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Published by The National Herald, August 15, 2005

Collis Alarmed About Archdiocese Fiscal State

BOSTON – Dr. John Collis, a prominent neurosurgeon from Cleveland, Ohio and a member of the Executive Committee of the Archdiocesan Council, is alarmed about the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America’s fiscal condition, voicing concern over the Archdiocese’s growing debt (now in excess of $11 million), and pointing to $1.25 million in legal expenditures incurred by the Archdiocese as a result of two unspecified lawsuits.

In a letter sent to all members of the Archdiocesan Council dated July 29, the Ohio physician warns that the Archdiocese needs to address its financial and legal problems more effectively; "otherwise," he writes, "church liability will become an embarrassing and financial nightmare," adding that the choice for church liability amounts to "Crisis or Christ."

In the letter, Dr. Collis calls for an "outline and rationale of our church liability issues at the upcoming Archdiocesan Council meeting at the end of this October, emphasizing that the Council needs to "re-examine our current policy and practice for resolving disputes."

"Our Church policy of resolving disputes may be much too legalistic," Dr. Collis tells his fellow Council members, voicing his dismay over costly lawsuits: "Pursuing lawsuits as an initial means of conflict resolution is very costly and ultimately dysfunctional to our ecclesiastical life," he writes.

Dr. Collis also registers his disagreement with His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios’ recent decisions concerning the parish of the Transfiguration Church in Corona, Queens: "Discharging of church boards and implementation of excommunications are spiritual suicide," he writes.

Dr. Collis cites various passages from Scripture to argue that the Archbishop’s approach is not in consensus with the basic teachings of Christ, and proposes that "a better policy would be to first engage the aggrieved party in open dialogue – dialogue based on love and forgiveness, as taught by our Lord Jesus Christ."

The National Herald has learned that Dr. Collis has pressed the Archbishop to resolve the Corona issue outside the civil courts, but that the Archbishop has not yet responded to the physician’s exhortations.

Dr. Collis had sent another letter prior to the most recent Archdiocesan Council meeting in May requesting from the Archdiocese Finance Department a transparent report on the current Archdiocesan debt, which could grow to as much as $12 million.

"Dear Archdiocesan Council Colleague: Our deliberations and decisions at the last council meeting prompted an exposition of the Archdiocesan debt of $12 million; a review of Archdiocesan policies and practices; and the initiation of a SWOT Analysis of our Archdiocese. This is a promising beginning.

Once again, I am taking the liberty of writing and bringing to your attention another matter that requires your utmost consideration: Our Church policy of resolving disputes may be much too legalistic.

We need to re-examine our current policy and practice for resolving disputes. Discharging of church boards and implementation of excommunications are spiritual suicide. Pursuing lawsuits as an initial means of conflict resolution is very costly and ultimately dysfunctional to our ecclesiastical life.

For example, for only two lawsuits, litigants have thus far spent $1.25 million. In one lawsuit, church members sue Archbishop Demetrios over the Charter; in the other lawsuit, Archbishop Demetrios issues excommunications and restraining orders to members of the Corona church in New York. Both lawsuits should and could have been avoided.

A better policy would be to first engage the aggrieved party in open dialogue – dialogue based on love and forgiveness, as taught by our Lord Jesus Christ. Christ speaks against "an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth (Matthew 5.38)." Christ further teaches that, "If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also (Matthew 5.40)." Moreover, Saint Paul explains, unequivocally, that Christians who sue other Christians will not "inherit the Kingdom of God (I Corinthians 6.1-10)."

At our next Archdiocesan Council meeting on October 28-29, we should be provided with an outline and rationale of our church liability issues. These issues should be discussed and appraised. Otherwise, church liability will become an embarrassing and financial nightmare. There is a choice for church liability: Crisis or Christ. Regards – John Collis, MD."



Volume 7 Number 33 - Tuesday, August 16th, 2005	A Publication of the ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN LAITY