Letter from N. Colessides Regarding Metropolitan Isaiah's 23 Feb 2012 Correspondence

Moderators' Note: printed with Mr. Colessides' permission.

THIS IS MY PERSONAL OPINION.
IT ONLY REFLECTS MY OWN POINT OF YOU.

Please feel free to distribute as widely as possible.

February 24, 2012

Dear Parishioners,

Conflicting and incongruous statements seem to continuously flow from the Denver Metropolitan.

If what he is saying in his latest missive [dated February 23, 2012] is correct, he should follow the Archbishop’s directive to rescind and discard the “Prophet Elias Corporation” from the records of the Utah Division of Corporations.

It is indeed unthinkable for him to recognize the status of the “2010 corporate entity” that he ordered created, and to disregard the legal status of a one hundred seven (107) year institution, lawfully and continuously existing in our state.

The Denver Metropolitan is creating serious IRS problems for the contributors to our religious corporation as a legal entity.

Our parish’s participation in the Denver Metropolitan’s directives, is as voluntary as a Confession during the Spanish Inquisition.

Best regards,

Nick J. Colessides

P. S. This Sunday, please come, one and all to vote at the elections. If you were a member during 2011, or the last three (3) calendar years, you do not need to otherwise qualify to vote. If not please file and submit the most recently mailed stewardship form, and pledge whatever your conscience dictates. I did it about two weeks ago, and I pledged $25.00 for the year. All of us shall come to the financial aid of our parish immediately upon the removal of the appointed clergy. That is the leverage we have and we should all collectively exercise.

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

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

Letter from Metropolitan to Parish Council, 23 Feb 2012

Moderators' Note: the original of this letter may be viewed HERE.

+ GREEK ORTHODOX METROPOLIS OF DENVER

February 23, 2012

Rev. Michael Kouremetis,
Rev. Matthew Gilbert,
Mr. Phillip Floor, Council President
The Esteemed Parish Council
The Greek Orthodox Church of Greater Salt Lake City
Holy Trinity Cathedral – Prophet Elias Church
c/o 279 South 300 West
Salt Lake City, Utah 84101

Beloved in the Lord,

I am in receipt of your letter informing me that the fifteen parishioners who accepted to be on the Interim Parish Council for 2012 have taken the Affirmation of Office as prescribed by our Archdiocese Regulations and are now working as one entity for the growth and progress of the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ in the Salt Lake City area.

I hereby accept the fifteen parishioners as members of the canonical parish council of the Greek Orthodox community and parish for the year 2012, as provided by Article 26, Section 5 of the Uniform Parish Regulations.

As I mentioned in my letter to you dated January 12, 2012, the Parish Council is to facilitate the continuity of all parish ministries for the good of the members. It shall also prepare to have canonical parish council elections as soon as it is practical.

Having received word from your president, Mr. Phillip Floor, that by consensus you believe that a general assembly for proper parish council elections should be held soon after the Great Fast and the glorious Paschal celebrations, I accept the date of Sunday, April 29, 2012 which you have proposed to me, as practical for such an assembly.

Information has come to me that a group calling itself the Greek Orthodox Church of Great Salt Lake has proposed elections for its “CORPORATION” in the near future. Clearly, this has nothing to do with you and your parish, since the Church is not a “corporation” but a cell in the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, which is under the Ecumenical Patriarchate. It is obvious that attempting to reduce the Body of Christ, which has existed for nearly 2,000 years, to the status of a modern secular organization is absurdity.

I express my complete confidence in all fifteen members of the parish council to work together as sons and daughters of our loving God, Who established His Church in the world for the salvation of His people.

With paternal blessings,
/s/
+ Metropolitan Isaiah of Denver

Parish Elections, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012, starting at noon thru 3:00 p.m.

Moderators' Note: Please click HERE to download and print this letter and distribute it to other parishioners.

Dear Parishioner:

During the January 29, 2012 Special General Assembly held in the Memorial Building at Holy Trinity Cathedral, the 309 persons attending voted overwhelmingly to conduct elections for a new parish council on February 26, 2012. This email is to inform you that we believe the elections should and will take place as scheduled at both Holy Trinity and Prophet Elias this Sunday. The voting booths will be open from noon to 3:00 p.m. All persons who have been in good standing at any time during the past three years are eligible to vote.

You will also have the opportunity to fill a pledge card for calendar 2012, on Sunday, and we encourage you to do so. Ballots have been printed in both Greek and English and voting instructions will be provided. We expect that you have heard rumors that the election has been postponed, or that you might be instructed not to attend. In either case, be informed that the elections will occur. The will of the majority of persons in this community can no longer be denied. Also understand that regardless of whether the new parish council will be formally and immediately sanctioned or not, that we will at least have a group of persons in place should efforts by the appointed Interim Parish Council for a free and fair General Assembly and Parish Council election sanctioned by the Metropolitan fail.  Unfortunately, we have seen this before.

Fifteen persons from the following candidates will comprise our new Parish Council. Each was duly nominated during the Special General Assembly and agreed to run.

Good luck to each of them.

