Source: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
RESOLUTION OF THE ARCHDIOCESAN COUNCIL
ATLANTA, MAY 10, 2019
WHEREAS: We recognize the exclusive privilege and canonical right of our beloved Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate to elect the next Archbishop of America;
WHEREAS: We, her faithful children in the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, are grateful to our Mother Church for its wisdom in granting us an Archdiocesan Charter, and approving Archdiocesan Regulations, that provide to our beloved Holy Eparchial Synod and to the Archdiocesan Council a specific, meaningful and substantive advisory role in the election of the Archbishop of America;
WHEREAS: We wholeheartedly share the trust that the Ecumenical Patriarchate has placed in our Holy Eparchial Synod, the members of which have lovingly and devotedly cared for our Church in America under the guidance of His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew;
WHEREAS: The many decades of collective wisdom, experience and dedication of the Metropolitans of our Holy Eparchial Synod, in shepherding their flocks through the unique challenges facing the Church in America, and the increasingly secular society and culture of the United States, cannot be overstated;
WHEREAS, we the members of the Archdiocesan Council are and know our Holy Eparchial Synod to be totally committed to the sacred bonds we share with our Ecumenical Patriarchate, and, also to the preservation of unity within the Archdiocese;
WHEREAS, our Holy Eparchial Synod and the Archdiocesan Council are required, via the process set forth in the Archdiocesan Charter and Regulations, to provide an advisory opinion with respect to the list of no fewer than five (5) candidates to be presented to the Ecumenical Patriarchate for consideration;
WHEREAS, we have been informed on May 9, 2019 that the Ecumenical Patriarchate has afforded us, only until 2:00 p.m. Eastern time on May 10, 2019, to commence and complete the Advisory Process, a time frame that makes it impossible for us to fulfill our responsibilities to the Holy Eparchial Synod and Ecumenical Patriarchate.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: That we, the members of the Archdiocesan Council, stand ready to complete, with appropriate speed and diligence, the fulfillment of the advisory consultation process required by the Archdiocesan Charter and Regulations (the “Advisory Process”) and ask for a reasonable time period of thirty (30) days to complete such process diligently, with prayer and thoughtfulness;
FURTHER RESOLVED: That, in accordance with the Charter, the most senior member of our Holy Eparchial Synod, Metropolitan Methodios of Boston, be designated by the Ecumenical Patriarchate to serve as locum tenens until the completion of the Advisory Process and subsequent election.
FURTHER RESOLVED: That we humbly beseech the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate to give every consideration to the list of no fewer than five (5) candidates that will be ultimately be provided, after the Advisory Process is completed and presented to the Ecumenical Patriarchate as required by the Archdiocesan Charter and Regulations; and
FURTHER RESOLVED: That we further ask the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate to give every consideration to the esteemed and beloved members of our Holy Eparchial Synod, who have proven themselves worthy of the honor, as candidates for election to the position of Archbishop of America.
We pray that the Grace of the Holy Spirit be with the Ecumenical Patriarchate as it fulfills its awesome task.
Your servants in the Risen Christ,
Catherine Bouffides Walsh, Secretary
Elaine Allen, Treasurer
Dimitrios Moschos, Former President
Constantine Caras, Administration Committee Chair
2 Comments
May 10, 2019
Archdiocesan Council
8 East 79th Street,
New York, NY 10075
George Tsandikos, Vice President
Christ is risen!
In this joyful Paschal season and at a time of great confidence for positive transformation in our Orthodox Church worldwide, the need to convey my deep disappointment in the Archdiocesan Council has become manifest. I found the Archdiocesan Council’s May 9th Letter and May 10th Resolution to the Ecumenical Patriarchate to be unconvincing, insolent, and counterproductive. The Council has proved inadequate to its responsibilities and now endeavors to overcompensate with a veiled strong-arm resolution.
The time and effort compiling these “documents” would have served the Church far better accomplishing the task at hand — fulfilling your responsibilities. It’s not like this situation fell out of the sky. Not a single member attending the Council could have been unaware of its current responsibilities prior to the gathering in Atlanta. Nor is it likely that there haven’t been ‘backdoor’ discussions undoubtedly priming the members.
Contradictions appear throughout the Resolution. You graciously recognize “the exclusive privilege and canonical rights,” underscoring them in a contentious tone, with a reminder to the Mother Church of the provisions of the Archdiocese’s Regulations, as if the Holy See is unaware.
The only “surprise and concern” are with those of us the Archdiocesan Council inadequately represent. This letter’s sentiments DO NOT represent me, and more importantly most Orthodox faithful in America. The Council concludes its dispatch with a not-so-subtle ultimatum “that the election decision will serve to strengthen the sacred bond… and preserve the unity…” going so far as to dictate terms and conditions: locum tenens/30 days… unwittingly stoking undercurrents of nonconformity with the Ecumenical Patriarchate amongst seditious factions here in America.
In opposition to the sentiments of this letter and with hopeful and prayerful optimism in the wisdom of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Holy Synod, I remain proclaiming:
Truly He is risen!
Hagiographos Elias Damianakis
Archon Maestor The Great Church of Christ
You people don’t get it. + Bart has already decided who he will put in as head of the GOA. You have no choice! He won’t care what the American/Greek people want or think. The new guy will be completely subservient to +Bart. WHY? Because he will want to keep his job and big retirement.
It really is time for the GOA to proclaim its AUTOCEPHALY and throw off the yoke of foreign bishops who only care about lining their own pockets. Orthodox Canon Law is clear, foreign bishops DO NOT have authority outside their own territory. This includes Patriarchs. It really is time ALL bishops follow Orthodox Canon Law. Foreign bishops CANNOT have a diocese outside their own territory.