Fellow Parishioners

November 10, 2011

Dear Parishioner,

You have heard about us. And what you have heard is wrong.

We are you. We are of one mind. We are an integral part of the Archdiocese of America. We belong to the Metropolis of Denver. We are members of the Holy Orthodox Church. We recognize the patriarch and the Holy Eparchial Synod as the highest Ecclesiastical Authority of our Holy Orthodox Ch urch.

For 106 years we have followed the rules, bylaws and canons of our Church. Yet, over the past several years, responsible administration of our Parish has been forsaken.  Reckless accusations and irmuendo pass for leadership.  We have not had open meetings. We have not had open elections. We have not been provided essential financial data about our commun ity. We need accountability. Our facilities are in disrepair. Our HT Sunday School classrooms are firetraps. The gym roof at PE is leaking.

  

ATTEND THE SPECIAL ASSEMBLY ON NOVEMBER 20, 2011 AND VOTE NO!

• If you want fair and open elections to determine membership of the Parish Council of our

Greek Orthodox Church of Greater Salt Lake,

VOTE NO ON NOVEMBER 20!

• If you want a fair and honest general assembly of a duly-elected Parish Council, .

VOTE NO ON NOVEMBER 20!

• If you want to maintain Parish Assembly management of our hard earned  properties and specially designated donations as we have always enjoyed,

VOTE NO ON NOVEMBER 20!

• If you want an end to secrecy and bias that restricts some faithful members of our

Greek Orthodox Community from voting on the destiny of their Church,

VOTE NO NOVEMBER 20!

• If you want a return to fmancial accountability and honest governance of our Greek Orthodox Church Community,

  

VOTE NO  

ON NOVEMBER 20!

Note: The Unity Group, which is providing this information, consists of regular, stewardship-paying, God-fearing, dedicated, long­ standing members of the Greek Orthodox Community of Utah. Our love and passion for the Greek Orthodax Church of Greater Salt Lake has never wavered. It is that love and passion that motivates us to seek  better governance of our cherished churches than has been afforded us in  the past several years.  That  is why we are encouraging all parishioners to vote against affirmation of the restated and amended articles of incorporation and the new parish by-laws Nov.20 th at Prophet Elias Church.


 

Tom McGrath Offers His Thoughts on the Upcoming Special General Assembly

Moderators' Note: Mr. McGrath gave his permission to print his thoughts.

I am looking at the letter of October 27, from the priests, and a couple of parish council members, wherein they are requesting an endorsement of proposed changes/re-writes of our parish Articles of Incorporation and related Bylaws through a special general assembly scheduled for the 20th @ 2:00 p.m.

It looks to me that if we endorse these changes we would give to the Metropolitan, extra-ordinary powers over the government of our parish, over our real properties, and over our SLC parish regulations.

Here is what I see written in those new documents; their words, their amendments - not mine.

[Notations referring to Articles are the proposed new Articles of Incorporation, and notations to “Parts” refer to the sections of the proposed new Bylaws]

For example, I note the following in the proposed new documents:

1. The life of the corporation is perpetual, unless dissolved in accordance with the regulations of the archdiocese. I conclude that this gives the Metropolitan a lot of authority/influence to dissolve these articles of incorporation (therefore dissolve our parish) if he determines it appropriate. [article II]
2. Then upon the dissolution of the parish, the assets are distributed and disposed of, according to the archdiocesan regulations. So this also seems to then give the metropolitan a lot of influence/authority over the distribution of our assets once we are dissolved. [article VI]
3. We can only purchase, sell, or encumber our real estate if approved by 2/3rds vote of the members and also only with the approval of the Metropolitan (Hierarch). This says clearly that we can only purchase or sell our real estate if he approves of the transaction; again, giving him veto power over any actions taken with regard to our properties. [Part III, Sec. 3]
   I do not understand why the parish council did not disclose this in their letters to the parish?
4. If we want to make any structural alterations to any “Parish building,” we must receive prior approval from the Metropolitan. He can make his decision based upon any aesthetic issues he may determine exist. We cannot even make a change to a building without the Metropolitan's approval. [Part II, Sec. 4]
5. Related to the determination of member of the parish who can vote at our general assemblies, these proposed changes dictate that the definition of members in good standing are those contained in the archdiocesan regulations and our local bylaws, but if there is a difference between the two, the archdiocesan regulations dictate, discarding our bylaws. Again giving the Metropolitan a lot of influence over determinations on who is considered to be a member in good standing and who can vote. [Article V]
6. Also, related to the election of parish council members, the rules over this are the archdiocesan regulations and our bylaws, but the archdiocesan regulations have power over our own bylaws. [Article VII]
7. The proposed new articles say that our Uniform Parish Regulations can only be amended, revised or restated if they are in accordance with the archdiocesan regulations. [article II]
8. If inconsistencies exist between our own articles of incorporation and the archdiocesan regulations, then “the ARCHDIOCESAN REGULATIONS shall govern and control” and our articles “shall be deemed to be automatically amended to the extent necessary to conform to any contrary provision of the ARCHDIOCESAN REGULATIONS.” [Article XI]

I wonder who drafted these documents. I would guess not the parish council, more likely the staff of the Metropolitan? Who knows?

