Spotlight hotter for ex-rector
Whistle-blower was bookkeeper, attorney says
Jean Torkelson, Rocky Mountain News
Published August 1, 2007 at midnight
The whistle-blower who entangled the Rev. Don Armstrong in allegations of misusing hundreds of thousands of dollars in church money was the parish bookkeeper, an attorney said Tuesday.
Sara Hopkins' statement was among 650 pages of documents presented Tuesday to an ecclesiastical court convened at St. John's Episcopal Cathedral in Denver.
As Bishop Rob O'Neill listened, a panel of clergy and laity heard highlights of a yearlong investigation into Armstrong, triggered by a complaint from someone who until now had not been publicly identified.
"He is unfit for ordained ministry," said attorney Ty Gee, who gave the opening statement.
The diocese alleges that the longtime rector of Grace and St. Stephen's Church in Colorado Springs funneled a total of $392,409 for his own family's use from the church operating fund and the Bowton Trust, a scholarship fund for seminary students.
The panel will issue its recommendations, which could range up to defrocking, likely next week.
Armstrong has repeatedly denied wrongdoing. He also refused to participate in the hearing, arguing the diocese has no jurisdiction over him because he's left the Episcopal Church to join a network of conservative churches.
"This is nothing more than (O'Neill's) witch hunt of Don Armstrong because of his conservative views," said Armstrong's attorney, Dennis Hartley.
Hopkins, bookkeeper from 1997 to 2001, said in a written statement that Armstrong instructed that his two children's educational expenses be paid with money from the funds and trust. Armstrong has said those expenses were OK'd by church authorities.
Hopkins said Tuesday that as for being the whistle-blower, "I'm not going to confirm anything."
torkelsonj@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5055
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