BOSTON – The 47th Clergy-Laity Congress of the Archdiocese of America was held June 30-July  4 in San Diego, CA. Highlights included the opening Orthodox and Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at the Church of St. Spyridon, the ‘Moonlight on the Midway’ welcome dinner, the Agape Awards Breakfast of the National Philoptochos Society, and numerous workshops and seminars, but the gathering was dominated by debates over the Archdiocese’s finances.

Proposed increases in parish contributions to the Archdiocese captured the interest of the majority of delegates, both clergy and laity, and provoked calls for greater transparency. Specifically, the announced increase in parish contributions to the Archdiocese by 5.9% for the year 2025 and 3% for 2026, as well as proposed budget increases produced pushback at the grass roots across the country, and in the Eparchial Synod composed of the Archdiocese’s Metropolitans.

On July 2, there was a six-hour stormy session of the Finance Committee, during which the proposal for these increases was overwhelmingly rejected. The Holy Eparchial Synod unanimously opposed the increase in the communities’ contribution, except for Metropolitan Nicholas of Detroit, who remained neutral. The chair of the Finance Committee, Lazaros Kirkos, and the treasurer, Elaine Allen, faced strong resistance from hierarchs, priests, and laity, who voted against the proposed increases.

Specifically, 95 voted against, meaning no increase in the parish contributions, and the budget should remain at the same levels for the next two years because most communities are facing financial hardship and cannot bear any additional burden, while 64 voted in favor.

At one point, Archbishop Elpidophoros left the meeting, and his staff later conveyed that he went to other meetings, specifically to the organization of retired clergy to present a pectoral cross to a retired priest.

It should be noted that the budget for the next two years, 2025 and 2026, was not approved at the Congress. That has to await new calculations due to the revised increases in the parish contributions. A new budget will be approved by the Finance Committee and the Archdiocesan Council after the Congress. It was also announced that the amount the Archdiocese grants for the operation of the Hellenic College-Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, which amounts to $3.5 million annually, will not be reduced, as was originally proposed. Additionally, the Clergy Pension Fund will be allocated $1.4 million for 2025 and $1.5 million for 2026.

In response to comments, observations, and complaints from delegates that the Metropolises and communities do not have enough information or involvement in the preparation of the Archdiocese’s budget, Treasurer Elaine Allen announced that from now on, pre-consultations will be held and a participatory process will be established. Lazaros Kyrkos, Chairman of the Finance Committee, stated that the budget is prepared under the guidance of Archbishop Elpidophoros and his associates, and he mentioned that the initially proposed increases of 6% and 3%, which were rejected, would have been used for salary increases and legal expenses.

It was stated that there are pending legal cases against the Archdiocese dating far back to the past, which have emerged due to changes in the law regarding the statutes of limitation for filing lawsuits related to sexual abuse issues, both by clergy, many of whom have passed away, and by former lay employees. Details on the number of lawsuits were not provided, nor was it clear if they included the lawsuits filed by two professors of the School of Theology, Fr. Emmanuel Clapsis and Professor Evi Zachariades-Holberg, who had tenure and many years of distinguished service but were dismissed by the former president of the School, George Cantonis, citing financial reasons (exigency reasons).

Time was allotted for questions, comments, and criticisms from the delegates in the plenary session. A notable case was that of a presvytera, who among other things, noted that the plenary session did not approve the budget, but it has been left to the Executive Committee. When the discussion moderator attempted to interrupt her, citing that her allotted time had expired, she assertively stated that this was not a ‘real functional’ Clergy-Laity Congress and emphasized that delegates were not given the opportunity to express themselves, or have a voice, adding they did not come to listen to seminars.

One priest mentioned that six hours were dedicated to the Finance Committee meeting on Tuesday, during which a zero increase was voted for, and emphasized that they Church should aim to increase the number of parishioners in the communities, not parish contributions to the Archdiocese.

A lay delegate said that transparency is needed. As some priests supported the 2.8% increase, a sense of ‘division’ was evident in the room. Ultimately, the revised 2.8% increase was approved by acclamation. It is noted that Archbishop Elpidophoros, who appeared at times to be in a difficult position but remained silent, was present in the discussions. Also present on the dais were representatives of Patriarch Bartholomew at the Congress, Archbishop Nikitas of Thyateira and Great Britain and Metropolitan Cleopas of Sweden and all Scandinavia, as well as the hierarchs who are members of the Holy Eparchial Synod of the Archdiocese.

Treasurer Elaine Allen provided a detailed report on the financial status of the Archdiocese, emphasizing that the Archdiocese has achieved financial stability. She highlighted that for six years the Archdiocese has balanced the budget, with revenues exceeding expenses, expressing the belief that finances are heading in the right direction.

She also pointed out certain challenges, such as Hellenic College-Holy Cross and the Clergy Pension Fund. She stressed that they do not spend money they do not have. She mentioned that during the pandemic, the Archdiocese received $5.5 million from the U.S. government through the CARES Act, adding that the Archdiocese distributed $600,000 to individuals in need during the pandemic and $450,000 to communities facing financial problems.

Allen, who offers her services voluntarily, praised the Leadership 100, stating that without Leadership 100, there would be no ministries and programs, no scholarships at the School of Theology, and that the Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine would not have been completed.

Speaking about the School of Theology, she said that in 2018 it had a debt of $20 million, which has now been reduced to less than $5 million, but she avoided explaining how and why this debt was created. She said that the Archdiocese contributed $5 million to reduce the School’s debt and listed donors who contributed, but did not mention the €2 million euros given by Greece for the promotion of the Greek language and Hellenism, and how these funds were allocated. She noted that repairs are needed in the School’s facilities and also at the Archdiocese’s headquarters buildings in New York.

The Administrative Committee’s report was then presented.

Enjoyable and Informative Events

The ‘Moonlight on the Midway’ buffet dinner with entertainment was held on the USS Midway, the longest-serving aircraft carrier in the 20th century.

The Philoptochos Society Convention was held simultaneously with the biennial Clergy-Laity Congress and at the close of the opening Agape Breakfast, entrepreneur and philanthropist John Catsimatidis made a generous donation of $5,000 to each of nine women honored for their charitable work and support for the Society.

At the gathering of the National Sisterhood of Presvyteres, Archbishop Elipdophoros offered memorial prayers for all the presvyteres who fell asleep in the Lord since the last Clergy-Laity Congress. One of the most intriguing panels was titled ‘Artificial Intelligence, Personhood, and Theosis.’

The Grand Banquet with 4th of July fireworks marked the conclusion of the 47th Clergy-Laity Congress.