August 16, 2004
The Faithful Clergy, and Laity
of the Holy Metropolis
of Denver
Beloved in the Lord,
I am pleased at this time to report to all of you concerning the recent 37th Clergy-Laity Congress. The Congress began, like all the past ones, with the celebration of the Divine Liturgy on Sunday morning in the hotel where the Congress took place, as well as the National Philoptochos Convention, and the Young Adult Conference.
I was not able to participate in the Divine Liturgy due to the fact that I had made a previous commitment a year and a half earlier which I could not cancel. I had thought that the congress was going to be held in the beginning of July as all previous ones under Archbishop Iakovos. However, less than a year ago we were informed otherwise.
In regard to the congress, the occasion provided for welcomed reunions among clergy and laity. This probably is one of the highlights of such a gathering. For, when we come together as the Body of Christ, we realize the great impact we can make among the citizens of this country, especially upon those who are still searching for the truth.
Since we are now, administratively, a new entity without Canada, Central and South America, it was necessary for our Archdiocese to have a new charter. This was prepared several years ago by a committee of clergy and laity here in the United States. As we know, it was then presented to our Patriarchate and, after several meetings at the Patriarchate between our committee and the Patriarchal committee, it was adjusted in several parts and finally granted to us as our new guide in the governance of our holy Archdiocese. Of course, such a document does not do away with the Holy Canons of our Church which have been the perpetual guide of the Church for almost 2,000 years.
At this Congress, most of the delegates were in the Administrative committee workshop which concentrated on the new uniform regulations for the Archdiocese, the Metropolises, and the Parishes. I, for one, was not in total agreement with aspects of the regulations affecting the metropolises and the parishes. One delegate accused the gentlemen at the podium of attempting to "push through" some sections without adequate discussion from the delegates. At times I suspected that this was true. Nevertheless, I accept the decisions of the majority of the delegates who voted, with the hope that, at the next clergy-laity congress, to be held in Nashville, Tennessee, certain pertinent parts of the new regulations will be adjusted to demonstrate more trust in the metropolitans and more trust in the parishes.
In regard to the Finance Committee workshop which I tried to attend while the Administration Committee workshop was continuing, our Metropolis once again is being denied funds to operate our Center. The rationale is that the salaries of three full time personnel, two part time personnel, as well as the insurances and the pensions of our Metropolis are all that the Archdiocese can cover with the 25% formula of the funds our Metropolis parishes send to the Archdiocese.
Allow me to digress here and state that this is why our Metropolis instituted the Advocates 1000 program at our last Clergy-Laity Assembly this past year, in order for us to have adequate funds to run the operations of our Metropolis Center. I am truly grateful to all clergy and laity who have joined this annual program, including those who have become Advocates on a one-time basis. I am hopeful that, as they can afford to do so in the future, they will continue to support our work in this Metropolis. First and foremost, we need the prayers of all our people, even before the funds; for we rely upon the Holy Spirit to keep this Metropolis viable to the glory of God and for the salvation of His people.
In reference to the new regulations, I am hopeful that at the next clergy-laity congress a more Christian spirit will be reflected in regard to our holy Archdiocese and its relations with our parishes in regard to Christian stewardship. Even so, we can continue to live in the spirit of our holy Apostolic faith, since any mundane expressions in the new regulations, regarding the governance of our church in America, are not such as to interfere with or harm our Holy Tradition and the protection of the presiding Holy Spirit.
I was elated to see so many of our parishes represented with both clergy and laity. I commend and thank all those who made our Metropolis visible and active through your participation. May you all continue to demonstrate such love for the Lord Jesus Christ and His holy Church.
There were also many delegates from our Metropolis at the National Philoptochos Convention. Please continue to be active in your wonderful programs.
Unfortunately, the laity who work at the Archdiocese level have little or no concept of the financial conditions which exist here in this Metropolis. Their thinking appears to demonstrate that the Archdiocese extends only as far as the Mississippi River with some "populated islands" on the West Coast. Because of this, it is imperative that both clergy and laity in increasing numbers, from as many of our Metropolis parishes as possible, attend and be vocal at all future clergy-laity congresses and Philoptochos conventions.
Finally, we must help to change the unfair formula that dictates how the Metropolises are funded by our Archdiocese. We legitimately feel left out, even while we are told by those on the Archdiocese level that we are part of our holy Archdiocese. The words of Saint James are proper to remember here, as he says "Faith without works is dead." Let someone show to us that we are part of the Archdiocese with more pragmatic works. Words are nice; works are better.
Again I thank all of the participants from our Metropolis to the Clergy-Laity Congress, to the Philoptochos Convention, and to the Young Adults Conference. Our Church will continue to grow and to be the safe haven for those who seek the eternal and unchanging Truth Who is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I pray that all of our people in this God-saved Metropolis of Denver will demonstrate more love, more sacrifice, and more devotion to the Church which is our divine vehicle to Christ the Lord and to His glorious and everlasting Kingdom.
With Paternal Blessings and Personal Thanks,
+Metropolitan Isaiah of Denver
TO BE PRINTED IN ALL PARISH BULLETINS AND NEWS LETTERS