Angelides, Nick   *   Colessides, Gus   *   Fuskandrakis, Jim 
Gamvroulas, Steve    *   Kapos, Georgette
Kastanis, Jim   *   Kithas, Phillip   *   Mares, Alicia   *   Markogianis, George
Mastakas, John   *   McGrath, Tom   *   Melissas, George    *   Peters, Tom
Sakellariou, Sakis   *   Sifantonakis, Jim (Dimitri)    *   Teseros, Nick
Tsagaris, Dimitrios   *   Yengich, Connie (Kandas)   *   Zarkos, Jim

Thank you for your continued and strident concern for the betterment of our beloved community.

The Unity Group

ELECTIONS for Feb 26, 2012: Finalized Candidates/Nominees Ballot

VOTE FOR UP TO 15.

Angelides, Nick
Colessides, Gus
Fuskandrakis, Jim
Gamvroulas, Steve
Kapos, Georgette
Kastanis, Jim
Kithas, Phillip
Mares, Alicia
Markogianis, George
Mastakas, John
McGrath, Tom
Melissas, George
Peters, Tom
Sakellariou, Sakis
Sifantonakis, Jim (Dimitri)
Teseros, Nick
Tsagaris, Dimitrios
Yengich, Connie Kandas
Zarkos, Jim

IMPORTANT! CORPORATE BOARD ELECTIONS - FEBRUARY 26, 2012

As nearly all parishioners are aware, a Special General Assembly for the CORPORATION of the "Greek Orthodox Church of Greater Salt Lake" took place on January 29, 2012. The reason for this lawfully noticed assembly was simple and clear.

Due to the ongoing absence of regular general assemblies and also a continuing denial of free and fair elections in the Community, as detailed in the Uniform Parish Regulations that the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese in the United States, AND, the Metropolis of Denver, claims to adhere to, 309 members met January 29, 2012 in order to set up processes to hold corporate elections.

The elections will be held February 26, 2012 following the liturgy and ending at 3 p.m. at both churches.


Some would ask for a postponement of those elections in order to give our newly appointed interim parish council time to work out a solution in order to bring about a date for a sanctioned general assembly, followed by free and fair elections.

Regular assemblies and free and fair elections are what we all want and have tried for so long to attain. In the meantime, the corporate elections are by not any means designed to undermine the efforts of the interim Parish Council.

On the contrary, those who care for the unity and progress of our beloved community wish them success - and soon!

The elections on February 26, 2012 will take place, and the elected corporate officers will need some time to proceed with their duties given that we are entering the Lenten period, with hope and faith in the RESURRECTION, also, for this community's resurrection!

No individual has the authority to postpone or cancel the Feb. 26 election from occurring, unless another Special General Assembly is held and authorizes such an extension. Unfortunately the time for such an assembly, due to the 10-day advance notice requirement, has expired.

If, in the meantime, our interim PC announces a General Assembly, to be followed by free and fair elections; and if, those elections take place in a timely manner; then, the elected corporate officers from the Feb 26, 2012 election can ask the community for a new directive. (The directors may also stand for election to the Parish Council.) The corporation can further send another 10-day notice, and a directive can be received, perhaps even before the newly elected Parish Council is sworn in.

We have faith in the community's wisdom. Given proper assurances, the community would not have two boards in competition with each other. However, having waited  - once again - for a reasonable response, and, once again, having received NONE, the elections MUST take place. The preferred decision-making board would of course have been a properly elected Parish Council such as existed prior to the improper clerical and hierarchical interferences prevalent in the past few years.

We continue to hope that the efforts of the current interim parish council will bring forth sanctioned elections in a timely manner are successful. In the meantime, we must ensure that there are no more unreasonable delays by any group or party.

This community has waited too long and has deserved better from its recent leaders - in and out of this community.

ELECTIONS!

As per the directive of the Special General Assembly on January 29, 2012, elections for
15 directors of the
Greek Orthodox Church of Greater Salt Lake, a Utah nonprofit corporation, 

 will take place on 
Sunday February 26, 2012 
at both Churches 
following Divine Liturgy and until 3.00PM

            We encourage you and recommend that you all come and vote.

OUR QUEST WILL GO ON!

Last Saturday the community received an email from the recently appointed parish council.  The president went to Denver to discuss the matter but came empty-handed.  Did he really return empty handed, or did he come back with yet another agenda?  According to an alleged new directive from His Eminence, they need to appoint an additional four parish council members so they can be in conformity with the UPRs!

Eleven people for approximately 45-60 days are not enough, but eight appointed members were enough for a year and a half?  Where have the UPRs been for the last three years minimum?  Almost ten years have passed since open and fair elections.  Fr. Kouremetis and Fr. Gilbert with the blessings of the Metropolitan have made sure of that.  Why is Fr.Kouremetis pushing to have Dr. Beck back on the parish council?  Wasn’t he excluded by the Metropolitan for not complying with his wishes?