This request to accept and make these changes is surprising and confusing to me. I know that I and my family want to be good orthodox citizens and want to operate in general compliance with the rules of the archdiocese. However, I know that being a good Christian orthodox citizen does not mean giving all of this control to the archdiocese?

The current articles and bylaws and parish regulations do not go to this extreme. They have worked well for many, many years.

It seems to me that the parish council should not expect us to adopt changes to our articles of incorporation and to our bylaws without also sending us the current versions of our existing documents along with the new versions. Then with both, I would be able to see what changes I am really making. Without these previous versions, I do not know what changes I am making.

Additionally, it seems to me that the parish council should not expect me to adopt compliance to the archdiocesan regulations, without first sending me a copy of these regulations. It is important to see these archdiocesan regulations because they dictate rules over membership in good standing, and rules over the selection of parish council members. So I should have these to know what I am approving. It should not be expected that any of us in the parish should adopt these changes blindly; without adequate information, and without the appropriate documents.

The parish council is asking me and the parish members in general, to approve their recommendations, which to some extent I would like to do, because they are our parish council and they are expected to be leaders who represent the values of the community. But if I look into what they are recommending (and if I actually read the documents) I do not believe this is in the best interest of the community today, or for the future.

We should be proud to stand up and govern ourselves. We should not follow rules and guidelines we cannot see and have difficulty understanding.

We should not be requested to adopt guidelines not presented to us.

At this point I have to admit that I am inclined to vote no on these proposals. What are your thoughts?

And, by the way, what kind of attitude is it that the parish council will not have a regular general assembly for the purpose of selecting parish council members, unless we do as they say and pass these proposed changes. Do you think this is really, really out-of-line/inappropriate?

A Question for Fr. Kouremetis

Dear Father Michael,

I have witnessed now, since moving back to the place where I was born, your presiding over numerous services.  I have witnessed the trite and "standard" where it was clear you just pulled out the "standard form" service and you just supplied a name in the "fill in the blank" section.

Yet, being honest, I have seen you pull off some highly eloquent, moving eulogies and other ceremonies where, you, again honestly, "NAILED IT"!

Yesterday, you "nailed it", yet again. I look at you and think - a TRAGEDY, what a waste of ability, brains and talent! I think of what you TRULY could have accomplished here if you had just bothered to understand the community, and I am DEEPLY saddened.

You rightfully named my late godfather, Pete Vrontikis, as a pillar of this community. He, like so many others we've lost recently, was a visionary. He among others, like my grandfather, my father, my uncles, and so many real leaders (unlike our recently appointed ones) most of whom are now, sadly, no longer with us, worked tirelessly for the betterment of this community and for maintaining its strength and independence.

Our late, REAL leaders were adamant about this community's ability to CO-EXIST with the hierarchy. That is, that this community would adhere to the tenets of the faith, but would also MAINTAIN an independence that would protect the community's ability to sustain itself in highly unique circumstances, despite the winds of change in the structure of the Greek Orthodox hierarchy. This was a sine qua non among our forefathers.

So I ask you, Father Michael, when you extoll our "lost pillars" like my nouno, Pete Vrontikis, at their funerals, WHY do you seek to undo their handiwork?

- Barbara Billinis Colessides

A Response to the Procrustean Bed

Mr. Colessides gave us a perfect illustration of the way in which our spiritual leaders and their eight Derbys operate.  For them the end justifies the means, and that is what matters.
  
As long as they "win", they don't give a rat's rear what we think and how we feel.  In their minds, the people of this community are not humans and therefore we have no rights.  We are here to pay, obey and shut up.  


Unfortunately, they have no conscience.  They can cut our legs off with one arm and hold the Bible with other one.  Total hypocrites!  


I suppose, they think that we are in Afganistan.  Let's wait and see what happens, justice always prevails in this country of ours.


Give them hell, Mr. Colessides!


- Andy Giannis

The “New” Procrustean Bed

Brought to us courtesy of the Denver Metropolitan and his assigned priests.

In the ancient Greek myth there was Procrustes; he lived in a small estate between Athens and Corydallos in Attica.  His estate was on the road between Athens and Eleusis.  Procrustes had a peculiar sense of hospitality.  He abducted travelers and after he fed them a generous meal he invited them to sleep on his bed.  He had a special bed; the Procrustean bed was also adjustable.  Nobody escaped from Procrustes; he wanted the bed to fit the traveler perfectly.

If the traveler was too tall, his legs were cut off; if the traveler was too short, he was stretched to fit the bed.

