The President of the Greek Orthodox Community of South Australia (GOCSA), Peter Gardiakos, has issued a statement after members voted against a motion aimed at reunifying with the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia (GOAA) after a 64-year schism.
500 community members met on Sunday, October 27 for an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) to determine the future of GOCSA – with a vote of this kind not being brought to members in 60 years.
The proposed changes that would have marked the end to a 64-year schism between GOCSA and the GOAA did not pass, despite 61% of support from members.
In the statement, Mr Gardiakos said he was “disappointed by the outcome,” but “it was encouraging to see more than 60% of members wanting change in our community.”
Full statement in English:
My thanks are due to the nearly 500 members of the Greek Orthodox Community of South Australia who came out last night to decide on an issue that has impacted us all.
Thank you to the Electoral Committee for ensuring the voting process ran smoothly, to our wonderful staff who went above and beyond and to the Administrative Council who have dedicated time, effort and have shown willingness to embark on this challenging journey to put more than six decades of division behind them and grant future generations the opportunity to move forward as one Greek community.
We did the best we could thus far to put the decision-making process in members’ hands.
I am most grateful to all of you who expressed your opinions and reached out with words of support. I know how hard it was for some of you to come out yesterday, and I only wish I could thank you individually.
Whilst I am disappointed with the outcome, it is encouraging to see more than 60% of members wanting change in our community. For as long as I am serving as President, I will ensure that all our membership base get a fair say, and I will work particularly hard for the majority of our members who want to build a united, stronger Greek community.
We will leave yesterday to the past, keep building up this organisation, and continue receiving feedback from our members on how to better serve them with trust and transparency.
We have our eyes firmly on the future whilst acknowledging and safeguarding all that wehave inherited from the founders of the Greek Orthodox Community of South Australia.
Peter Gardiakos, PRESIDENT
