“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

A CALL TO ACTION: MOVE OUR CHURCH FORWARD!

Events of the previous several weeks, would indicate that it is time for those of us who care about the future of our beloved church and community to take action. For too long we have allowed the few to dictate the course of this community.  Their "leadership" has been disastrous. 


We are not progressing. We are not unified. We are not growing. Our youth and young adults are being given a dismal example to follow.


Respected leaders and stewards are being treated shabbily. Diversity of opinion is no longer acceptable. Long-time members have either given up, or have been forced out. Stewardship has decreased. Fundraising is at an almost complete standstill. The current leadership's bookkeeping and accounting practices are highly questionable and have included substantial penalties being assessed for lack of proper oversight.


And, rather than address these deficiencies, our clergy and parish council defiantly continue as if nothing were wrong.  "Kill the messengers" (or threaten excommunication) is the order of the day.


This cannot, and must not continue. And we MUST all do our part to see that it does not. (If you are not currently in good standing, please take the time to download the stewardship form at the bottom of the page.)


WE MUST DO OUR UTMOST AND SIGN A PETITION CALLING FOR A SPECIAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY.


(Click here for a downloadable copy of the petition.)


Simply print a copy of the petition, and ask your family and friends who are members to print and sign their names. Then you may either mail your signatures or drop them by Nick Colessides' office ON or BEFORE Monday, July 12, 2010.

Nick J. Colessides
466 South 400 East
Suite 100
Salt Lake City, Utah 84111
We offer for your consideration the following related documents for the petition:


1. Uniform Parish Regulations 2007 - ARTICLE 31, PARISH ASSEMBLY


2. Letter from Metropolitan Isaiah supporting community fundraising under the auspices of the General Assembly, November 2005


3. Letters from 1964 granting this community, through its General Assemblies, control over its assets


4. Stewardship commitment forms. PLEASE, click on the link, print the form, fill it in and send in a pledge to become voting members!



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