Why does Fr. Kouremetis not want to have a meeting with the parish council Monday, insisting

that Fr. Gilbert needs to be present?  What section of the UPRs state that you need two priests to have a meeting?  Why in the past has he allowed meetings while he was the only priest present?

Why the stall tactics?

We asked that the new parish council not to fall in this trap.  Fr. Kouremetis has lost his quest to split the community and he is going to use anything and everything to hang on.  Fake miracles will not save him anymore.  The president did not come back with a letter from His Eminence stating OPEN and FAIR elections. Nowhere in the email do we see the words OPEN, FAIR ELECTIONS.  The email “ριχνει σταχτη στα ματια” to the community is merely a form to pacify us.  As such, the UNITY GROUP will go forward with ELECTIONS.

If His Eminence and his clergy will prove their HONEST intentions IN WRITING, then and only then,

we might trust them.

Yannis Armaou

We Will (Gladly) Believe It - WHEN WE SEE IT!

From: parishcouncil@gocslc.org
Sent: 2/4/2012 2:59:19 P.M. Mountain Standard Time
Subj: Interim Parish Council
February 4, 2012

Dear Parishioners,

We, the undersigned, have been asked by His Eminence, Metropolitan Isaiah, to form an interim parish council to help our community move forward in peace and harmony with a spirit of Christian forgiveness.

We have taken the oath of office and elected officers. Our first meeting is scheduled for Monday, February 6th, at 7:00 pm in the Prophet Elias boardroom.

As directed by the Metropolitan one of our primary tasks, and our first priority, is to schedule a Parish Assembly and subsequent elections for a new elected parish council. We are aware of the doubts many people may have of another appointed parish council. We want to assure you our time will be short while we help reclaim the vibrancy that once was and shall, with the help of all of you, be again in our community.

Through your commitment to our wonderful Orthodox Church we ask for your support to help us revitalize our parish.

Me agape,

Phillip Floor, President
John Johnson
Margaret Kireiev
Nicole Mouskondis, Secretary
Jim Mylonakis, Vice President
George Pappas
Ted Sargetakis, Treasurer
Pete Sefakis, Assistant Treasurer
Demetrios Skedros
Harry Souvall
Elaine Zambos

Beware of Clergy Bearing Gifts

On February 4, 2012 we were the recipients of an email from yet another new interim parish council that was formed "to move forward". It was signed by the new president "me agape".

For history's sake let's see the selections of Fr. Kouremetis.

Mr. Randy Bathemess (did not accept)
Dr. Charles Beck (one of the signatories of the illegal and secret PE corporation and a splitting advocate)
Mr. Harry Hillas (splitting advocate)
Mrs. Margaret Kireiev (splitting advocate and clergy's wife, any conflict of interest here?)
Mr. Jim Mylonakis (yes man to Fr. Kouremetis)
Mr.Jim Priskos (splitting advocate)
Mr. Joe Sasich (splitting advocate, host of the last secret meeting)
Mr. Bruce Shand (one of the signatories of the illegal and secret PE corporation and a splitting advocate)
Ms. Elaine Zambos (clergy knows best)
Mr. Phillip Floor (splitting advocate)

All these picks by Fr. Kouremetis, to promote Unity!?
Now we know that Beck-Hillas-Priskos-Sasich-Shand were not allowed to join the interim parish council because they did not go to take the oath at Holy Trinity! Mrs. Kireiev did not go either, so why was she allowed to join?

Someone will wonder why these gentlemen (some of them were seen in the parking lot of H.T) did not go as they were told by the metropolitan? Who instructed them to do so? Maybe Fr.Kouremetis? He was not here he stayed in Denver so he can have an alibi. Every time we have something major done to our community (split the Philoptochos for instance), Fr. Kouremetis is always out of town. A mere coincidence? Not really; more of a game plan.The master of "I don't know anything, I was out of town."

Why was the metropolitan was so hard on them? After all these people met with him last time he visited Salt Lake.  is this another trick from Denver? I believe so.

"As directed by the Metropolitan one of our primary tasks, and our first priority, is to schedule a Parish Assembly and subsequent elections for a new elected parish council".

Please BEWARE of what he wishes for and how he goes about it.

The metropolitan, let's not forget, has been soundly defeated in two attempts.

First to split the community 87%-13% and most recently on the UPRs 60%-40%.

If a general assembly and free elections do not take place NOW, you will be asked as stated in the past to pass the UPRs in order to have an Assembly.

Will his third attempt be the charm? I hope you are not the ones to help him achieve his goal.
Do not fall in the trap that he has had a change of heart.

Fr. Kouremetis is not here to heal, but to divide.
No more fake miracles, no more secret deliveries of printers, no more secret computer rooms, no more rejections of parishioners to serve, no more secrecy, no more wasted money, no more "I am the boss" statements.

We are behind you and trust you to really move our community forward.

On your first meeting Monday night, do not forget your community.

- Yannis Armaou

And justice for all...

On January 25 Metropolitan Isaiah instructed his clergy, "I am instructing the clergy to give the Affirmation of Office to all the above parishioners at the end of the Divine Liturgy at the Holy Trinity Cathedral on January 29, 2012, since the last affirmation of office was given at the Prophet Elias parish.” “For the sake of the unity and the well-being of the Greek Orthodox community of Greater Salt Lake and its suburbs, I urge all of the 17 council members to work together....".

