GOA Executive Committee member blasts Archbishop Dimitrios
Harry J. Pappas charges Demetrios cancelled meetings, took unauthorized actions, ignored charter, regulations, budget, and decision to pay Spyridon's pension, and showed "haughty disdain" for Executive Committee by rehiring Jerry Dimitriou
Orthodox News
Harry J. Pappas
March 1, 2000
TO MEMBERS OF THE ARCHDIOCESAN COUNCIL
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:
I regret that I cannot attend the meeting scheduled
for Friday and Saturday, March 3 & 4, 2000.
At first, a trip that had been scheduled nearly
a year ago to Europe overlapped with dates for the Council meeting. Last
Thursday, I canceled my plans for the Europe trip and anticipated that
I might fly to New York for the meeting.
Yet, on Sunday, February 27, a lightening-caused
fire at one of our Company's most important transmitter sites resulted
in a catastrophic destruction of our premises and facilities.
Thus, despite my earnest intentions, it is simply
not feasible that I participate with you this weekend.
I enclose a letter dated December 13, 1999, which
I hand delivered on that same date to his Eminence Archbishop Demetrios.
I also enclose a letter sent today to His Eminence detailing my most grave
concerns.
I humbly and respectfully request your serious and
diligent consideration of the matters and issues broached in my letter.
It is not too dramatic to state that abdication of our duties and responsibilities
at this juncture may result in very adverse, even catastrophic consequences
for Greek Orthodox Christianity in the United States. I never expected
that I would ever have to write such words but, under the circumstances,
no reasonable person can conclude other than that our Church is at grave
risk.
It is difficult for each of us to even contemplate
mild criticism of our hierarchs. We were taught by our parents to be extremely
defferential to our clergy. Certainly I mean no disrespect to any person,
but I do mean to express... and not avoid... real, serious problems.
Best wishes to you all,
Sincerely,
Harry J. Pappas
Harry J. Pappas
December 13, 1999
His Eminence, Archbishop Demetrios
Archbishop of America
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Of America
10 East 79th Street
New York, NY 10021
Your Esteemed Eminence:
Recently there have been rumors which I pray are unfounded that earlier
decisions made in the ordinary course by the Archdiocesan Council and the
Executive Committee are somehow displeasing to the Patriarchate and Your
Eminence and that, consequently, there shall be some attempt to unravel
them. I mentioned one such concern to you during our Friday telephone conversation;
that is, the pension plan approved for our Bishops, Metropolitans and Archbishop,
including the recently retired Archbishop Spyridon. Your answer was vague
and unresponsive.
Please know that in the entire prior history of our Archdiocese, neither
the Patriarchal Synod, the Synod in America or any other clergy have ever
sought to undo a pension plan established by the Archdiocesan Council or
Executive Committee for the security of our clergy after a lifetime of
service to the Orthodox Christian Church. Rather, it was predominantly
lay persons who undertook to decide such plans with the advice and counsel
of their hierarchs.
Please also know that there is no basis of which I am aware other than
defrocking and excommunicating Archbishop Spyridon for the denial of a
duly established pension benefit. Should any unseemly effort be undertaken
to undo the well considered, unanimously approved, legally proper, binding
and enforceable decisions in these regards, do be plainly advised that
I shall undertake forthwith all legal action to hold all such persons who
would seek such a vulgar and nefarious result individually accountable
and responsible. Our work was done ethically, honorably, properly and with
due authority.
I am sure you will join in defending the work of your Archons and Executive
Committee.
Sincerely,
Harry J. Pappas
Archon Referendarios and
Member of the Executive Committee
Corporate Office
500 South Chinworth Road * Visalia, California 93277
* (559) 733-7800 * Telecopier (559) 733-7878
Harry J. Pappas
1 March 2000
His Eminence, Archbishop Demetrios
Archbishop of America
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese
of America
10 East 79th Street
New York, NY 10021
Your Eminence:
During the Spring, 1999, duly convened meeting of the Archdiocesan Council,
there was considerable discussion by the Council of the importance of expanding
the scope, activities and budget of the Office of Print and Digital Media
(OPDM). It was decided to liquidate the assets and operations of GO Telecom
into the full operating and financial control of the Archdiocese by merging
the activities of the same into the OPDM. The Archdiocesan Council discussed
and approved a budget including the expanded activities and consolidation.
