Εκθεση για την οικονομική κατάσταση της Αρχιεπισκοπής

Κυριακή, 10 Δεκεμβρίου, 2017

Ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος Αμερικής, κ. Δημήτριος. Φωτογραφία αρχείου: Εθνικός Κήρυξ, Κώστας Μπέη.

ΝΕΑ ΥΟΡΚΗ – Μετά τις συνεχείς αποκαλύψεις του “Ε.Κ.” για την δυσμενή οικονομική κατάσταση στην οποία έχει περιέλθει η Αρχιεπισκοπή, και ιδιαίτερα έπειτα από την παύση των εργασιών στον Αγιο Νικόλαο στο Σημείο Μηδέν, το Αρχιεπισκοπικό Συμβούλιο ανακοίνωσε την Παρασκευή πως ενημερώθηκε πλήρως για τα οικονομικά στοιχεία.

Οπως ανέφερε η ανακοίνωση,

“Το Αρχιεπισκοπικό Συμβούλιο της Ελληνικής Ορθοδόξου Αρχιεπισκοπής Αμερικής, υπό την προεδρία του Αρχιεπισκόπου Δημήτριο Αμερικής, συγκάλεσε στη Νέα Υόρκη την τακτική προγραμματισμένη συνάντησή του την 19η-20η Οκτωβρίου. Κατά τη διάρκεια της συνάντησης ενημερώθηκε το Αρχιεπισκοπικό Συμβούλιο για την οικονομική κατάσταση της Αρχιεπισκοπής. Το Συμβούλιο επιβεβαίωσε την ισχυρή δέσμευσή του να εφαρμόσει τους κατάλληλους ελέγχους και διαδικασίες στην Αρχιεπισκοπή και επιβεβαίωσε την προσήλωσή του στη λογοδοσία και τη διαφάνεια. Για περισσότερες πληροφορίες, ανατρέξτε στο δελτίο τύπου στη διεύθυνση https://www.goarch.org/-/archdiocesan-council-receives-full-report-on-financial-situation.

Συνολικές ενέργειες που έχουν αναληφθεί αναφορικά με την οικονομική κατάσταση

Η Αρχιεπισκοπή εργάζεται επιμελώς για να αντιμετωπίσει τις οικονομικές της προκλήσεις, οι οποίες είναι όλες ελεγχόμενες και διαχειρίσιμες. Με τη Χάρη του Θεού, μέσα σε λίγους μήνες, η Αρχιεπισκοπή έλαβε πρωτοφανείς και συγκεκριμένες ενέργειες για να εδραιώσει τη βάση για ένα ισχυρό μέλλον. Ο Σεβασμιότατος, Αρχιεπίσκοπος Αμερικής Δημήτριος, η Ιερά Επαρχιακή Σύνοδός μας, η Εκτελεστική Επιτροπή και το Αρχιεπισκοπικό Συμβούλιο εργάζονται από κοινού για να εξασφαλίσουν την ακεραιότητα στις λειτουργίες της Αρχιεπισκοπής.

Πραγματοποιήθηκαν πρωτοφανείς ενέργειες τόσο αναφορικά με την ουσία όσο και με την ταχύτητα για να αποκατασταθεί η εμπιστοσύνη με τους πιστούς. Αυτές οι δράσεις περιλαμβάνουν τον διορισμό νέων ηγετικών στελεχών στα ανώτατα επίπεδα, την ανάθεση νέων ανθρώπων σε κρίσιμες θέσεις ανώτερων διευθυντικών στελεχών, την εφαρμογή νέων εσωτερικών ελέγχων, πρακτικών και διαδικασιών, τον διορισμό υψηλά ειδικευμένων επαγγελματιών που θα υπηρετούν σε ανεξάρτητες επιτροπές ελέγχου, τη διατήρηση των λογιστικών εταιρειών για διάφορους ανεξάρτητους ελέγχους και εκθέσεις και πολύ σημαντικές μειώσεις του κόστους. Ακολουθεί μια συνολική ανασκόπηση των συγκεκριμένων ενεργειών που πραγματοποιήθηκαν για την προώθηση των στόχων της και την παροχή διαφάνειας στους πιστούς:

