The Association of Clergy of Greece rejects the new proposal for an agreement between the Church and the State as it considers that clergy’s salaries are not guaranteed even though they will continue to be paid by the Single Payment Authority and the treaty will be ratified by law
Today in an interview for the public TV channel ERT, the Deputy Chairman of the Clergy Association Father George Vamkakidis stated: “We are determined in our view and the position of the Holy Synod of the Hierarchy, which is binding to the whole Church.”
“The government is so close to our starting position. They try to super-coat it by changing the terms. The future is uncertain. If they want to ensure our salaries, as they say, why they do not maintain the current pay status, and why they establish a new special church fund for the payment of our salaries?”, he expressed doubts.
“The Archbishop cannot decide on his own, because the Holy Synod of the Hierarchy is the supreme body of the Church of Greece and it has already decided. The Church is not governed by its head since it has a synodical decision-making structure.”
Finally, he said that it was evident that the Synod would not change its decision. Ηe stressed: “Otherwise, we will strongly react as any social class when they see their labor rights violated.”