 Even though we know that one person turned down the invitation and two more were out of town, only nine out of the 14 remaining were present at Holy Trinity.They did not  go to Holy Trinity as they were instructed by his Eminence.

Why the five chose not to take the oath at Holy Trinity ?

Who instructed them, to act this way ? Just wondering who would do such a thing?

" According to the regulations of the Archdiocese, and immediately after the Divine Liturgy, the first meeting of the new parish council will be presided over by Father Michael Kouremetis or Father Matthew Gilbert for the election of the officers of the council, after which the new parish council will be under the new president." 

 It seems to me that the metropolitan is not taken seriously by his clergy. 

 Will these five  be sworn in on Saturday?

I hope his Eminence does the right thing!

"I pray that all the members of the new parish council will demonstrate true unity and Christian fellowship....".

How badly did they betray the Metropolitan? None of them deserve to be sworn in, this coming Saturday.

Fr. Kouremetis' tactics are too obvious. The fake miracles, are over for good.

I hope and pray that his Eminence will  finally realize that his clergy has been directing him the wrong way.

Time will tell.

Κοντος ψαλμος, αλληλουια.

Yannis Armaou

Thank you!

We would like to thank the 309 people that took part in the Special General Assembly.
A message that was read at Prophet Elias urging the people not to attend this meeting, it fell
on deaf ears as quite a few members from PE were in attendance.

COURAGE!! ΚΟΥΡΑΓΙΟ!!

“Above all, don't lie to yourself. The man who lies to himself and listens to his own lie comes to a point that he cannot distinguish the truth within him, or around him, and so loses all respect for himself and for others. And having no respect he ceases to love.” ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, The Brothers Karamazov

The Metropolitan’s latest missive announces yet another rump parish council – appointed, not elected – and filled by persons who have not been nominated in a general assembly. To no one’s surprise, he has appointed several persons who have presided under a system of failed governance and improper accounting as detailed in the 2009 Audit Report. No further audits have been conducted, it might be added; nor have any of the problems detailed by the last report been addressed.

The makeup of this council (and the two extras!) is further appalling. The Metropolitan is asking for unity, yet he takes six or seven persons who have all along been in favor of maintaining this community’s unity, and adds to them ELEVEN people who have been consistent in their efforts to split and divide this community and its assets. No one is surprised that the Metropolitan and the clergy continue to thwart free elections. And, typically, he and his proistamenoi, along with their lay minions, care nothing for fairness; care nothing for at least appointing a council that represents the community more equitably. Those who were assigned from Holy Trinity indicated that this is what they were guaranteed. So much for the truthfulness of Christ’s Apostolic successors.

Two months ago, this community had a “gun” held to its head and was told to vote, by two-thirds margin, to unconditionally accept the Charter and UPRs, and to foreswear the community’s historical CONTRACTUAL exception to such in terms of independently owning its properties. As it turned out, nearly two-thirds voted NO. Isn't it ironic that this latest selected board's make-up is approximately the same proportion as that of the assembly in November - in reverse ?!!

Adding insult to injury, the Metropolitan “generously” allows that “since the last affirmation of office was given at the Prophet Elias parish” (a “parish” that does not exist, by the way), the affirmation to this selected board will be conducted at Holy Trinity Cathedral. To rub the noses of the majority in yet one more outrage?

Finally, having witnessed, yet again, our hierarch’s contempt for his own rules, for fairness, for justice, for the love that Christ showed his flock, that he, first among us, should exemplify, he throws out the notion that the majority in this community caused embarrassment and “unintentionally brought scandal upon Christ’s Church.”

The embarrassment belongs to him and his minions who have:

• indulged in lies, deceits, libels, unethical and incompetent governance;
• thumbed their noses at the even-handed “way forward” provided by the Archdiocese;
• invited law enforcement to be present at our last assembly;
• excluded parishioners of long-standing and attempted to intimidate parishioners to vote their way.

As for “unintentionally scandalous”, we would remind the Metropolitan and the local clergy that those who oppose their notion of governance and their spiritually bankrupt methods in leading their flock, that the scandals are theirs. Many of us choose, intentionally, to expose the scandals for what they are.

It is truly sad that the Metropolitan and the clergy continue to indulge in these tactics that are designed to cause despair, hopelessness and resignation. The truth and God's own justice will prevail. We must persevere. It is now more important than ever that we attend this Sunday's Special General Assembly right after the "affirmation" of yet another SELECTED and UNREPRESENTATIVE Parish Council. Courage! Κουρἀγιο!

DOUBLING DOWN? AND THEN THERE WERE SEVENTEEN! ?

Moderator's Note: the original of this document may be viewed here.

