section 2.

We will NOT accept any such interference with our traditional rights as Greek Orthodox Christians and as members of this community.

Moreover, the parishioners who plan to run for the parish council must be nominated on the basis of Article 25, Sections 1, 2 and 3. This means that among other qualifications, they must attend the required seminars, attend the holy services regularly, participate in the sacrament of Holy Communion and respect all ecclesiastical authority.

We've said this before. Respect cannot be demanded, despite any regulations that are IMPOSED from on high; it must be earned. Further, the paradigm "ο,τι κανεις, λαβεις" (as you sow, so shall you reap) is appropriate here.

Because of the appearance of abuse of absentee balloting on May 20, 2012 for the current parish council, I would not be in a position to ratify the elections if absentee balloting were allowed. It is not at all logical for absentee ballots to determine who is or is not elected at a properly conducted parish council election.

'THE "APPEARANCE" OF ABUSE??? How carefully the Denver Metropolitan crafts his poisonous words based on the nonsensical information given to him by the community's former anointed appointed! Again, the Denver Metropolitan cherry-picks the UPRs. Absentee ballots ARE ALLOWED (Article 25 Section 6) under such! Further, our 501(c)(3) community by-laws also provide for absentee ballots. We insist that our Parish Council continue to allow them as well!

Finally, at your coming general assembly, financial reports on the parish budget must be restricted to the parish budget according to the UPR's of the Archdiocese, Article 34 Section 7.

The flawed UPRs can restrict as they like. Our Metropolitan is an expert at imposing restrictions when it suits his purpose, and ignoring them for the same reason.

Regardless. Numbers are numbers. We urge the Parish Council to be honest about them - ALL OF THEM!

Based on this latest vitriolic letter, one of a dismal array of many, no one should wonder why stewardship is down despite the best efforts of the Parish Council and the Stewardship Committee. This bishop's ongoing petulance, obstructionism and disdain point to the MAJOR reasons that: a) this community cannot get back on its feet; and, b) no one will give as generously as they might. For all their dictatorial implementation, if not outright intent, STEWARDSHIP is the Achilles' Heel of the Uniform Parish Regulations!

Who is inclined toward maximum giving when one has a Metropolitan who, a) disparages continually the majority of his flock who are dismayed by his imperious and arrogant attitude; and b) conspires with the local "Ephialteses" to strip this community of its rightful legacy?

With Paternal Blessings,
(We ask our Lord to be spared such; the Denver Metropolitan is anything but "paternal".)

/s/

+ Metropolitan Isaiah of Denver