top

Greek America - July 15, 2002

Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Inching Closer to Autonomy as Delegates Ask for Updated Charter;
Ball Now in Patriarch's Court

Hundreds of delegates of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America approved controversial new recommendations to their charter that would grant it greater autonomy from its current leadership at the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul, Turkey.

The delegates said the move signaled a yearning for an independent church that would remain linked to the mother church, headquartered in Istanbul, Turkey, but not completely controlled by it. The new charter must still be accepted by the Istanbul Patriarchate.

Under the proposed changes, Greek Orthodox hierarchs in the United States would submit three nominees for future archbishops to the Patriarchate for a final decision. The American church would elect its own bishops and all candidates must have at least 5 years of experience of active ministry in the American Archdiocese.

Church leaders in Istanbul currently appoint both bishops and archbishops for the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and are intimately involved in its administrative affairs.

In earlier negotiations, Istanbul rejected a request from the U.S. church members for a greater role in the selection of bishops and archbishops.

The current Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew has experienced a rocky relationship with his American Archdiocese. In 1994, former Archbishop Iakovos, who had been at the helm of the American church for almost 40 years, gathered leaders of other ethnic Orthodox Churches in an attempt for "administrative unity."

The move startled the Patriarchate as it feared losing its most influential and cash-heavy Archdiocese in America to a new, unified American Orthodox church.

Bartholomew asked for Iakovos’ resignation. |  In 1996, the Synod of Bishops in Istanbul appointed Archbishop Spyridon to the post. Following a turbulent three years in office as Spyridon attempted to make changes in the American Church following a 37-year Iakovos tenure, the Istanbul hierarchs ordered his resignation in 1999 and appointed Archbishop Demetrios to the post.

Photo:
GOA-Demetrios Panagos

Archbishop Deme-
trios delivers his message to the delegates of the Clergy Laity Con-
gress in Los Angeles

In a pre-emptive move to reassure delegates at the Congress, Bartholomew, through an emissary he sent to Los Angeles, delivered a message stating that "The Ecumenical Patriarchate does not have either the possibility or the intention to interfere in the self-governing of the Holy Archdiocese of America and of the Parishes and Communities or Institutions that are under it. Neither does it have the intention to restrict the autonomy of the above that has existed for some time."

Some 750 delegates attending early July’s Greek Orthodox Clergy-Laity Congress in Los Angeles, California, approved the new charter during a voice vote. The mere discussion of the controversial matter surprised many as previously, Metropolitans Maximos (Pittsburgh), Methodios (Boston) and Antonios (San Francisco) gave interviews to various Greek American newspapers stating that the charter issue would not be discussed at the Congress and that the charter issue was a "done deal."

This was not to be the case. Prior to the discussion on the charter, members of the Orthodox Christian Laity, an organization calling for autonomy of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, presented a resolution beseeching the Patriarchate for the American Church's independence. That motion was ruled out of order.

Discussion opened after Dr. John Collis, an active member of the autonomy movement, rose to the floor and asked for the current charter's approval, if the recommendations of the delegates were added to it, namely:

  • That provisions be maintained in the charter for participation by both clergy and laity in church governance
  • That the Archbishop of America be selected from a list of three candidates proposed by the American Synod of Bishops
  • That the Bishops in America be elected by the American Archdiocese
  • That candidates for Archbishop have a minimum of five years experience in the church in America

The recommendations made by the delegates have been sent to Istanbul, for final approval by Bartholomew. Members of the Archdiocese, including organizations like the Orthodox Christian Laity, which was instrumental in informing delegates about the proposed charter discussions, are anxiously awaiting the decision by the Istanbul hierarchs.

Many observers say that the outcome will be historic for the American Church and the Ecumenical Patriarchate. If Patriarch Bartholomew allows the changes to be made to the charter, the move will, in essence, signal a new beginning of autonomy for the Greek Orthodox Church in America founded by immigrants early last century.

If, on the other hand, the requests are not granted, some say there will be a full-scale revolt, with the ultimate goal of breaking off ties with the Ecumenical Patriarchate. The revolt, some say, could lead to a unified American Orthodox Church with other ethnic jurisdictions joining forces, or to an independent Greek Orthodox Church in America.

[ Greek America - July 15, 2002 - p. 6 ]