Νέος Πρόεδρος της Επιτροπής Οικονομικών

Ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος Δημήτριος της Αμερικής ανακοίνωσε το διορισμό του Άρχων Λαζάρου Κύρκου (Lazaros Kircos) ώστε να υπηρετήσει ως Πρόεδρος της Επιτροπής Οικονομικών κατά τη συνεδρίαση του Αρχιεπισκοπικού Συμβουλίου στις 20 Οκτωβρίου 2017. Ο Άρχων Κύρκος δεσμεύεται να αναλάβει η Οικονομική Επιτροπή τον ορθό ρόλο της για τη λειτουργία της Αρχιεπισκοπής , συμπεριλαμβανομένης της καθοδήγησης και της παρακολούθησης σε τομείς που περιλαμβάνουν προϋπολογισμούς, δαπάνες, χρηματοδότηση, ταμείο και μακροπρόθεσμο στρατηγικό σχεδιασμό.

Αναλυτικά η ανακοίνωση στα αγγλικά:

“December 8, 2017

Archdiocesan Council Received Full Report on Financial Situation

The Archdiocesan Council of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, under the chairmanship of Archbishop Demetrios of America, convened in New York for its regularly scheduled fall meeting October 19th to 20th. During the meeting, the Archdiocesan Council was updated on the financial situation of the Archdiocese.The Council reaffirmed its strong commitment to implement appropriate controls and procedures at the Archdiocese and reaffirmed its dedication to accountability and transparency. For more information please refer to press release at https://www.goarch.org/-/archdiocesan-council-receives-full-report-on-financial-situation

Comprehensive Actions Taken in Response to Financial Situation

The Archdiocese is working expeditiously and diligently to address its financial challenges, all of which are controllable and manageable. By the Grace of God, in a matter of a few short months, the Archdiocese has taken unprecedented and concrete actions to establish the foundation for a strong future. His Eminence, Archbishop Demetrios of America, our Holy Eparchial Synod, the Executive Committee and the Archdiocesan Council are working together to bring integrity to the operations of the Archdiocese.

Unprecedented actions have been taken in both substance and speed to reestablish the trust with the Faithful. These actions include the appointment of new lay leadership at the highest levels, the assignment of new people to critical senior management positions, the implementation of new internal controls, practices and procedures, the appointment of highly qualified professionals to serve on independent audit committees, the retention of accounting firms for various independent audits and reports, and very significant cost reductions. The following is a comprehensive review of the concrete actions taken in furtherance of its objectives of providing accountability and transparency to the Faithful:

New Finance Committee Chairman

Archbishop Demetrios of America announced the appointment of Archon Lazaros Kircos to serve as Chairman of the Archdiocese Finance Committee at the Archdiocesan Council meeting on October 20, 2017. Archon Kircos is committed to having the Finance Committee take its proper role in the functioning of the Archdiocese, including leading and monitoring in areas involving budgets, expenditures, finance, treasury, and long term strategic planning.

2018 Archdiocesan Assessments to Metropolises

The Holy Eparchial Synod announced on October 20, 2017, that the Archdiocese 2018 assessments to the Metropolises would remain frozen at the 2017 level. This action was an act of good faith taken by the Holy Eparchial Synod, the Executive Committee and the Archdiocesan Council towards the Metropolises and our Parishes to begin the process of reestablishing trust with the Archdiocese. This action highlights the efforts by the GOA to solve its financial problems without increasing the burden to our parishes.  The 7.74% increase, which had already been approved by the 2016 Clergy-Laity Congress, was rescinded, representing a significant savings to parishes for 2018. Under the guidelines of the Uniform Parish Regulations (UPR), Metropolises are determining individual Parish assessments for 2018 within the context of a level Metropolis budget for both 2017 and 2018.