GREEK ORTHODOX METROPOLIS of DENVER

January 25, 2012
Saint Gregory the Theologian

Reverend Michael Kouremetis
Reverend Matthew Gilbert
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral
Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox Church
The Greek Orthodox Church of Greater Salt Lake
c/o 5335 S. Highland Drive
Holladay, UT 84117

Beloved in the Lord,

After consultation with the representatives of His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, His Grace Bishop Andonios, and His Grace Bishop Sebastian, who visited me last week, and in conformity to the Uniform Parish Regulations of the Archdiocese, I hereby appoint the new Parish Council for the year 2012 who will continue the work of the current parish council.

After the Affirmation of Office is given by the new Parish Council, the current parish council will turn over all of its responsibilities, as laid out in the UPRs.

The members of the new Parish Council have been augmented to seventeen total for this year, on the basis that each of them wishes to work as one body for the good of the community, and also to continue all of the ministries of the parish as fulltime ministries.

The newly-appointed members are:

1. Mr. Randy Bathemas
2. Dr. Charles Beck
3. Mr. Philip Floor
4, Mr, Harry Hillas
5. Mr. John Johnson
6. Mrs. Margaret Kireiev
7. Mrs. Nicole Mouskondis
8. Mr. Jim Mylonakis
9. Mr. George Pappas
10. Mr. Jim Priskos
11. Mr. Ted Sargetakis
12. Mr. Joe Sasich
13. Mr. Pete Sefakis
14. Mr. Bruce Shand
15. Dr. Demetrios Skedros
16. Mr. Harry Souvall
17. Ms. Elaine Zambos

I am instructing the clergy to give the Affirmation of Office to all the above parishioners at the end of the Divine Liturgy at the Holy Trinity Cathedral on January 29, 2012, since the last affirmation of office was given at the Prophet Elias parish.

For the sake of the unity and the wellbeing of the Greek Orthodox community of Greater Salt Lake and its suburbs, I urge all of the seventeen council members to work together as one body under the Lord Jesus Christ, Who established His Church almost two thousand years ago, in order to continue, together with the assigned clergy, as the stewards of the Lord in our generation, the work of salvation for His people in your region.

According to the regulations of the Archdiocese, and immediately after the Divine Liturgy, the first meeting of the new parish council will be presided over by Father Michael Kouremetis or Father Matthew Gilbert for the election of the officers of the council, after which the new parish council will be under the new president.

I pray that all of the members of the new parish council will demonstrate true unity and Christian fellowship, in order to erase the embarrassment of our people before the non-Orthodox Christians of your region, which was brought about by individuals who unintentionally brought scandal upon Christ's Church.

Members and Supporters of GOCGSL Unity Respond to the Metropolitan

A scan of the Metropolitan's January 19, 2012 letter may be viewed here.
Additionally, the Metropolitan's follow-up letter, dated January 20, 2012 may be viewed here.
This letter is an appropriate response to both.

Dear Fellow Parishioners,

You are recently in receipt of two letters regarding the upcoming Special General Assembly to be held Sunday, January 29, 2012 in the Memorial Hall at Holy Trinity Cathedral. The first letter was sent announcing the meeting and its sole purpose: To nominate candidates to run for the Parish Council of the Greek Orthodox Church of Greater Salt Lake.

The second letter, dated January 19, 2012 from Metropolitan Isaiah, cites four different UPR Articles to make a case against the January 29 assembly. The letter is either wrong or deceptive on all four counts.

1. Article 31, Section 2 does indeed say an “agenda shall be prepared by the Priest and Parish Council.” However, we do not have a legal Parish Council to prepare them.
2. Article 31, Section 6 says that we are to convene in Regular Parish Assemblies at least twice a year. We have not had such an assembly since 2010, thus our clergy and leaders are already out of compliance of the very UPR's they are citing.
3. Article 31, Section 7 specifies that the Priest and Parish council can call a “Special General Assembly” when they deem it necessary. One would think that a financially suffering parish with no accountability for two years is reason enough to “deem it necessary” to conduct a Special General Assembly. The meeting on the 29th is a “Special General Assembly” – legally called for by our membership in the exact manner called for in the UPR's.
4. Article 31, Sections 2 and 7 describe how 10% of the members of the Parish can submit a petition requesting a “Special Assembly” to the Priests and Parish Council. The request was made with over 20% of our members signing the petition. But nothing happened. Why? For the same reason cited in number one, above.     

Exactly, who then, respects and honors the UPR's of our Church?

From the first meeting of the Unity Group in 2010 to current—including the petition to the Eparchial Synod—the Unity Group has religiously followed Church protocol and procedure. The meeting this Sunday represents just one more time we will gather to assert and to affirm our very basic intent: To hold a fair and honest Assembly and to elect, not appoint, to the Parish Council 15 persons who will help us return to the core values of Orthodox Christianity that has vacated our community under the current leadership.

At the same time we are meeting to consider candidates who want to serve on the Parish Council, Metropolitan Isaiah has also directed our priests to assemble a slate of names, for his approval, to comprise an interim Parish Council. This newly appointed Parish Council, essentially of short term, will be used to call for an assembly to nominate persons to run for the Parish Council, when the community is ready for elections. We feel that there is no reason to wait. Our community is ready for immediate elections.