A letter dated November 3, 2011 was sent to the faithful stewards as their names appeared on the now famous List. The two local priests have invited all of us to sleep in their special “bed.”  Only those who fit perfectly in their bed, will be able to attend, participate and vote in any given general assembly in our community.  The rest of us will either be stretched or have our legs cut off.

Isn’t it wonderful to be spiritually shepherded by such paranoid clergy, and their Canonically challenged leader from Denver?  They are inflicting such cruelty upon all of us.  The only thing that they care about is their exorbitant salaries and the “poll” tax that we have to pay to the Metropolis and the Archdiocese.  As in all other aspects of life, if you want to know what the culprits are up to just “Follow The Money.”

We thank the sanctimonious  Metropolitan Isaiah and his minions for the benefits we will be receiving by his proposed Procrustean bed.  What a peculiar sense of Christianity!!  Where is the fearless Theseus when he is needed?

Best regards,

Nick J. Colessides

CASTING THE FIRST STONE

GOCGSL Pledged Stewards  as of  O ctober 27, 2011

Only members in good financial and ecclesiastical standing have the right to attend, participate and vote in a Parish Assembly. The member must have completed a proportionate amount by quarter of their pledge to be considered in good financial standing. This list of pledging members has not been reviewed by His Eminence Metropolitan Isaiah or local clergy to determine ecclesiastical good standing in the Greek Orthodox Church of Greater Salt Lake and members who are deemed not to be in good ecclesiastical standing will be identified and notified in advance of a meeting. A member in good standing has a right to attend, participate and vote in a Parish Assembly.
=============================================================================================

Dear Parishioners,

The new list of stewards reserves to the Clergy the right to determine whether we are “Good Christians” eligible to participate and vote in a general assembly.

What unmitigated arrogance on the part of people who should exude humility !!!

The dynamic trio at it … again !!!  Another stupendous fiasco in the making !!!

Metropolitan Isaiah, Fr. Kouremetis, and Fr. Gilbert want to sit in judgment of all of us !!!!

Can you imagine one of the defendants in the Katinas’ sex scandal litigation, sitting in judgment of us … as to whether or not we are good Orthodox Christians ??

Can you imagine a Proistameno with questionable veracity, sitting in judgment of us … as to whether or not we are good Orthodox Christians ???

Can you imagine a Proistameno who keeps money belonging to the Parish in secret accounts, sitting in judgment of us … as to whether or not we are good Orthodox Christians ???

Can you imagine a Proistameno who denies candidacy [for election to the PC] to an individual because the candidate’s wife writes for the Blog, sitting in judgment of us … as to whether or not we are good Orthodox Christians ???

Can you imagine the inventors of the blue/yellow fiasco, denounced by their superiors, sitting in judgment of us … as to whether or not we are good Orthodox Christians ???

What a ridiculous judgment call on their part.  Let alone the legal travesty !!!  Have they looked themselves in the mirror ??  Where did these people come from ??? Do they belong in our community ??

Sitting in judgment of others is NOT A CHRISTIAN THING TO DO. It is reserved and exercised by our Lord and Savior ONLY.

These people should know better than most of us, that the Christian thing to do, is to let the one who is without sin, throw the first stone.

Best regards,

Nick

Nick J. Colessides

Attorney at Law

466 South 400 East, Suite 100

Salt Lake City, Utah, 84111-3325

Tele: 801-521-4441

Fax: 801-521-4452

Email: nick@nickjcolessides.com

Ο ΚΥΒΟΣ ΕΡPΙΦΘΗ (The Die Is Cast)

Alea jacta est - Julius Caesar

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

Moderators' Note: It is with deep sadness, but also a sense of abiding justice that we post the following note, with a link to the complaint outlined below in Mr. Colessides' e-mail. We should all thank those who had the courage and fortitude to do what must be done to protect the legacy of our forefathers. Further, we should join and assist them in the difficult days to come. That this tragic situation needed to come to this pass is a failure, not of those who tried every avenue to forestall such a now-necessary action, but of those who seek to use the church to dominate and to destroy our once-thriving community by any means possible. 

The situation did not have to come to this: our Archbishop in America, Demetrios, along with the Holy Synod, set forth a reasonable way forward, acknowledging the prerogatives of all sides. It is sad that our Metropolitan, our local clergy, and our appointed Parish Council chose to further divide this community and snub the directives of His Eminence and the Holy Synod. In doing so they have ignored the UPRs, the bylaws of our blessed community, and the civil laws of the State of Utah. Time and again we have sought compromise based on the holy principles of Our Lord's Church, on the UPRs, flawed as they are, and on our Lord's own example of simple honor, fairness and ethics - again sadly, to no avail.

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

October 26, 2011 

Dear Fellow Parishioners,

This is the complaint filed earlier this afternoon by the law firm hired to protect our interests.

