Read it here:
http://www.coloradodiocese.org/06_newsandevents/PDFs/ecclesiastical%20trial.pdf
or here:
The Bishop and Diocese of Colorado are grateful to the Ecclesiastical Court of the Diocese for faithfully fulfilling their canonical responsibilities in hearing the case against The Rev. Donald Armstrong involving allegations of misappropriation of church funds.
The preliminary judgment made public today by the five members of the Ecclesiastical Court found unanimously that the Rev. Don Armstrong is guilty on all Counts included in the Motion for Summary Judgment in his case. Those counts are: Count 1 – commission of crimes, including theft of $392,409.93 from Grace Church, and causing Grace Church to issue false W-2s and underreport Armstrong’s income and benefits by $548,097.27; Count 2 – that Armstrong received illegal loans totaling $122,479.16 in violation of Diocesan Canons; Count 3 – unauthorized encumbrance and alienation of Grace Church’s real property; Count 4 – violation of the temporary inhibition placed on Armstrong; Count 5 – the improper use of clergy discretionary funds; and Count 6 – failure to maintain proper books of account.
Last week’s evidentiary hearing before the Ecclesiastical Court is the culmination of a well-defined disciplinary process established by the Canons of the Episcopal Church whereby serious allegations of wrongdoing against any member of the clergy can be thoroughly and impartially investigated, and throughout which the accused has numerous rights and protections. The Ecclesiastical Court—whose members are elected by The Diocesan Convention—functions independently of the Bishop and is governed by the disciplinary laws and processes of the Episcopal Church’s Canons. Those Canons exist to guard the well-being of all members of the church, and when there is wrongdoing to help restore the spiritual and institutional health of the church.
The preliminary judgment issued by the Ecclesiastical Court marks the beginning of a thirty day period during which all parties have an opportunity to respond. At the conclusion of that thirty-day period, the court will issue a final judgment along with recommendations for sentencing to the Bishop. Under the Canons of the Church, it is the Bishop’s responsibility to impose judgment. The Bishop can, at his discretion, lessen the court’s recommended sentence but cannot increase it.
I guess this is what mountain-biking can get you in your absence.
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4 comments:
This whole thing is such a damn shame, at least it does seem to be getting somewhere. Hopefully ending with us not in exile.
I have been a parishoner for 25 years and have known Don well. For all of the good things he has accomplished, this is not about the money folks. It is about a breach of trust. Let him keep the money if he took it. I feel sorry for him, but you must ask yourself, why would I follow a man of God who destroys your trust in him? For those parishinors at Grace CANA, I would ask, is lying, stealing, hating people different from you and making light of serious allegations following scripture? I think not.
I am glad there is finally some movement. This paves the way for the next step, criminal or civil court. Mountain Biking instead of attending to business. At least he could minister to his flock, but then he was never very good at that.
When this whole situation blew up, last December 14, when Gordon Stewart resigned suddenly, I told my lovely, gracious, and long suffering wife that Don was gone, he just didn't know it yet. The only question was how long he was going to try and hold on, the longer equating with the more damage done. He's held on quite well, the damage is serious, but I'm amazed at how well the "loyal opposition" has responded. There is a bright future here, and I can sense it almost in our grasp. Keep the faith, and prepare to help our CANA friends adjust to the truth we found a little while ago, I trust and pray they will be arriving soon.
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