11.28.05
Archbishop Job's Letter
His Beatitude, the Most Blessed HERMAN
Archbishop
of Washington and New York,
Metropolitan of All America and Canada
PO
Box 675
Syosset, NY 11791
Your Beatitude and dear Vladyka HERMAN:
Glory to Jesus Christ! I feel compelled at this time and bound
by conscience to offer a clear and concise account of! my position
on the crisis that now plagues our Orthodox Church in America,
especially since references to me have appeared in the public
forum. Contrary to that which has been stated, this matter is
not closed---far from it!
Your Beatitude, as is most often the
case in discussions about virtually any aspect of the life
of our Church, the issues involvedgive way to debate over personalities,
and their popularity or lack thereof. Needless to say, there
are very strong personalitiesinvolved here, both popular and
unpopular. During the fall session of the Holy Synod, when
information made available to each hierarch was brought up for
discussion, attacks regarding the character of the person who
made the information known were launched, while the issues were
essentially ignored. In my mind, whether the accuser or the accused
are saints or sinners, reputable or disreputable, magnanimous
or malicious---is immaterial. What truly matters is the nature
of the allegations. What continues to perplex me is that the
simple and most appropriate question was not asked---not by the
Holy Synod, not by the Metropolitan Council, nor by others commenting
on the situation:
Are any of the allegations true, or are they
false?
If this question is not asked---let alone answered---how
can there be resolution to the problem? Obviously, there
must be investigation.
Also, I take exception to the explanations
given that the financial concerns first brought up in 1999,
and now resurrected and augmented in 2005, were discussed and
resolved by the Holy Synod and Metropolitan Council as early
as 2000.
Your Beatitude, the only matter brought to the
attention of the Holy Synod and Metropolitan Council was the
Metrpolitan’s “discretionary
account.” No details were provided as to the amount of
the money contained in the account. As a hierarch of the Holy
Synod, I dealt only with maintaining a principle regarding
the nature of a discretionary account. Your Beatitude, I find
myself compelled to ask how the matters brought to the attention
of the hierarchs of our Church only last month could have been
resolved five years ago?
The allegations include: Church funds
being used for private purposes; unreported bequests;
misuse of restricted funds generated from the Mission, Seminary,
and Charity Appeals; a sizable donation by the US Department
of Chaplains for bibles for Russia; unsupported credit card expenditures;
the Saint Sergius Chapel Account; the Andreas Conference
and Communications Center, and others. Again I ask Are any of
the allegations true, or are they false?
The answer to this
question is of utmost importance. If the allegations are false,
financial records will prove them to be false. If they are
true, then much work must be done -- not only regarding facts,
figures, and finances, but the restoration of credibility,honesty,
truth, righteousness, integrity, and honor.
Vladyka, forgive
me for saying this, but an independent audit of the finances
of the Church for only [“only”- highlighted]
the last two years will not [“not” highlighted]
provide the necessary answers. For this purpose, a
thorough investigation is necessary.
As a senior member
of the Holy Synod, I go on record urging Your Beatitude
to initiate a thorough investigation by appointing
a Synodal Commission---consisting of no fewer than
three hierarchs---which, upon conclsion of said investigation,
will report directly to the Holy Synod.
Although
it has been stated that the members of the Holy Synod
consider this matter to be closed, I once again
take exception: this [“this” - italicized] member
of the Holy Synod accepts no such closure at this
time. It is my pastoral duty to lead the faithful flock entrusted
to my spiritual care and, when necessary, to protect
it. I can do neither adequately unless this crisis
is resolved and answers are provided.I realize
that my reticence to accept the “status-quo” puts
me in an extremely vulnerable position, but I cannot
violate my conscience or my responsibility.
I further
realize that others reading these words unfortunately
will base their judgement on whether or not they “like” me,
or whether or not they respect my opinion. I do not
claim to be a good man, but I like to think that I
am an honest man. I am greatly concerned about t! he
Holy Synod. If the allegations are true, then the Synod
has been deceived, manipulated, and the hierarchal
principle has been compromised.
Dear Vladyka HERMAN,
I do not want to be a constant source of irritation
to You. I ask Your forgiveness if I have offended
You by means of this communication, but I perceive a great
deal of fear in our Church. In his first epistle,
Saint John the Theologian tells us:
“There
is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear,
because fear involves torment. But he who fears has
not been made perfect in love.” (I John 4:18)
It is indeed a time for increased love, a time
for courage. A saying by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. seems
most appropriate: “Our lives begin to end the
day we become silent about things that matter.” Vladyka,
these things that disturb the Church matter ---we cannot
afford to be silent. Otherwise,! we will be confronted
with the ultimate question:
Do we really expect God
to bless any of our endeavors?
Let us stand for
truth and righteousness, and state with the Psalmist, “I
will not die, but I will live and declare the works
of the Lord.”
Asking
Your holy prayers for my unworthiness,
I remain
With love in Christ,
Your brother and concelebrant
+JOB
Archbishop
of Chicago and the Midwest
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