Best regards,

Nick

Nick J. Colessides

Attorney at Law

466 South 400 East, Suite 100

Salt Lake City, Utah, 84111-3325

Tele: 801-521-4441

Fax: 801-521-4452

Email: nick@nickjcolessides.com

WHY WE NEED TO FILE A LAWSUIT

Below are the reasons that I think we need to file a lawsuit. 

You may have your own reasons. 

Please let us know what they are (click here to respond), so that your views may be considered by our lawyers.

My reasons for the need to file a lawsuit.

Starting in the year 2002, slowly and systematically, there has been cultivated an era of mistrust and turmoil in our community.

There has been a new wave of a rogue and secessionist movement supported by the two clergy and a distinct minority of parishioners.  They are all outside our Greek Orthodox Church.  They all refuse to follow the direction of the Holy Eparchial Synod of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese.

This path will only lead us into fiscal and moral bankruptcy.  We must change immediately if Greek Orthodoxy is to survive.  We must change immediately if we are to survive.  We must change immediately if there is something to be left for the next generations to enjoy and build upon.

The purpose of the lawsuit is NOT to ask for money damages. 

We need new governance.  We need to return to:

• the days that we held not less than 2 General Assemblies per year;
• the days of free elections;
• the days of presenting budgets for expenditures to the stewards of our community; 
• the days that our faithful stewards determined how the Parish’s funds were expended; 
• the days that we had audits;
• the days that the faithful stewards determined in the holding of regular General Assemblies; 
• the days that we ALL collectively moved forward; 
• the days that ALL faithful stewards voted for our destiny;
• the days of NO MORE secrecy;
• the days of total transparency;
• the days of accountability. 

Those are my reasons.  If you agree please join all of us; we need to be moving forward.

- Nick J. Colessides

Letter to the Clergy and Parish Council - October 14, 2011

Moderator's Note: The original of this document may be viewed by clicking here.

LAW OFFICES
ANDERSON & KARRENBERG
A PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION

RICHARD A. KAPLAN
rkaplan®aklawfirm.com

50 WEST BROADWAY SUITE 700
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH 84101-2035

TELEPHONE (801) 534-1700
FACSIMILE (801) 364-7697
www.aklawfirm.com

October 14, 2011

DELIVERED BY U.S. MAIL and BY EMAIL or BY HAND

Rev. Fr. Michael A. Kouremetis
5335 South Highland Drive
Salt Lake City, Utah 84117
Frmichaelk@gocslc.org

Phillip Floor
1487 South 1600 East
Salt Lake City, Utah 84105
Phill@MapConMapping.com

Rev. Fr. Matthew Gilbert · Holy Trinity Cathedral
279 South 300 West
Salt Lake City, Utah 84101
fr.matthewg@gocslc.org

James Mellos
40 North State #4b
Salt Lake City, Utah 84103
jim@ki-tech.com

Jim Mylonakis
3848 South 1860 East
Salt Lake City, Utah 84106
jmylonakis@hotmail.com

Ron Steele
4196 Abinadi Road
Salt Lake City, Utah 84124
Ron.steele@rossignol.com

Jim Priskos
1898 Fall View Drive
Sandy, Utah 84093

Joe Sasich
2918 Kennedy Drive
Salt Lake City, Utah 84108
Jesasich@aol.com

Elaine Zambos
P.O. Box 57953
Salt Lake City, Utah 84157
ezambos@yahoo.com

Jim Derby
sage9253@msn.com

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

Dear Reverend Fathers and Members of the Parish Council:

Re: Demand to Inspect Books and Records in Order to Have a General Assembly

This law firm represents a group of your parishioners who are stewards in good standing and members of the Church, acting through its nonprofit corporate entity, Greek Orthodox Church of Greater Salt Lake. They share a single and straightforward goal. That is to ensure that a General Assembly of all stewards eligible to participate takes place as soon as possible to facilitate elections that, as you know, are long overdue. Put differently, they are committed to reinstating the democratic processes that are a hallmark of the Church's proud tradition and are required by the laws of Utah as well as the organic documents of the nonprofit corporation and the Church itself.

As you know, the Church is legally required to maintain and to make available to its members under the statutes of the State of Utah certain documents and records. On behalf of our clients as members of the Church's corporate entity, and in exercise of their statutory rights, we hereby demand the opportunity to inspect and copy certain records of the Church that pertain directly to the convening of a properly constituted General Assembly..

First, pursuant to §16-6a-1602 of the Utah Code, my clients hereby demand the right to inspect and copy, during regular business hours, at the corporation's principal offices, on or before October 21, 2011, the following records which the Church, as a nonprofit corporation, is required to maintain under §16-61-1601 of the Utah Code:

"all resolutions adopted by the [Parish Council in the last three years] relating to the characteristics, qualifications, rights, limitations, and obligations of members or any class or category of members.

