Another Money Problem in PC(USA) Brings Sadness and Pain, Says Observer
by Jim Brown
July 14, 2006
(AgapePress) - - A conservative activist in the Presbyterian Church (USA) is expressing disappointment over a financial scandal within the denomination.PC(USA) finance and accounting director Judy Golliher was recently fired for embezzling $102,000 from the denomination's general operating fund. Golliher, a Catholic, admitted to taking the money after being asked about several unexplained items. The denomination says it notified authorities, and that Golliher will cooperate with the investigation and pay back the stolen money.
Jim Berkley is director of the Presbyterian Action Committee at the Institute on Religion and Democracy, a group that claims to speak for "many Presbyterians who feel excluded by the dominant activist circles of the left" within the denomination. Berkley says a "sense of trust" has been lost as a result of Golliher's actions.
"There were systems in effect to protect the money," he explains, "[and] it's good news that probably the money won't be lost altogether." But more than just a sum of money is involved, he adds. "[A]ny time that Satan finds a way to tempt people and for sin to enter into a place where there's supposed to be charity and goodness, we just groan, and it hurts -- and once again, Satan cackles."
In April, the PC(USA) announced that 75 employees at its headquarters would lose their jobs as part of more than $9 million in budget cuts. The church also said it would eliminate 55 overseas missions positions. Ironically, says Berkley, Golliher was hired to clean up a mess created by her predecessor.
"Since that time there has been a lawsuit by the former controller, saying that he was fired inappropriately," Berkley shares. "And the church has even paid a pretty good sized settlement to finish that lawsuit, although the church did not claim any wrongdoing on its part."
Two years ago, the denomination fired its controller for what church officials said was his mishandling of the bidding process for an external audit.
Jim Brown, a regular contributor to AgapePress, is a reporter for American Family Radio News, which can be heard online.