With so much tension and distrust, persons from both churches have told the priests they will not participate. And why are they asking people specifically that regularly attend one Church or the other? We are still one community. It should not matter which Church one goes to if they are serving to represent our entire community. If they cannot find willing participants, they are back to square one. Therefore, it’s of double importance to attend on Sunday to assure that our members are not denied their rights and their voice. One way or another we will have a new and productive Parish Council.

Finally, a word to the persons who are yet to align with the Unity Group and have said they will not come to the Assembly: You should attend because you could be next to take a fall.

Among the reasons the Unity Group remains strong is that we cannot abide by the non-Christian slander that has fallen on some of our communities finest families, and which continues, apparently with the aide or blessing of certain past and present community leaders or clergy. Witness what happened when the UPR salesman from Houston used his Power Point message to attack Nick Bapis and others—that information was fed to him. If it can happen to families like Bapis or Skedros or Sargetakis or Kastanis, to name only a few, it is not wise to think it will not happen to your family too.

As many of us have already found out, it’s only a matter of time.

The sooner we elect a new Parish Council, the sooner our community can start healing; and the sooner we can know our financial situation, the sooner we can reach out to our community for funds to make sure we can pay all of our obligations.

We encourage all of you to attend the Special General Assembly on January 29, 2012

Holy Trinity Cathedral Memorial Building
279 West 300 South
Salt Lake City, Utah 84101
2:00 o’clock p.m.

In need of a life jacket...

"Ηλί Ηλί Λαμά Σαβαχθανί" ("Θεε μου γιατι με εγκατελειψες;")
 ‘Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?’ which means, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me ?’ " 

This is what our community has been shouting to Denver, New York and Constantinople for the past two years in trying to get out of our mess.  Deafening silence everywhere. 

Why?  Do they listen? Don't they care?  Maybe they do not.

They send a "captain" to steer the ship.  The crew members, realizing that the captain is incapable of his duties, one by one are jumping off the ship.  In the last few days, many letters have been sent from Denver asking individuals to serve on an appointed parish council FOR ONE YEAR!?  Many to their credit have turned it DOWN. 

Who is the Metropolitan trying to save? His captain is looking for a life boat like his counterpart on the Costa Concordia.  Maybe his eight chosen will trip him in to a life boat?  The captain is not my concern, but this community is.  We have no idea how this community is operating (no budget, elections, free General Assemblies), I am afraid we will have a rude awakening when this is done and over with.

See you all  January 29,  2012 at the General Assembly.

"God helps those that help themselves".

- Yannis Armaou

Special General Assembly.

Special General Assembly

January 29, 2012

Holy Trinity Cathedral Memorial Building

279 West 300 South
Salt Lake City, Utah 84101

2:00 o’clock pm

(Proceedings shall be governed by Roberts Rules of Order) 
AGENDA

1.   Call to Order

2.   Opening Prayer

3.   Selection of Chairperson and Parliamentarian for the Assembly

4.   Consideration of the following Resolutions:

a.         BE IT RESOLVED that the a Special General Assembly to be called to take place, on Sunday January 29, 2012, at the Holy Trinity Cathedral Campus, 279

South 300 West, Salt Lake City, Utah 84101, the same to be called in accordance with the applicable Bylaws and UPRs.

b.         BE IT RESOLVED that the Assembly nominates not less than fifteen (15) persons to stand for election as and for members of the Board of Directors/Parish Council, without manipulation of the selection process, and settle on a sustainable equitable standard of participation absent of personal bias from the Clergy.   That the election shall take place on Sunday February 12, 2011, at both Church Campuses, and shall be supervised by the current Elections Committee.

5.     Open Forum for discussion of items of concern to the attendees of the Assembly.

6. Benediction

IT IS THE GOAL OF THIS ASSEMBLY THAT EVERYTHING WILL BE DISCUSSED IN A FULLY TRANSPARENT MANNER GIVING AN OPPORTUNITY TO EVERY PERSON TO EXPRESS THEIR POINT OF VIEW.

Commentary by Nick Colessides on the Metropolis' "Return to Sender"

Dear Parishioners,


In following the UPRs not less than 10% of parishioners in good standing filed [with a transmittal letter from my office] the original of the petition and signatures with the main corporate office of the Greek Orthodox Church of Greater Salt Lake at Holy Trinity Cathedral; copies of the entire package were mailed to the Denver Metropolitan and to Archbishop Demetrios in New York.


The envelope addressed to the Denver Metropolitan was returned unopened today. A copy is attached.

Mr. Peter Maroudas in his excellent treatise about the apostolic successors in the United States, wrote that by and large the majority of the Bishops and Metropolitans are:


1. "Arrogant, intellectually and theologically mediocre";
2. "Administratively incompetent", and,
3. Most importantly - "spiritually deficient."




Where do you think the Metropolitan’s acts fit in Mr. Maroudas’ description ?

Best Regards,

Nick J. Colessides

P.S. I. NO matter what he thinks, back in the sixties [when our city was his first assignment] our motto was: WE SHALL OVERCOME, AND WE SHALL.