Under section 1602 the right of members to inspect and copy such resolutions is absolute and unqualified. Although thus unnecessary to support the request, we note that it should be obvious to you that a review of such resolutions is essential in determining the pool of eligible voters and where legitimate challenges to disqualification may lie.

Second, under Section 16-61-1601(3), the Church as a nonprofit corporation "shall maintain a record of its members in a form that permits preparation of a list of the name and address of all members." Such a record is also subject to inspection and copying by members on five days notice pursuant to section 16-61-1602 (3). Accordingly, my clients hereby demand to receive, inspect and copy, at the above time and place, a list of all parishioners who have been deemed members in good standing at any time during the last three years, together with their addresses. My clients certify that this demand is made in good faith and for a proper purpose­ namely, to enable my clients to determine the entire population of persons entitled to participate as voting members at or after a General Assembly. Such a determination is needed to ascertain the number of such persons necessary to constitute the 10% of the total membership required under the Bylaws to request lawfully an assembly of the parishioners.

Please understand that my clients are fully committed in good faith to participating in and contributing to the Church's governance through a lawfully convened and timely General or Special Assembly, to conduct its affairs in November of this year in time for elections no later than the second Sunday of December 2011, as was always done in years past pursuant to the Church's rules and traditions. Accordingly, you are hereby on notice that a failure or refusal to comply with this demand will leave my clients no alternative but to seek enforcement of their statutory rights and remedies in the courts of the State of Utah.

Please confirm to me no later than Thursday, October 20, at 5:00 p.m. your intentions with respect to complying with this demand. If I do not hear from you or your counsel, if any, by that time, we will assume you are complying and one or more parishioners I represent will appear to copy and inspect the demanded records the following day at 9:00 a.m.

Sincerely yours,
/s/
Richard A. Kaplan

cc: Metropolitan of Denver Isaiah (via fax (303) 333-7796)
      Rev. Fr. Sebastian Skordallos (via fax (646) 519-6514)

Jim Sefandonakis Offers His Thoughts Following Sunday's Meeting

I attended the meeting last night at the University Park Hotel, where many concerned members of our community gathered to discuss how decisions are being made in our church. Let me repeat that last part, "to discuss how decisions are being made in our church".  This community is not moving forward because our decision making process is broken. It's starting to look like our large community does not like to be told what to do by a small handful of people. This small group may have good intentions and feel strongly that they know what's best for everyone else but it's not evident from where we stand today. We have a board that was not elected by our community that meets and makes decisions that affect our entire group. And this same board wonders why stewardship is down? You will not get cooperation from people unless you involve everyone in the decision making process. Until we repair the way our church makes decisions, we as a group will not move forward but fall further behind.

It is time for our community to elect a board that will represent everyone. Now is time to have a general assembly where as a group, we can decide the best path forward for all. There is wisdom in numbers, a large group can better decide the difficult questions that face us much better than a small group. We can no longer operate under one decider in this community. We are the deciders. When we take these actions we will begin to move forward again.

Some think we should just give up our fight and let this small group run the future of our Church. But at what cost? What will our outcome be if this small group makes the wrong decisions? Even if they make the right decisions will they find support because the decisions were not made by all of us? What will the outcome be? Will stewardship continue to drop because no one cares? How will we pay our bills? Where will the money come from? If it does not come from future stewardship, then it will have to come from the many years of past stewardship. And where is this past stewardship you ask? It sits in the equity of our property, in the buildings we call our Church. Watch and see where this goes. When Denver demands that we pay up our dues and Bishop Isaiah says he will take our priests away if he does not get his money then we will have no choice but to take out loans against our property to pay our debt. You can only take out so many loans against your property before you no longer own it. This property belongs to all of us. And the future of this property is the cost we will have to pay by giving up this fight. I think the fight is just.

If we are not allowed to have a general assembly followed by real elections then what choice do we have but to take legal action to get it?

Time To Act

In 2007, we were directed by the Metropolitan to conduct a survey regarding the splitting of our community.  An overwhelming 87% responded to remain united.  In his letter of December 6, 2007, the Metropolitan writes:  "After much discussion with Mr. Bapis, I told him that I would not force the community to become two parishes.  I like to believe that I am faithful to what I say.  In my forty-five years in the clergy, I have never forced anyone to do my will."  He later continues, "I challenge anyone to say that I forced someone to do or not do a particular thing.  In keeping my word to Mr. Bapis and to myself, I will not force the recognition of two parishes."

Since this letter, we have received many more and experienced many disappointments at the hands of the Metropolitan and the proistameno of Prophet Elias only.  It seems the Metropolitan forgets what he writes and listens to the fabrications of the proistameno of Prophet Elias only which suits their desires.  The March 24, 2011 letter from the Holy Eparchial Synod has been ignored.  The TWO new ILLEGAL corporations that were to be dissolved remain active and were renewed after the Synod's letter.

