A former honcho of the Anglican Communion Institute is back in court in Colorado Springs today and tomorrow for sentencing. That’s not all that confronts The Rev. Donald Armstrong (CANA):
Armstrong still must appear today and Friday, Feb. 24 and 25, for a sentencing hearing before District Judge Gregory Werner, who could accept all or part of the plea bargain while also determining possible fines, restitution, and either the recommended four-year probation or possible incarceration.
Meanwhile, in addition to that $291,000 from the grand jury indictment, []Episcopal Church of] Grace and St. Stephens’ lay leaders have filed an extensive “victim impact statement” with Werner, more than 50 pages outlining Grace funds either missing or unaccounted for, which could amount to more than $1 million.
…
The alleged lost money includes:
• $261,703 — college and related expenses for Armstrong’s children;
• $136,354 — clergy discretionary funds used, according to church documents, “for his personal benefit and for improper operating expenses,” including travel, parking tickets and tax withholding payments;
• $110,920 — other personal expenses for Armstrong’s family members;
• $81,588 — unpaid loans from Grace to Armstrong, with no interest;
• $52,021 — undocumented petty cash checks;
• $41,864 — car payments, life insurance, parish reimbursement and payment
Other issues or uncertainties involve eight leased vehicles (four for Armstrong’s family, four for staff), which were costing Grace $45,000 a year; extensive travel, including to a Grace-sponsored seminar in Paris; and Armstrong selling four houses owned all or in part by Grace for a total of $927,850 — without permission and with no apparent accounting, church sources say, for where the net proceeds went.
In addition, Grace has calculated: “Between 1998 and 2005, at least $548,097.27 in compensation and benefits to Fr. Armstrong was not reported on Form W-2s submitted to the IRS and Colorado Department of Revenue.”
The entire article from the Colorado Springs Independent is a must read. Be sure sure to scroll to the background history.
One thing that doesn’t confront Armstrong is discipline by CANA head The Rt. Rev. Martyn Minns, ACNA’s head Bob Duncan, or the Archbishop of the Church of Nigeria. Minns is in Armstrong’s court.