08/09/2007
An ecclesiastical court of the Diocese of Colorado has found the Rev. Don Armstrong, former rector of Grace and St. Stephen's Church, Colorado Springs, guilty of financial misconduct, including failing to maintain proper church financial records and diverting church endowment money to himself and his family.
The court, comprised of three clergy and two lay members of the diocese, made the preliminary judgment public on Aug. 8. It had been deliberating since a three-hour court hearing was held July 31.
Fr. Armstrong has denied that he is guilty of any financial misconduct and has accused the Rt. Rev. Robert O’Neill, Bishop of Colorado, of instigating a politically motivated vendetta against him.
Neither Fr. Armstrong nor his lawyer was present for the July hearing. Prior to the start of the trial, Fr. Armstrong filed a motion—denied by the court—to have charges against him dropped, arguing that the court lacked jurisdiction after he and a majority of members at Grace and St. Stephen’s voted to leave The Episcopal Church in March. He is rector of Grace CANA Church, part of the Convocation of Anglicans in North America.
In a press release announcing the verdict, the diocese asserted that the July 31 hearing was “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.”
Both Fr. Armstrong and the diocese have 30 days in which to respond before the court issues a final verdict. If found guilty, Bishop O’Neill will pronounce sentence, which under Title IV canons can range from verbal admonishment to permanent removal from the ordained ministry of The Episcopal Church
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