Not only have the appointed parish council, the proistameno of Prophet Elias only and the Metropolitan disregarded the directive of the Synod, they have also ignored every request for a return to normalcy that existed before the arrival of the proistameno of Prophet Elias only.  The only letter that received a response was the letter from the law offices of Anderson & Karrenberg regarding the proposed  ILLEGAL special general assembly this past June.  Letter

Obviously this is the only language they understand.  Please attend the October 2 meeting, at the University Park Hotel at 3:00 p.m.  We have waited and been IGNORED long enough.  It is time to now take action.

Follow-Up Letter to Archbishop Demetrios

Moderator's Note: Mr. Colessides sent us this letter that he faxed and e-mailed yesterday. The original of this letter, along with the May 20, 2011 letter sent to the Archdiocese, may be viewed by clicking here. (The earlier letter is appended to the latest one.)

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

NICK J. COLESSIDES
ATTORNEY AT LAW
466 SOUTH 400 EAST, SUITE 100
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH 84111-3325
USA
___

TELEPHONE: 801-521-4441
FAX: 801-521-4452
E-MAIL: nick@nickjcolessides.com

September 15, 2011

Via fax: 1.646.519.6514
Hard copy via US mail

His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios
Office of the Archbishop
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
8-1 0 East 79"' Street
New York, NY 10021

Dear Your Eminence Archbishop Demetrios,

We hope that the new Ecclesiastical Year brings you health and the Lord's Blessings as you shepherd and guide our Greek Orthodox Church through the reefs of life.

We are approaching 7 months since the issuance of the Synodal Letter dated March 24, 2011, addressed to Metropolitan Isaiah. On May 20, 2011, the enclosed letter was mailed to your office. There has been no movement in the intransigent attitude exhibited by the Denver Metropolitan and his assigned clergy.

The Denver Metropolitan has chosen to totally disregard the Synodal direction concerning our parish: The Prophet Elias corporation has not been withdrawn; as a matter of fact its corporate existence was renewed (in March 2011) by papers signed by the present appointed parish president with the Utah Division of Corporations. We have been refused the list of names and addresses of all current and last year's stewards. We have not had a general meeting of the membership of our parish. We have not had an accounting of how the collected stewardship and other parish funds are authorized to be spent, and/or how the funds are actually being expended. We have not had elections in approximately 2 years. Rumors abound about Fr. Michael Kouremetis' secret accounts. The most recent IRS regulations require that non profit corporations/organizations file annual reports for the last three years, or face the penalty of
losing their tax exempt status. Upon information and belief it is respectfully submitted that the Greek Orthodox Church of Greater Salt Lake is in danger of losing its tax exempt status, due to its failure to file.

No one cares; and no one is doing anything about it. For reasons unknown Metropolitan Isaiah intentionally disregards the Holy Eparchial Synod in implementing Its directives.

Metropolitan Isaiah and his assigned clergy have hijacked our community; there is total lack of accounting; and, there is no transparency whatsoever.  There does not exist a modicum of good will by the Clergy in terms of compliance with the Synodal Letter in our parish.  ALL METROPOLITAN ISAIAH AND HIS ASSIGNED CLERGY CARE ABOUT IS MONEY. Greek Orthodoxy in Salt Lake City Utah is in jeopardy; its survival is not aided by the Greek Orthodox Church Clergy. The Holy Eparchial Synod and/or His All Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew must take immediate steps to correct this abysmal situation.

Unless immediate remedial action is taken by the ecclesiastical  authorities as per the Synodal Letter, the Greek Orthodox Church of Greater Salt Lake will seek its legal remedies in the civil courts of our state.

Sincerely,

/s/

NICK J. COLESSIDES

enclosure:  Letter dated May 20, 2011 (3 pages)

cc: His All Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew, Ecumenical Patriarch via fax:
His Grace Bishop Isaiah, Metropolitan of Denver, via email
The Very Rev. Sebastian  Skordallos, Archimandrite
Chief Secretary of The Holy Eparchial Synod, via email
Fr. Matthew Gilbert, via email
Fr. Michael Kouremetis, via email
Mrs. Cathy B. Walsh, Esq., via email

"Don't expect the people who caused the problem to solve it." Einstein

It has been ten plus days since the posting of the proistameno of Prophet Elias only having access to a secret checking account.  Some time ago, the then treasurer and now secretary of the appointed "parish council," expressed an opinion about the internet in general and specifically our blog.  He had stated, "You can't believe everything that shows up on the internet.  The TOCB site is a perfect example of that."

Can the past treasurer and current secretary of the appointed "parish council" refute the existence of this checking account?  Was the announcement of this account a surprise to him or has he known about it and said nothing in an attempt to cover, yet again, for the proistameno of Prophet Elias only?  If this account is non existent, we stand to be corrected.