Unfortunately, at that time, certain clergy and GOAL "spoke ill
of their (Archbishop)" (Canon LV) and encouraged and directed that
parish financial obligations to the Archdiocese not be paid or paid only
partially. This was an indisputable violation of the Canons, the Charter
and the Uniform Parish Regulations, thus creating a large part of the present
financial problems of the Archdiocese. The Council was deeply concerned
about a possible cash shortfall at the Archdiocese. To help address this
legitimate concern, I pledged to contribute $250,000 specifically to support
the expanded budget of the OPDM. This pledge was made out of love for our
Church and in recognition of the need for the reform, improvement and growth
in the Ministry represented by OPDM. I made my pledge in good faith.
Upon your appointment as our Archbishop, you, and persons apparently
acting under your direction but for whom you were in any event accountable,
terminated the leadership and other key persons in OPDM and eviscerated
its operation. You cancelled the previously scheduled fall meeting of the
Archdiocesan Council. You cancelled the previously noticed meetings of
the Executive Committee. This and numerous other financial and secular
decisions were made and implemented without the duly conferred authority
or counsel of either the Council or the Executive Committee. Such flagrant
disregard of the Charter, Regulations and the decades long tradition of
orderly administration of our beloved Church is unbelievable!
Your Eminence, America is a country where the law has supremacy over
the mere passions of men. Wise forebearers established our Charter and
our Uniform Parish Regulations (UPR). Sadly, had you simply followed the
process established so clearly therein, you would have learned of the underlying
reasons for the Council's decision and of my pledge. You then could have
advised us of your views, pro or con, and the Executive Committee or Archdiocesan
Council would have made the decision, which it is their right to make with
your input, to keep the OPDM or not. You acted unilaterally. My pledge
is rendered moot since its "raison d'etre" is extinguished by
your action.
Your Eminence, the Charter of our Archdiocese is clear. Section XI states
"The Archdiocesan Clergy-Laity Congress... is concerned with all matters,
other than doctrinal or canonical, which affect the life of the Church
including its unity, uniform administration, education and financial programs."
Section XV states "The Archdiocesan Council is convened by the Archbishop
and meets as often as necessary but at least semiannually." The Regulations,
in Article II, Section 1, state, "The Archdiocesan Council... administers
the temporal and financial affairs of the Archdiocese..." and go on
to say, in Article II, Section 5, that the Executive Committee, drawn only
from the Archdiocesan Council, "shall... between meetings of the Archdiocesan
Council... (have) all of its authority, excluding legislative and investment
powers...". This Charter and Regulations are those our Ecumenical
Patriarchate approved long ago. You and I are bound bound by them as much
as we are by the Canons of the Church. Yet after the lapse of a more than
sufficient period for you to reflect on your duties and to rectify any
wrong decisions mad in haste, you still permit and engage in unauthorized
actions. I am even more troubled because you say what every Orthodox Christian
deeply wants to hear his Archbishop say, but your actions and those you
permit speak differently.
-
Nearly three months after your Enthronement, during our first telephone conversation on Friday, December 10, 1999, you spoke of a "spirit of reconciliation" and "moving forward in a positive manner." I agree with these worthy Christian sentiments. But one cannot ignore the actions of the last five and one half months. Unauthorized persons whom you permitted to undo the thoughtfully considered, properly approved and responsibly executed plans of the Archdiocesan Council wreaked havoc. It is too late to restore the "status quo ante". You have ignored the budget and plans approved by the Clergy-Laity Congress, the Archdiocesan Council and the Executive Committee. But, now you will seek the aid of those whose fiduciary duty and collective judgement you ignored. A mockery has been made of the Council and the Executive Committee. Urgent issues have derived from improper actions over a period of months taken in your name by extra-legal operatives. Those who have demonstrated disloyalty and incompetence are rendering your spirit of reconciliation a nullity. But, Your Eminence, you must know that you are nonetheless responsible for their actions.
-
When you convened an Executive Committee meeting in late December, I was prayerfully anticipating that what had transpired from September to December was behind us. I believed your various representations and statements at that meeting. I even authored a resolution offering all the Executive Committee members' personal guarantees of bank debt up to a total of $3,500,000. Little did I suspect that none of us would be consulted on the terms of the loan, none of us given access to substantive financial data, none asked to approve expenditures, review operations and so on. The above mentioned clergy and individuals now have the unmitigated gall to ask us to personally guarantee an increase in debt from $1,900,000 to $5,000,000! They evidence contempt for our character, intelligence and judgement by asking us to provide them with access to an additional $3,100,000... even though it is clear there will be no real accountability for its expenditure to the Council or Executive Committee. They ask us to sign personal guarantees that will extend beyond the expiration of our term of office.
It is clear no one can be expected to and should not personally guarantee the debt of an organization whose activities are not regulated by a basic concern for financial accountability and a well-reasoned due process in administration.
