BOSTON – The formal proposal to increase the annual financial contributions of parishes to the Archdiocese was rejected, while tension arose at the meeting of the Finance Committee of the Archdiocese which convened on Tuesday, July 2 during the 47th Clergy-Laity Congress. Those developments resulted in Archbishop Elpidophoros leaving the meeting room.

The discussion focused on the announced 9% increase in parish contributions to the Archdiocese for the next two years and the budgets for 2025 and 2026.

It is recalled that the issue was revealed by The National Herald in May 2024 and coverage continued in the Wednesday, July 3 Greek edition. The increase in parish assessments and the budgets for the next two years had been discussed and approved by the Archdiocesan Council in its remote electronic meeting on Monday, May 13, 2024.

During the Finance Committee meeting at the Clergy-Laity in San Diego, the Holy Eparchial Synod unanimously opposed the increase in community contributions, except for Metropolitan Nicholas of Detroit, who remained neutral. The chairman of the Finance Committee, Lazaros Kyrkos, and treasurer Elaine Allen faced strong resistance from Hierarchs, priests, and laity, who voted against the proposals.

In the vote that was conducted, 95 participants voted against any increase, while 64 voted in favor, the budget was to remain at the same levels for the next two years due to the financial difficulties most communities are facing.

It was also mentioned that there should be no cuts from the Archdiocese’s annual contribution to the School of Theology, which currently amounts to $3.5 million. These cuts had been proposed by treasurer Elaine Allen.

Sources  of The National Herald from within reported that chaotic situations arose multiple times from the voices and reactions of hierarchs, priests, and laity. A priest from Upstate New York, suggested cuts should be made in the budget of the Archbishop’s Office, reiterating that too many expenses are being incurred.

Other delegates harshly demanded cuts from expenses they were unaware of, while others complained of a lack of transparency. Some delegates asked who were the people receiving so much money and asked about their identities.

The matter will now go to the plenary session of the Clergy-Laity Congress, but delegates told the Finance Committee officials to bring the issue to the plenary session on Wednesday and not at the last moment on Thursday when many delegates will have left. They feared the overturning of the Finance Committee’s decision which clearly rejected the increases in the assessments of the communities.

Clergy who spoke to The National Herald under the condition of anonymity for obvious reasons said they were pleased with their Metropolitans, who unanimously said “enough is enough, our communities are suffering and can endure no more.”

They also spoke of a resounding defeat for Archbishop Elpidophoros and his appointed committee officials and questioned the role of certain associates of his.

As already reported by TNH, the annual budget for the year 2025 amounts to $27,540,000 and for the year 2026 it is $28,315,000. In 2023, the budget was $25,460,000, and for 2024, it was $25,869,000.

Regarding Archbishop Elpidophoros’ office, for which cuts and explanations regarding the allocation of funds were requested, TNH has previously reported the following: “Archbishop Elpidophoros increased the annual expenses of his Office from $800,000 to $1,100,000.”

Meanwhile, no explanation or minimal accountability exists regarding the allocation of these vast sums.

It is also noted that annual budget for the Archbishop’s Correspondence Department for the years 2023 and 2024 was $200,000, while for 2025 and 2026, it was proposed that it increase to $250,000.

TNH also wrote the following about the Communications Department: “Questions arise about the notorious Communications Department, headed by Stratos Safioleas, due to the significant increase in its budget. Specifically, the budget for 2023 and 2024 was $690,000, while it was increased to $860,000 for 2025 and $885,000 for 2026. In addition to Safioleas’ Communications Department, there is also the Public Relations Department, whose budget for 2023 and 2024 was $200,000, while for 2025 and 2026, it increased to $235,000.”