Maybe the proistameno of Prophet Elias only could use his new found weekly message to explain his secret checking account.  That might be asking too much from someone who believes he answers to no one and is allergic to the truth.  After his Thursday expression of displeasure in having to attend the sponsor luncheon, he is best reminded that he is paid by one community with two churches.  We don't want to hear "I hate going down there" from you ever again.  If that is how you feel, the time has come to pack your bags and leave.  Salt Lake City is not the best city for your retirement.

Wake up Salt Lake City!!

Yannis Armaou

Secrets, Lies and CHECKING ACCOUNTS !

When you think that we have heard it all, here comes another BOMB! We know for sometime now that the proistameno of Prophet Elias only has been out of control doing things behind everyone's back. After the secret computer room and the  fake "miracle" here comes a new development. He has control of and is using a secret checking account! Surprised? NOT!  All the trouble he has caused demanding that all funds must be under the control of the parish council.  What is the appointed Parish Council going to do?  Cover him up one more time or ask him to resign A.S.A.P?  I guess the word "decency" is missing from their vocabulary.  After all, they are "serving" him not their community.  What are the other clergy doing about this situation?

Isn't it time for the Metropolitan to remove them and if he will not, isn't it time that the Archdiocese steps in to clean house?

Yannis Armaou

FAILURE, (to say nothing of HYPOCRISY) on BOTH Counts!

A Weekly Message from Father Michael

August 24, 2011

Prayer affords an experience of spiritual liberty of which most people are ignorant.  The first sign of emancipation is a disinclination to impose one's will on others.  The second is an inner release from the hold of others on oneself.

- Archimandrite Sophrony

The past years, nearly a decade now, have indicated otherwise!

And Time Rolls On...

It has been exactly 5 months and 3 days since the Holy and Eparchial Synod sent their letter to this community.  Their letter affirms that:  "As agreed, the Salt Lake community will remain as one united parish. until such time as the appropriate conditions are in place for the separation into two communities. Therefore, the ecclesiastical charter for Prophet Elias that was issued on April 12. 2010, is to be considered inapplicable and consequently withdrawn. Similarly, the Prophet Elias corporation will be formally dissolved and no separate trade names wil1 be filed with the state of Utah for Holy Trinity and Propbet Elias."  To date, the entities established with the state of Utah have not been dissolved.

In addition, the Metropolitan of Denver has demanded not only in his letter of  March 21, 2011 but also through his representative and in direct opposition to the directive of the Holy and Eparchial Synod, that a new corporation be formed in the name of Holy Trinity and Prophet Elias.  In his June 7, 2011 letter the Metropolitan of Denver writes, "Just as I do not 'do things on my own' so our parishes do not have separate sets of regulations."  As part of the Holy and Eparchial Synod and not doing things on his own, how then can he make this demand which is in direct contradiction to the directive of March 24, 2011?

In all these months since the Holy and Eparchial Synod's letter, NOT A SINGLE ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN by either the Archdiocese or the Metropolis.  Through their inaction are we to conclude that they have taken us as fools?  When will WE, the members of this community, see through the stall tactics and the recent new found weekly messages from the proistameno of Prophet Elias only?  It is time to take action.  The real questions are:  "What are we waiting for and why has it taken so long to wake up?"

ΟΠΟΙΟΣ ΒΑΡΙΕΤΑΙ ΝΑ ΖΥΜΩΣΕΙ ΔΕΚΑ ΜΕΡΕΣ ΚΟΣΚΙΝΙΖΕΙ.

 

ΣΥΝ ΑΘΗΝΑ ΚΑΙ ΧΕΙΡΑ ΚΙΝΕΙ  (God helps those that help themselves)!

Αραγε τι εννοει ο ποιητης?

9x52=467+1=The Ultimate Hypocrisy !

We were treated to a big surprise this week.
After 467 weeks (almost 9 years)in this community the proistameno of Prophet Elias only(?) took the initiative
to treat us to his first weekly bulletin(surprise-surprise) for BOTH churches!

One is left to wonder why now, why 9 years later, where has he been all this time?
Why Prophet Elias was open when we were celebrating the name day of Holy Trinity?
Holy Trinity closed as it should to celebrate Prophet Elias name day.
Why Fr.Kouremetis disregarded a half century tradition?
Why on the choir conference week both churches were open instead all of us celebrating together in one church? It seems that the "drilling" at Prophet Elias goes on anytime we have out of town visitors to show them
the "miracle"?

"Καθε θαυμα τρεις μερες,το μεγαλο τεσσερις".

Do not expect too many "weekly messages" in the future.
It was either done because he got pressure from above or to let my imagination run wild,
was this a try to see if the office personnel from Prophet Elias is competent to do the job for the new
Parish that so hard he is trying to form despite the Holy Synod's directive?
The near future will tell!