-
At our one and only meeting with you, you explicitly promised us that within "one month and by our next meeting in January", you would propose to the Executive Committee a "dignified and respectful" process to allow the implementation of the duly approved pension obligation of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America to our recently retired Archbishop Spyridon. You told me directly by telephone that "we will not allow our retired hierarchs to be left without means of support". For that reason, I tabled my motion, which had been seconded, (and which I am certain would have been approved) to order our Financial Officer to commence the (long overdue) payment of His Eminence' pension. The Executive Committee acceded to your request for "a little time" to solve this matter. I am heartsick on reading reports of your contrary intentions. I was further heartbroken to be telephoned while on vacation with my family by a Metropolitan of our Church and told of threats arising out of a meeting of the Eparchial Synod. I was also told of bogus charges that His Eminence Spyridon is somehow violating canon law by not "reporting as ordered" to Istanbul. The fact is the church that does require such behavior is governed by a Pope in Rome. The Orthodox Christian Church is a synodical church. First, a person is asked if he is willing to accept a post, then he is invested in that post. No one is forced into a position. We do not send our clergy to "Siberia". Nonetheless, I was told by the Metropolitan that you and other hierarchs have decided that one of your own, a retired Archbishop, is to be denied a pension... on bogus grounds. This decision ignores our Archdiocesan Charter and Regulations as to which body has the power to "administer the temporal and financial affairs of the Archdiocese". It ignores the duly and lawfully adopted, legally binding and certainly enforceable decision of the Executive Committee to provide for a pension for Archbishop Spyridon under the same formula applicable to our Bishops and Metropolitans. This is the Executive Committee and Board of the Religious Corporation organized under the laws of the State of New Yourk known as the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. Try as you and the other hierarchs might, you cannot ignore American law applicable to a non profit religious corporation's obligations to a retired employee.
Under the circumstances one cannot attorn to conduct so unseemly as to bring our Church into disrepute. Who can even believe that we have sunk to so low a state that our hierarchs are disputatious, vengeful, cunning, unkind, unloving and uncharitable? A mere putting on of crowns, robes and enkolpia do not transform a man into a leader, a shepherd... or hierarch of our Holy Orthodox Christian Church. It is after all "by deeds not by words or oaths that we are judged."
-
At our December meeting, virtually all the members of the Executive Committee voiced their concern and dismay over reports that Jerry Dimitriou might be considered for re-employment by the Archdiocese. Substantial, material concern was so evident that you nodded in agreement. Yet, you acted in callous disregard of the considered judgement of the knowledgeable, experienced persons whose character, reputation and accomplishments, coupled with their love of the Church, is well known. Moreover, whether you like it or not, the clearly expressed unanimous view of the Executive Committee required that you not hire Mr. Dimitriou. You compounded the insult by taking this action to hire a clearly unacceptable person for a non-existent post for an unbudgeted sum within 24 hours of our meeting adjournment. Such conduct is wrong. Such conduct is inexcusable. It reflects a haughty disdain for your Christian brethren who gathered only to serve you and our beloved Church. It relfects a lack of candor. It evidences an unwillingness to conform to the Archdiocesan Charter and the Regulations.
Your Eminence, your fellow Metropolitans and Bishops seem possessed
of a view that Greek Orthodox Christians in America are to be treated as
little more than medieval serfs. They consider the Church somehow solely
theirs to own, direct and squeeze. Having come from foreign lands, they
ignore that the Greek Orthodox Church in America was built by hardy, faithful
immigrants for whom every dollar was a true sacrifice made in love of the
Christian faith embodied by our Church. Our parents and grandparents built
this Church to glorify our Lord, not to provide temples to the egoism of
old men who seek power above sacrifice and who revel in secrecy but fear
the bright light of honest reasoned discourse and open dealing.
We cry out for hierarchs who are exemplars of humility. We ask for no
more than hierarchs who exemplify by their actions... not mere words...
their charity, love and forgiveness... so that we might hold them up as
standard bearers to our children.
Your Eminence, the hour has come when good men and women who are genuine,
faithful adherents of the Greek Orthodox Church must stand for what is
right... for what is simply reasonable, intelligent, honest, accountable
Church governance. We must cry out for open financial records, for reasonable
controls to prevent... or at least catch... financial impropriety, for
fulfillment of parish obligations, for rigorous standards of stewardship
of the temporal affairs of our Church. We must insist that the governance
of our Archdiocese be truly in the balanced manner envisioned by those
wise clergymen and lay men and women who carefully established our Archdiocesan
Charter and Regulations.
Respectfully,
Harry J. Pappas
Archon Referendarios and
Member of the Executive Committee
cc: Members of the Archdiocesan Council
Corporate Office
500 South Chinworth Road * Visalia, California 93277
* (559) 733-7800 * Telecopier (559) 733-7878