A Publication of the ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN LAITY
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| Volume 6 Number 35 - Tuesday, August 31st, 2004 |
A Publication of the ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN LAITY |
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MY PERCEPTION OF THE 37TH CLERGY/LAITY CONGRESS By Judi Vrahas It began with a Hierarchical Liturgy done exclusively in Greek, the only time the common language of the people was used for the duplicating of the Our Father and Creed, His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios began his sermon in Greek and finished in the common language of the representatives from the Parishes throughout the United States. Having attended seven Clergy/Laity Congresses I don't recall that this was the common Practice. Monday began with the opening delegate breakfast that ran an hour over the stated time, this caused all meetings and workshops to be delayed and precious time was lost. The two important meetings to be attended by Parish representatives are Administration and Finance Committees. I attended the Administration Meetings. One of the first motions made at the meeting was in regard to the two (three) delegates duly chosen to represent their prospective Parishes were not allowed their credentials. The Chair said that the issue was out of order at the Administration meeting. Next motion was in regard to the Charter, this also was called out of order, third was motion that the new UPR's be postponed to next C/L Congress. We were informed that the UPR is a REPORT. We then proceeded, for 3-1/2 days we worked in committee to lessen the punitive aspect of the new UPR's, working the last evening until midnight. We still had unfinished business that was then voted to be completed at the Plenary session. The proposed UPR's referred throughout to 2 yet unwritten documents: Resolution Dispute and Real Estate Guidelines. Original statement in UPR states that the requirements of the "Real Estate Guidelines" adopted by the Archdiocesan Council are met; since the Archdiocesan Council has not created this document to date, all reference to "Real Estate Guidelines" has been deleted, this will be a gifted document when presented. Comment: AR Section 17. Except for canonical and dogmatic matters and insofar as is consistent with the Article and custom and practice of prior Congress, Robert's Rules of Law, shall be the official parliamentary authority. As stated by the Chairman of the Administration Committee, many hours where spent, with Hierarchs, attorneys and representatives of the Archdiocese, to create the UPR's the Congress committee had only 24 hours to digest, understand and offer their input for revisions. At the Plenary the revised document along with an entire section were covered in less than four hours. Congress input was revoked after Archbishop made a plea on behalf of the Archdiocese, that monies are needed.
Throughout the
deliberations comments were made regarding the
lack of funds for parishes, Metropolis' and
Archdiocese and they proceed to tax all parish
assets 15%. The fact that parishes were not
allowed the required 60 day notice of changes to
the documents that govern them, is this not
taxation without representation. |
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