Yannis Armaou

From March 24, 2011 to today......NOTHING

Thinking back on the day the letter was received from the Holy Synod regarding our situation here, we ask ourselves, "what has changed?"  ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.  If we look back, the Archdiocese issued a charter which was subsequently withdrawn by Archbishop Demetrios.  In March 2010, three individuals secretly filed documents with the State of Utah which can be accessed HERE.  This corporation is active to this day despite the directive of the Holy Synod.

What have the clergy or their hand picked parish council, done to resolve this issue?  They act as if there was never a letter from the Holy Synod here and that a split is imminent.  Another question, how can an Archon whose name appears on the incorporating documents, disobey the directive of the Synod?  Isn't this a violation of the UPR?  

Fortunately, their attempt at an illegal, according to their own UPR, special general assembly was stopped.  Unfortunately, the stall tactics continue with no benefit to our community.  Sadly, the assigned clergy have only the demise of this community to show during their tenure.     

Sermon?

"The Lord said to his disciples, 'You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.'" (Matthew 5:14-16) This passage was read during Liturgy on July 17th and anyone attending Holy Trinity on that Sunday expecting to hear a sermon related to the gospel certainly must have been disappointed.

Fr. Gilbert relayed that the community is in great turmoil. He continued by stating that those who are holding back their stewardship thinking they are helping solve the situation are only making it worse and are the cause of the problem. According to Fr. Gilbert those withholding stewardship are withholding their money not from the church but from God.

A  viewing of the audit committee report of 2009 lists over $600,000 in expenses that were not approved by any general assembly. By Fr. Gilbert's logic it was God who spent that money. If God was really spending these monies wouldn't he rather fix the dome at Prophet Elias rather than construct a picnic stand?

We also learned that, according to Fr. Gilbert, that Archbishop Demetrios has nothing to do with our community and is not our leader. Metropolitan Isaiah and only Metropolitan Isaiah is our hierarch. This certainly must be news to Archbishop Demetrios and the Archdiocese.

It is evident that the proistameno of Prophet Elias only has lost all authority in this community. First is his silence and lack of leadership with Mr. Derby's letter. Second, if it is true that Archbishop Demetrios has nothing to do with our community, how can you, as a member of the Archdiocese Council, allow that statement to stand without response? It seems like you are no longer in charge.

Fr. Kouremetis what kind of action will you take?

Subject:	Follow up
Date:	7/8/2011 4:05:45 P.M. Mountain Daylight Time
From:	Yannisgocslc@aol.com
Reply To: To: Frmichaelk@gocslc.org,  FrMatthewg@gocslc.org

cc: archdiocese@goarch.org, bishopandonios@goarch.org, luhl@aol.com, Patriarchate@ec-patr.org

Fr. Michael,

on June 24 I wrote you an email asking you what kind of action will you take

for the letter that one of your APPOINTED parish council members wrote.

To this day you have not bothered to take any action whatsoever.

It is your responsibility to act,if you don't that means that you agree with the letter

as quite a few people say that you do.

Silence these rumors by taking action.

You used an accident to stage a MIRACLE to celebrate the so called split of our community, I wonder what will you do next to cover this unfortunate incident.

STOP MISINFORMING THE DIOCESE and you as well as your boss "kindly implement"

(as the letter from the archbishop said) the Synodal decisions for the "benefit of the Greater Salt Lake City Community".

Also I urge the Archdiocese as well as the Patriarchate to resolve this matter.

The sooner the better for our community!

P.S

The letter (Mr.James Derby) is attached.

Yannis Armaou

2751 Highland dr.

Salt Lake City

Utah

Three Thoughts Concerning Recent Events from John Saltas

Moderator's note: John Saltas sent this comment in as a response to the previous blog article, "It Takes a "Given the Threat"?. We thought the comment deserved its own space as a blog article, and have posted it as such with Mr. Saltas' kind permission.

Three thoughts.

1. Why are our church clergy and leaders so disingenuous on this topic? Had they followed established protocol, we could have had our General Assemblies long ago. Every rule established for an upcoming General Assembly in this letter could have and should have been done in the first place without "threat of a lawsuit." Why is it so hard for our current leaders to do the right thing for the entire community (and not just as salve for their bandaged egos or to accomodate demanding priests?) and to follow established, simple and ethical guidelines? Simply, if our church wants the benefits the State of Utah grants it--like certain tax benefits and other corporate protections--it must act in accordance of the state charter which allows it. Hiding behind "he (you fill in the blank) told me to do it" is no excuse.

2. Our parish bulletin should be used for alerting parish members to parish services, events, and calendars--not as a place to insert bias and nonsense on church matters. This letter is full of half-truths and un-truths, there only to make even more one-sided accusatory statements. Leave the bulletin neutral!

3. But because you have again carelessly not done so, and have made private church matters public, same for Mr. Derby whose letter is equally public, same for my own comments here, don't be surprised when you see your words cited in a newspaper or other media.