New Archdiocesan Standing Audit Committee

Archbishop Demetrios announced the appointment of a new group of financial and legal professionals to serve as members of the Archdiocesan Council’s Standing Audit Committee on November 9, 2017. The responsibilities of the Audit Committee will include assessing the reliability and accuracy of financial reporting; selecting external auditors; meeting with those auditors to review audit plans and results; reviewing internal controls and developing any necessary remediation plans; and monitoring compliance with applicable laws and regulations pertaining to financial controls. For more information please refer to press release at www.goarch.org/-/audit-committee-appointed-by-archbishop-demetrios

The new Audit Committee is working with the GOA’s finance staff to complete the Archdiocese’s 2016 financial audit by Grant Thornton. To promote accountability and transparency, audited financials will be provided, on an annual basis, to the Archdiocesan Council, the Parishes and the Faithful.

Special Investigative Committee related to St. Nicholas National Shrine

The Executive Committee of the Archdiocesan Council of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America formed an independent Special Investigative Committee related to St. Nicholas National Shrine, at a special meeting on November 21, 2017. The Special Investigative Committee will investigate and evaluate expenditures related to the St. Nicholas Shrine construction project, and the potential use of certain St. Nicholas Shrine restricted funds for the payment of Archdiocesan general operating expenses. This special committee will make a report of its findings and recommendations to the Executive Committee, which will share the results of the investigation and recommendations with, among others, the Legal and Audit committees. It has been asked to provide a preliminary report within ninety days and periodic updates, thereafter. BakerHostetler and PwC will serve as independent legal counsel and independent accountants, respectively. For more information, please refer to press release at www.goarch.org/-/executive-committee-establishes-special-investigative-committee-for-st-nicholas-national-shrine

Completion of Operational Review by Grant Thornton

The Archdiocese retained Grant Thornton to conduct a thorough operations review.Grant Thornton completed the Operations Review after almost six months of work,and submitted its report on December 1, 2017. This highly technical document will act as a critical tool for the Archdiocese with respect to becoming a world-class not-for-profit institution from an internal controls, practices and procedures perspective.An executive summary of the findings and recommendations of the Grant Thornton Operations Review will be shared with the Executive Committee, and the National Finance, Audit and Legal Committees.  It should be noted that, with the blessing of His Eminence, Archbishop Demetrios of America, the Archdiocese started the process of improving internal controls beginning in April 2017, well before the engagement of Grant Thornton.

Review and Reconciliation of Archdiocese Payroll

An accounting specialist firm, Kiwi Associates, began a review of the Archdiocese’s payroll and compensation on December 1, 2017. Kiwi Associates will make a report of its findings to the Executive Committee, the Audit Committee and the Legal Committee.

New Finance Budget Sub-Committee

Archon Lou Kircos, new Chairman of the Finance Committee, has established a new Budget Sub-Committee that is working with the GOA’s Chancellor, Officers and Finance Staff with respect to the creation of a 2018 budget. This budget will be constructed from the ground up, and reflect the actual financial position of the Archdiocese. The Budget Sub-Committee will then meet with the Archdiocesan Chief Financial Officer and finance staff regularly to monitor variances in the budget relative to actual performance to ensure integrity.

Expenses Related To The Multiple Audits, Investigations and Reports

The Grant Thornton operations review and the payroll review by Kiwi Associates were funded by a private donor. The Archdiocese expects that the expenses related to the Special Investigative Committee for St. Nicholas will be funded by private donors. The GOA has not incurred any expense in connection with these various undertakings to date.

Archdiocese Total Commitment Receipts from Parishes

The Archdiocese recognizes and appreciates the continuing strong stewardship by its Parishes. The Finance Committee reports that through November 30, 2017, GOA’s Total Commitment receipts are $1,435,000 more than the same period a year ago, an increase of 7.9%.”

Πηγή: ΕΘΝΙΚΟΣ ΚΗΡΥΞ