COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.—A pastor accused of using hundreds of thousands of dollars from a church he led has appeared in court to face theft charges from a grand jury indictment.
Authorities say the Rev. Donald Armstrong may have taken as much as $392,000 from the Grace Episcopal Church and St. Stephen’s Parish and a trust fund. The indictment contends he used some of the money to pay for the college education of his two children. The indictment alleges the thefts occurred from 1999 to 2006.
Armstrong headed the congregation before he and his followers broke away in 2007 to affiliate with the Convocation of Anglicans in North America after the allegations against him surfaced.
He has denied wrongdoing.
A judge on Wednesday scheduled Armstrong’s next hearing for July 22. Armstrong’s attorney says the move will give the judge time to review transcripts from the grand jury.
Armstrong, 60, now heads the parish of St. George’s Anglican Church in Colorado Springs.
“I am confident in my innocence and look forward to proving it,” Armstrong said in a written statement. He said this is a “painful time” and expressed gratitude for the support of his family and parishioners.
Armstrong is free on $20,000 bail.
He was defrocked in 2007 after the split with the church and an investigation by an ecclesiastic court of the Episcopal Diocese of Colorado. The diocese said Armstrong violated his ordination vows, and it accused him of financial misconduct.
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Information from: The Gazette,
