Church Leader Accused Of Misusing Trust Funds

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Posted: 5:45 AM Jan 7, 2009
Last Updated: 8:31 AM Jan 7, 2009
Reporter: Associated Press
Email Address: news@kktv.com

15 comments

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Authorities say a reverend who is part of a theft investigation used money from a church trust fund to pay for his two children's college education.

A Colorado Springs police detective said in an affidavit released Tuesday that the Reverend Donald Armstrong may have misappropriated $392,000 from a Grace Church trust fund. Police took financial documents and computers from the Grace and Episcopal Church in November after an 18-month investigation.

Armstrong is accused of taking funds from Grace and St. Stephen's, the congregation he headed before he and his followers broke away in early 2007 to affiliate with the Convocation of Anglicans in North American.

Police are still investigating the case and have not yet turned it over to prosecutors.

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Posted by: Believer Location: CS on Jan 8, 2009 at 01:31 PM
NATIVE - You missed my point.

Posted by: NATIVE Location: COLORADO SPRINGS on Jan 8, 2009 at 12:04 PM
BELIEVER--THESE ARE OPINIONS, THE DUDE AND OTHERS THAT MAY BE INVOLVED, IN FACT HAVE BEEN DISHONEST, THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES FOR THEIR ACTIONS....AND SO BE IT--PROBLEM IS, NO ONE WANTS TO OWN UP FOR THEIR JUNK

Posted by: Believer Location: CS on Jan 8, 2009 at 09:36 AM
Yet another loser trying to pass himself off as a person of God. Some people of religion live by their own set of standards that apply to only them when it is convenient, and have an "opinion" about everyone else when it is convenient. It seems as though there is a large number of people trying to pass themselves off as Christians or people of God when they are anything but. On judgement day I wonder if these people will be judged more harshly for their judgement of others, their deception and their misgivings as they pretended to praise the lord.

Posted by: sightful Location: CS on Jan 8, 2009 at 08:44 AM
Yeah, right.

Posted by: Ken Location: CO on Jan 8, 2009 at 08:41 AM
Well Frank - unfortunately it is not the laws of the Church or the "Church Court" who has the say - it is the laws of the land! If he did it, then he is guilty, if not, then he is not guilty.

Posted by: Richard Location: Co Springs on Jan 8, 2009 at 08:17 AM
Jim, you forgot drug users and homosexuals.

Posted by: Allen Location: Colorado Springs on Jan 8, 2009 at 08:14 AM
Sorry to tell you Frank but your info is a little off. He took funds used for low income people who needed help with going to college and used the funds to send his own kids through college. He also has beeen caught in a couple lies by the detectives. You can read the full story in yesterdays Gazette newspaper. It tells in much more detail the story in its entirety. He is innocent (at this point) until proven guilty but the evidence against him is pretty cut and dry. He better get a good lawyer...he's going to need it.

Posted by: Barry Location: Fountain on Jan 7, 2009 at 09:08 PM
Don: How do you know "he did wrong"? Nothing concrete has been presented. Many bogus charges have been made, most--originating in the office of the Bishop of Colorado in Denver--have disappeared. There has been neither indictment nor trial. So what are you talking about?

Posted by: Barry Location: Fountain on Jan 7, 2009 at 08:49 PM
The vicious, petty, unchristian gloating on this page is shocking. There has been no indictment, & most of those posting here write as if these allegations were proven facts. What is being ignored is that the CC faculty bringing most of these charges are up to their eyeballs in their own kids' scholarships, yet they never declared THEM on their taxes. The charge given to CSPD, that Armstrong stole funds from the Bowton Trust to give his kids scholarships, came from a bookkeeper fired years ago for incompetence on orders from the outside auditor for her incompetence, and who didn't understand the church's ledger. Armstrong's children were scholarshipped with Church funds, not trust funds, & the complainant senior warden, John Simons of Colorado College signed the checks. Simons Maryanna McJimsey now pretend they never signed checks they in fact signed. McJimsey claims not to be able to recognize her own signature. Obviously these people are lying. I await the countersuits at the end.

Posted by: Frank Location: Colorado Springs on Jan 7, 2009 at 02:54 PM
What a bunch of sour, bitter comments obviously from people with no sense of justice or fair play. This guy has not even been indicted, and yet these bloggers have him guilty, convicted and on his way to hell. This whole battle is a political assassination attempt perpetrated by Episcopal hierarchy who want Armstrong banished. In fact, their church court already did just that. The fact is, an independent forensic audit by a well known reputable accounting firm has already cleared Armstrong. The Episcopal bulldogs just don't want to deal with that. For justice sake, give the poor guy a break and an objective, fair, public hearing if that is possible.

Posted by: NATIVE Location: COLORADO SPRINGS on Jan 7, 2009 at 12:10 PM
PITIFUL, GUESS HE WASN'T LEARNING ANYTHING FROM THE BIBLE. GREEDY, DISHONEST, PATHETIC PERSON IN A POSITION OF TRUST---HOPE HE PAYS DEARLY, IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE, FOR HIS CHOICES

Posted by: Don Location: Fountain on Jan 7, 2009 at 09:59 AM
Please don't take these actions as actions all christians would make. I know how sometimes it looks like some christians come across higher than thou, but truly, the Christian people who are really doing Gods work are behind the scenes, helping when nobody else does and don't judge people. Christians sin too, that's why Jesus died for us. He needs to pay for his crime but he's no different than a non-christian. He just made a poor decision. We all do sometimes.

Posted by: Jim Location: CO on Jan 7, 2009 at 08:05 AM
And yet they want to tell me what to do and how to live...jeez. Sounds like organized religion around here is full of child molestors, drunks, and theives.

Posted by: Art Location: colo sprs on Jan 7, 2009 at 08:01 AM
What's wrong with him? Protestants are suppose to tithe so Daddy Rev can pay his mortgage, get a new car, expensive cloths, trips or maybe even a private jet. But for College? This church/rev sure seems to have suckered a lot of its people and all the while telling them to vote for McCain.

Posted by: Reader Location: CS on Jan 7, 2009 at 07:50 AM
The shock is he did not rape or molest someone.

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