"Individuals of Good Reputation..."

"The Holy Apostles asked the first Christian community to choose individuals of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom,..." (emphasis added)

This line comes directly from the Metropolitan's latest letter, posted on his Web site, regarding the ratification of Parish Council elections held on December 2, 2000in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The Metropolitan mentions in that same letter that protests received regarding those elections were found "to be without merit".

Fascinating! The Metropolitan receives a protest, actually more than one, and deems these to be without merit without EVER initiating ANY inquiry into the matter? He does not bother to contact those who filed the protest to examine or analyze what the issues might be? He asked no questions of any of the principals involved?

The three gentlemen, Mr. Colessides, Mr. Sifantonakis and Mr. Kastanis, who were not allowed to run, have over a century of service to the church between them. It is odd that all these years they have been considered by their peers and previous clergy "individuals of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom." Yet they are now not eligible. They are wrongfully denied a simple, honest and open inquiry by our Metropolitan or by his proistamenoi. It should be remembered, that these "men of God" are here to serve, not to be served.

It should also be noted that in the true spirit of "pay, pray and obey" the Metropolitan closes his curious ratification letter with the following: "I thank you for being current in your financial commitment to the national ministries of our Church in America which includes your Metropolis and for fulfilling your 2007 Total Commitment assessment." In the final analysis, it always boils down to the money, or so it would seem.