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Submitted by Evan Alevizatos
Chriss, August 16, 2003
Questions And
Answers And Orthodox Observer Editorial
The Editor
Letters to the Editor
The Orthodox Observer
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese
8 East 79th Street
New York, New York 10021
Dear Sir:
It is with much sadness, disappointment and
disillusionment that I write this letter with
respect to the "Questions and Answers on the New
Charter" and your Editorial, both of which
appeared in the August issue of The Orthodox
Observer.
The issuance by the Archdiocese of a factual,
objective and accurate statement of answers to the
many questions raised by the handed down 2003
Charter and an editorial in the Observer are
certainly obvious and correct courses of action.
Sadly however, the "Questions and Answers on the
New Charter" issued by the Archdiocese and your
editorial are marked not only by incomplete
answers to vital questions but also by actual
misstatements, some of which are discussed below.
1. It is stated that the Charter defines the
relationship between the Patriarchate and the
Archdiocese including the rights and privileges of
the Archdiocese. This is an incomplete answer
since it does not put the 2003 proposed Charter
into proper historical perspective. It
fails to state that our Archdiocese has had four
Charters - 1922,
1927, 1931 and 1977, all of which have been
accepted and
approved by a Clergy-Laity Congress.
2. In describing the process of preparing a new
Charter, the Questions and Answers and your
editorial give no explanation for any of the
following:
[a] Why the precedent set by the
1922,1927,1931 and 1977 Charters and the specific
provisions of the 1977 Charter requiring
Clergy-Laity Congress approval of any revision to
it, have not been followed.
[b] Why (1) the concerns of the
Archdiocesan Council about the Proposed Joint
Draft Charter, (2) the objections to that Draft
registered by approximately 190 parishes, and (3)
the approximate 30 amendments and recommendations
overwhelmingly adopted by the 2002 Clergy-Laity
Congress which reaffirmed clergy and laity roles
and rights in the life of the church and provided
for the election of all future Bishops by the
Synod of our Archdiocese and for the election by
the Patriarchate of all future Archbishops from a
list of three nominees chosen by our Archdiocesan
Synod, [except for providing that the Congress
shall meet not less than triennially] are not
reflected in the 2003 Charter.
[c] Why the 2003 proposed Charter contains
a number of changes from the Draft Charter
discussed in Los Angeles including the elimination
of the mandatory five years of prior service in
the Archdiocese as a prerequisite for election as
a Metropolitan.
3. The Questions and Answers state that: "The
Charter enhances the vital role of the laity in
several ways". Your
editorial states : "The
laity's role is enhanced, not diminished by the
Charter." [bold
italics supplied]. These are totally incorrect and
misleading misstatements. Even a casual comparison
of the 1977 and 2003 Charters clearly shows how
drastically lay and clergy participation in
Archdiocesan governance is reduced under the 2003
Charter. Here are several examples:
[a] Designation of the number of Dioceses [
Metropolises], their Sees and boundaries.
Subject to Patriarchal approval, under the
1977 Charter this is a function of the
Archdiocesan Council. Under the proposed 2003
Charter, subject to Patriarchal approval, this is
a function of the Eparchial Synod with the Council
having a consultative voice, but no participation
in the decision. Accordingly, even though these
decisions affect the life, well being, unity,
uniform administration and financial stability of
the Archdiocese and its parishes, the clergy and
laity will no longer participate in them.
[b] Governance of the Archdiocese
- Whereas the 1977 Charter provides
that the Archdiocese is administered by the
Archbishop with the Synod of Bishops, Article 4 of
the 2003 Charter provides that "the
Eparchial Synod constitutes the ecclesiastical
instrument of governance of the Archdiocese"
[bold italics supplied] and Article 6 states that
the Archbishop and the Synod are responsible for
the governance of the Archdiocese. "Administer"
connotes orderly management. "Govern" is the
exercise of ruling authority. The 2003 Charter
vests all Archdiocesan governance in the
Archbishop and the Metropolitans and excludes
participation by clergy and laity. Accordingly,
the 2003 Charter renders the deliberations and
decisions of the Clergy-Laity Congress in most
matters to the status of merely consultative and
advisory. The reduction of the participation of
the Council in the governance of the Archdiocese
is made very clear by the provisions of paragraph
c of Article 17 which states that the Archdiocesan
Council functions as the ",,,,, advisory and
consultative body to the Archbishop and the
Eparchial Synod."
[c]
Legislative functions of the Congress and the
Council -The 2003
Charter eliminates all references in the 1977
Charter to the legislative functions of the
Congress and the Council.
[d]
Election of the Archbishop, the Metropolitans and
Bishops
-The misleading impression is given that
the 2003 Charter's provision for an advisory role
for the Council is a new function of the Council.
This is incorrect. The Council has such a function
under the 1977 Charter. If anything, the 2003
Charter
reduces
the advisory function of the
Council in the election of Diocesan Bishops [Metropolitans].
Under the 1977 Charter, nominations by the Synod
are made "in consultation with the Archdiocesan
Council".; i.e., the Council functioning in its
official capacity. The 2003 Charter eliminates "consultation"
and instead provides that the Synod shall solicit
"the opinion of the members of the Archdiocesan
Council". The result is that rather than the
Council acting in its official capacity, the
members of the Council are to be asked
individually for their individual opinions. This
is the system which was recently used when the
Synod was selecting the nominees for election as
Metropolitan of New Jersey. The list of possible
nominees was mailed to members of the Council with
the request that they submit any appropriate
comments.
[e] Regulations
- It is implied that the participation of
the laity in the preparation and adoption of
Regulations is something new in the 2003 Charter.
Again, this is incorrect. The 1977 Charter
provides for Council and Clergy-Laity Congress
actions in the preparation and adoption of
Regulations.
[f] Charter Revision
- Article XXIV of the 1977 Charter provides that,
subject to ratification by the Patriarchate, the
Charter may be revised upon request of the
Clergy-Laity Congress. The 2003 Charter however
provides that it may be amended only by amendments
proposed by the Eparchial Synod.
It is most unfortunate that the "Questions and
Answers on the New Charter" and your editorial
published under the aegis of the Archdiocese has
so many omissions of pertinent facts and actual
misstatements. The Greek Orthodox faithful have a
right to expect that commentaries and other
information issued by the Archdiocese are
factually correct. The issuance of factually
incorrect and misleading information by the
Archdiocese seriously impairs its integrity and
credibility. Whoever authorized the publication of
the "Questions and Answers on the New Charter" and
your editorial has caused serious harm to His
Eminence, Archbishop Demetrios and to the
Archdiocese.
As Greek Orthodox Christians, we have the right to
expect our Archdiocese always to act with honesty
and integrity. A failure to do so creates
disillusionment and damages credibility.
Expositions of faith and actions cannot be
separated. There must be a consistency between
pronouncements and actions.
Very truly yours,
EAC/me
Evan Alevizatos
Chriss
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