WE NEED AND WE DESERVE REPLACEMENTS
OF ALL OF OUR CLERGY STARTING WITH
THE DENVER METROPOLITAN

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
Email: nick@nickjcolessides.com

WOE UNTO YOU PHARISEES, HYPOCRITES!!!

TO: Mssrs. Johns, Zavitsanos and Roussalis as vassals of our POIMENARCHOI, Isaiah et al.
FROM: The PEOPLE of the LORD in the SALT LAKE CITY GREEK ORTHODOX COMMUNITY (living and asleep in the Lord)

Once again we have properly followed YOUR procedures in requesting a General Assembly, which is OUR RIGHT.

It is now quite clear that your much-vaunted Uniform Parish Regulations are nothing more than a manifesto of tyranny to be followed to the letter by the laity, but to be cast aside as it suits our "leaders" (see Mr. Diamataras' commentary in the previous blog). You yourselves won't even follow them! Yet you demand we adopt them? (We remind you of the single word uttered by Metaxas in 1941 - OXI! The response of General Anthony McAuliffe at the Battle of Bastogne is further instructive!)

A picture is, after all, worth a thousand words.

- The Moderators

Commentary: The Difference Between Figureheads and Leaders

From The National Herald by A.H. Diamataris

When Andreas Papandreou died, Constantine Karamanlis asked one of his aides to write a statement on his behalf.

The aide hailed the contribution made by the former head of the PASOK party. "Don't write head, write leader," Karamanlis said, correcting him. "No one can deny him that."

I cite this true story to stress a point that it is by now common knowledge to most of us: that our Church has a head, but not a leader. And because this situation has been carrying on for many years now and causing major negative consequences for all of us, I believe the time has come to separate the interests of one man from the general interest of our community.

The late Archbishop Iakovos had made more than a decade ago, a prophetic prediction regarding the situation that was forming, noting that we had come to a standstill.

The situation has frozen since then, the leadership vacuum has grown, and it is becoming painfully obvious that the clergy in charge are unsuitable to meet the challenges.

Do you want me to give you examples? You do not have to look too far to find them. Just look at what is happening in Lynn and Salt Lake City, where the local bishops brought havoc to wonderful communities on a mere whim. Take the big community of Astoria, where the former presiding priest escaped- “the city will follow” no matter where you might go, said the great poet Cavafis - and his position has remained vacant since November 1. Or just look at what is happening at the Archdiocesan Cathedral, which is under the direct personal supervision of the Archbishop.

Do you need more examples? Two Greek-American day schools closed down last summer, and one more is on the brink of closing. Meanwhile, the head of the Archdiocese is either in hiding or in denial. How else can one explain his failure to utter a single word about it. Just one, for pride's sake.

Now, presenting you with these examples, you probably understand well what I mean when I point out the difference between heads and leaders.

AN OPEN LETTER TO LOUIS J. ROUSSALIS, M.D.

4 January 2012

Dear Dr. Roussalis,

YOU HAVE STATED IN YOUR RECENT LETTER: His Eminence asks that we have a 100% attendance from our parishes for this vital meeting. If either the parish priest or the parish council president cannot attend, please make sure a representative is sent in your place.

WE ANSWER:  Sir, we have NO properly elected Parish Council according to the flawed UPRs that the beleaguered Greek Orthodox Church in this country is forced to operate under; hence even though our assigned priests might attend, no elected president from this community exists. This community has been described (by your colleague, John Zavitsanos at our recent Special General Assembly) as a "pillar" of the Metropolis. Therefore, it is shameful that we do not have a properly elected Parish Council, OR, Parish Council President. The majority in this community has followed proper procedure in asking for a general assembly and for elections for nearly two years now, to no avail. Each petition for such has been thwarted by our priests and lay "leaders" or denied by our Metropolitan.

The Parish Pastor and President Meeting has been developed and used in other Metropolises with very constructive and positive out comes. The specific goals of our Meeting in January are:

1. To discuss the vital role of transparency at both the Metropolis and parish level to combat the spread of rumor and misinformation as well as to maintain a culture of respect, peace, love, and unity.

Transparency? We have been subjected to secrecy, lies and threats for nearly a decade! We have seen our beloved community sundered by our "shepherds". We have had our true leaders sanctioned and libeled. We have had no general assemblies, no budgets, NO ELECTIONS; when we did have them we witnessed stewards of long standing culled from the ballot. Our once-vibrant community has been rendered moribund. Our kids are turned away from our own facilities and forced to hold dance practices in warehouse space, while our youth basketball teams are practicing at local Mormon churches. In the meantime our programs and facilities wither and our priests spout platitudes, when they are not delivering threats!

There is no rumor or misinformation here, sir. Our parents and grandparents fought for their community's right to own its church asset properties in its own name. We do not intend to sully their memory by allowing for even the possibility that a capricious "shepherd", now or in the future, might put any part of this legacy at risk. Considering the financial and other misbehaviors we are witnessing from our clergy, monks and "poimenarchoi" in this country and worldwide, we recognize the wisdom our our forefathers.

