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The National Herald - March 21-22, 1998

editorial

The Chicago Conference

The GOAL national conference scheduled to begin yesterday, March 20, in Chicago, is a unique event in Greek-American history. Never before has there been a movement comparable in size and depth. Why has this happened now?

The answer begins with the realization that hundreds of Greek Americans, serious men and women, family people with busy lives and many obligations, who are interested in the Greek Orthodox Church and its future in America, have put their daily concerns aside and traveled to the Windy City at their own expense in order to examine Church affairs and exchange thoughts about the crisis that confronts us.

Long-departed Archbishops Damaskinos, Athenagoras and Michael would see with satisfaction the love and concern of their flock for the Church. And former Archbishop Iakovos must be happy to realize that the seed planted in the souls of Greek Americans has taken root and grown to provide fruit in this present generation of the faithful. The Mother Church too, the Ecumenical Patriarchate, must surely feel proud of its American flock, who put their Church and their holy faith in the forefront of their lives.

What has moved these men and women to set aside their mundane concerns and fly to Chicago? Our readers and the Patriarchate are aware of the complete failure of our current ecclesiastical leadership in America. There is a heavy climate of disillusionment and desperation throughout the Archdiocese. There is deep concern for the future of the Church in America if this situation cannot be resolved, and every good Greek Orthodox is conscious of his or her obligation to protect the Church from the current danger.

The Phanar, which we know loves and cares deeply for its people in America, would do well to pay special attention to what is happening in Chicago this weekend. The Mother Church should show her love and care for the Omogenia, which has proven its dedication to the Patriarchate.

It is time to salvage our Church from the fatal decline brought on by the inappropriate, ill-considered, vindictive and ineffectual initiatives of the present leadership. We have asked for a show of concern many times as the Church has rapidly slipped into a state of crisis. We toll a knell of danger as we worry about the consequences.

We urge the Patriarch and his Holy Synod to show their love for and interest in their flock in America with action. Our community is not threatened by division, as Spyridon claims. It has already been split into unequal parts; the great majority which believes the Church is in danger and those few, who as the result of self interest or misguided optimism, refuse to see reality.

It doesn't really matter how many are participating in the GOAL conference. It doesn't matter what Spyridon says in his report to the Phanar. What matters is that the conference is taking place with the participation of serious and important people and that outrage against the current Church leadership is being expressed generally and openly.

This must come as a shock to the Patriarchate, but everyone there must understand that the Phanar is not the target here. On the contrary, it is in order to protect the Patriarchate, its prestige and authority, that these people are gathering in Chicago. Because the complete failure of leadership in the Archdiocese of America today reflects directly on the Phanar, the only institution with the power to eliminate the present danger.

[ The National Herald  -  March 21-22, 1998  -  p. 2 ]