Fort Wayne Case Finally Goes to Trial
December 3, 2006
Those who care about the Orthodoxy in America have seen various attempts to resolve thorny administration
problems finally end up in civil litigation when the laity and heirarchy are unable to work together (as they should)
to build concensus and find resolution.
Clearly, as is oft-repeated, the Church "is the clergy, heirarchy and laity working together", and it wasn't
just Metropolitan Philip Saliba of the Antiochian Archdiocese who said this (in 1992), but one can find examples of this among
the Fathers of the Church all the way back to St. Paul, who went to great lengths describing the various gifts and indispensible
roles of ALL members of the body of Christ.
When members of the Body, in good conscience, cannot bear to witness wrongs being committed and swept under
the rug, they must take a stand provided they are following Christ's commandments.
For several years, the parish council and vast majority of the members of the Fort Wayne parish of St. John Chrysostom
Antiochian church, appalled at the politics and alleged simony at the highest levels of the church administration sought to
modify the impending punishment of an innocent priest.
Recognizing that they were powerless to stop the episcopal fiat of a Metropolitan who had it in for a convert
priest, they nonetheless did what they could to help mitigate and ameliorate the impending suffering and unwarranted punishment
of a pious brother in Christ.
To soften the financial blow of a more than 2/3 cut in pay, loss of health insurance and forced unreimbursed
move to a distant parish, the council unaminously passed a bylaw amendment paying for six months worth of health insurance
and two weeks of pay for every year served for any priest serving the parish for at least five years. This was codified
so that it would apply to present and future priests (not a bad idea since the parish had had 8 priests in 20 years, most
forcibly driven out by the same parish influence-peddlers).
To insure the will of the parish council was carried out, the money was place in trust with a local attorney
for the benefit of the priest and his family.
Of course the same people who had run off the previous priests with the help of the hierarchy went to court,
along with the chancellor of the Antiochian Archdiocese, demanding the return of the funds.
But that is not all the Antiochian heirarchy did. They attempted to defame the parish council by writing
other SCOBA and non-SCOBA bishops that the council had "misappropriated church funds" (quickly retracted when threatened with
legal action). They attempted to ex-communicate the parish council (which was not recognized by most other Midwest Orthodox
bishops and priests). The innocent priest, who knew nothing about the actions of the parish council; didn't ask for
them and didn't want them, was suspended from priestly duties and (put on penance via email) denied the Eucharist unless
he falsely accussed the parish council and committed perjury. The priest would not do so and recently was defrocked
and excommunicated (along with his wife) by Metropolitan Philip.
A parish council has not only the right, but the responsibility, of compensating the priests that serve the local
parish. This is not 1st Amendment free exercise clause legalism (the kind that gets most Orthodox ligitigation thrown
out by courts who will not venture into ecclesiastical issues) but simple, common law, non-profit corporation administrative
issues which are covered quite extensively in our legal system.
In the broader context of a history during the past 20 years of Orthodox Archioceses re-writing constitutions,
regulations and bylaws designed to take away 80 years worth of traditional lay duties and responsibilities in American Orthodoxy
it is completely evident why the Antiochian Archdiocese and their chancellor are fighting the case in Fort Wayne
tooth and nail.
If, as many heirarchs like to quote, "the Church is the Bishop and the Bishop is the Church", then at it's logical
extreme conclusion, all a parish council is good for is maintaining the grounds and "cleaning the bathrooms of the church"
and not much more, at least according to the Antiochian attorney/chancellor in his deposition.
Except that parishes, since the first century, are funded by the local members; who collectively comprise the
Body of Christ and voluntarily donate funds to accomplish the mission of the Christian church, whether it's feeding
the hungry or compensating those ordained to serve as priests and pastors.
Take away that responsibility (or call it a "right", if you will) and what is left? "Pay, pray and obey",
as it is said. The church is no longer the clergy, heirarchy and laity "working together" but can degenerate into some
kind of authoritarian club complete with cults of personality, driven by heirarchs beholden to those who utilize
money not to feed the poor, but ego and power. Orthodox Christians who take their faith seriously are
compelled to fight this type of behavior-- for failure to do so makes their faith and praxis a lie.
It is no small issue which will be decided in Fort Wayne in May of 2007. Judge Stanley Levine will rule
on the legality of an Orthodox parish council compensating a priest. Heaven help all Orthodox parishes should the other
side prevail in this dispute.
If you or someone you know truly cares about the Orthodox Church in the U.S., it's goverance and accountability,
please pass this along to him or her. All devoted and pious council members serving at parishes everywhere in the
U.S. need to sit up and take notice of this sleepy little case with so much at stake for the future of a healthy, vibrant
and inclusive Orthodox Church.
Concerned Orthodox Christian Alliance welcomes and very much needs your support and prayers.
in Christ,
John Pappas
Chairman