As for respect, peace, love and unity, sir, we dotted every "i" and crossed every "t" in the UPR dispute resolutions. We went through all the proper channels. We have witnessed where such "respect" has led us. Respect, love, unity, and peace require a true two-way discourse, NOT dictatorial demands or simply sitting on hands and hoping the problem will eventually go away. Face it,  the UPR dispute resolutions are not intended to resolve anything - disputes, sexual misconduct, whatever. They can be easily summarized with the phrase "pay, pray and obey" - and nothing more.

2. To present the Metropolis financial report.

We'd like to see a financial report for our community as well. We haven't had one presented since our last regularly scheduled general assembly in January 2010. Our SELECTED Parish Council doesn't think they have to provide any to the parishioners in this community even though the UPRs require it, to say nothing of the community's 501(c)3 bylaws. Both are ignored. Also ignored is a damning 2009 Audit Report which clearly documents several areas of flawed accounting and governance. We haven't seen any actions to rectify the named problems, nor has a further audit of 2010 been permitted - again ignoring the requirement by both the UPRs and the bylaws. In my parents' and grandparents' day people thus disgraced had the decency to do the honorable thing and RESIGN. Not this group!

3. To explain the present Total Commitment system, and to evaluate the implications for our Metropolis income.

Fascinating! The Metropolitan's actions in this community, along with those of his Proistamenoi and our selected leaders, claiming to act under his direction, have had seriously adverse implications with regard to this community's income. Ironically, this has impacted the Metropolis' income. Economics, Psychology and Ethics 101 seem to have been courses lacking in several of our leaders' (spiritual and temporal) coursework selections.


6. To explain the status of the Salt Lake City situation.

Dr. Roussalis, again with all due respect, you surely must have seen the anguish present in our community when you came here as a Metropolis representative during our Special General Assembly, November 20, 2011. If you interpreted the explicit frustration due to several YEARS of appalling misadministration and governance as "disrespect" you are WRONG. If anything, we respect too much and love too deeply! If we did not, we would have given up and accepted the portions of the latest UPRs that our forefathers would have never accepted!

We had SIX of our fellow parishioners (none of whom are youngsters, two of whom are Archons) who have given of themselves to the utmost in TIME, TALENT and TREASURE, sitting outside their own church, five of them in below-freezing weather during a general assembly that they were absolutely entitled to attend. This was especially true since they were vilified without being allowed to be present to defend themselves!  You and Mr. Zavitsanos, along with our SELECTED  leaders, made it very clear that the consequences of a "NO" vote would be dire. And yet, reminiscent of the Greek nation in 1941, the people's answer was, overwhelmingly, NO! - OXI! Φωνή λαοὐ, οργἠ Θεοὐ!  

What is there to "explain"? We will NOT turn our backs on the legacy the founders of this community left to us. If you, or others in other communities, wish to help us, in a forthright, inclusive, honest and open way, to find a fair and reasonable way forward, fine. If your answer is nothing more than asking us to acquiesce to a continuation of the threats, deceit and abysmal governance that our once-vibrant community continues to endure, then, respectfully, leave us to do that which our forebears would expect of us! 

It's simple: you understand, or you do not, or you choose not to do so. There is nothing to "explain".


Best regards,


Barbara Billinis Colessides

Letter from Dr. Roussalis on Behalf of the Denver Metropolis

Moderators' Note - the letter below contains the text of a letter written by Dr. Louis Roussalis, who was present at our Special General Assembly on Nov. 20, 2011, with regard to our community. The original, written on Metropolis letterhead, may be viewed here.

December 30, 2011

Dear Pastors and Parish Council Presidents,

Happy New Year to all of you!

This letter is being sent to all the parishes in the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Denver to announce that His Eminence Metropolitan Isaiah will convene our first Parish Pastor and President Meeting. The meeting will take place at the Metropolis Center in Denver on Saturday January 28, 2011.

His Eminence asks that we have a 100% attendance from our parishes for this vital meeting. If either the parish priest or the parish council president cannot attend, please make sure a representative is sent in your place.

The Parish Pastor and President Meeting has been developed and used in other Metropolises with very constructive and positive out comes. The specific goals of our Meeting in January are:

1. To discuss the vital role of transparency at both the Metropolis and parish level to combat the spread of rumor and misinformation as well as to maintain a culture of respect, peace, love, and unity.

2. To present the Metropolis financial report.

3. To explain the present Total Commitment system, and to evaluate the implications for our Metropolis income.

4. To explain the role of Advocates 1000.

5. To explain the mortgage debt and maintenance needs of the Metropolis Center.

6. To explain the status of the Salt Lake City situation.

7. To afford an open discussion for all the pastors and presidents, so as to foster learning from each other and helping each other.

Members of the Metropolis Council finance committee will also be present at this meeting to answer any questions you may have, and to contribute to the discussions. As we all appreciate, we need to work together and thus grow together - this is the major goal of our meeting.

Faithfully,

/s/

Dr. Louis J. Roussalis, MD