His Eminence Establishes Fund to Benefit Archdiocese Clergy

Orthodox Observer - March 20, 1997

Not everyone who reaches retirement years can look forward to living comfortably. For some, it means a life below the poverty level.

Such is the plight of 24 elderly priests of the Archdiocese. At an average age of 78, each of them has an average of almost 47 years' service and a monthly pension of slightly over $300.

Why are they in this dreadful financial position? Because when they were serving in the parishes, the present pension plan did not exist, and when it did come into being in 1972, they were serving not the affluent suburban communities but inner city or rural parishes.

Nor were the remuneration guidelines in existence, so they received only what the parish wished or could afford to pay ‹ salaries so small, and without benefits, that they could contribute very little, if anything to the pension plan.

Following the 1994 Clergy Laity Congress, the Retired Greek Orthodox Clergy of America (RCA) decided to find the way by which the monthly pensions of these priests in need could be increased to at least $500 per month.

To accomplish this, the sum of $4,982 per month, or $59,784 per year was needed.

The Association officers, President William Gaines, Vice President Demosthenes Mekras, Secretary George Papadeas, and Treasurer Philemon Payiatis, all retired priests, created the Pension Supplementary Fund and appointed Fr. Evagoras Constantinides as fund raiser and treasurer of the fund. The RCA made the first contribution, $4,495, the balance of the Bishop Kavadas Statue Fund.

The matter was brought to the attention of the Clergy-Laity Congress Finance Committee in New York in July, with the proposal to make it part of the Archdiocesan budget.

However, no matter how sympathetic the delegates were, and how loudly they applauded the proposal, the Archdiocese was not in position to put this amount of $60,000 in its budget.

The matter was also raised with the priests at the Congress. All expressed a desire to help. Fr. Constantinides asked them to approach their parish councils, Philoptochos chapters, other parish organizations, and other sources to send a one-time gift of at least $100,000 to the Pension Supplementary Fund.

An appeal also was made on June 28, 1996, to the "Archbishop Iakovos Leadership 100 Endowment Fund" for $27,500 to enable the Pension Supplementary Fund to increase the pensions of these elderly clergy to $500 per month for the rest of the year.

Upon learning of the efforts of the RCA and Fr. Constantinides, Archbishop Spyridon expressed his gratitude to them for starting this project. He also sent an appeal letter to all priests of the Archdiocese asking for their help.

In the letter, His Eminence said, in part, "We are offered an opportunity to participate in providing a "harvest" for these veteran pioneers of our Church in America who can hardly subsist. The Archdiocese would like to provide our brothers with a minimum of $500 a month. Even though this amount, including their social security, places them below the poverty line. Your heart and mine cannot allow this condition to persist without being proactive ourselves..."

A special account has been established exclusively for this purpose. Anyone wishing to send a donation can issue a check to: Clergy Benevolent Fund, do Clergy Benefits Office, 8 E. 79th St., New York, NY 10021.

[ Orthodox Observer - Vol. 62, No. 1125 - March 20, 1997 - p. 2 ]