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Denomination standing by Armstrong, for now
September 27th, 2010, 9:55 am · 23 Comments · posted by
Will the Convocation of Anglicans in North America defrock the Rev. Donald Armstrong given his Sept. 17 plea agreement?
Not likely, based on a letter by its bishop released Sunday.
Rev. Donald Armstrong
The letter suggests that the denomination will stand by Armstrong, who pleaded no contest in an agreement with the Pueblo District Attorney’s Office to one count of felony theft and entered an Alford plea on a misdemeanor charge. The pleas involved charges Armstrong stole more than $300,000 from Grace and St. Stephen’s Episcopal Parish while he was rector between 1999 and 2006.
“My love and respect for Don and (his wife) Jessie and the leadership of St. George’s has not diminished but rather increased by the way in which (they) have conducted themselves,” Minns wrote.
In October, Minns will meet with Armstrong and lawyers to digest the criminal investigation of the rector, the letter said.
In March 2007, Armstrong founded a new Colorado Springs parish that in 2009 was named St. George’s Anglican Church. St. George’s is among three churches in Colorado Springs that’s within the Anglican Church of North America, of which CANA is part. CANA is a missionary within the Anglican Communion’s Church of Nigeria.
The Anglican Church of North America has not been officially accepted into the worldwide Anglican Communion.
Both of Armstrong’s Sept. 17 pleas are viewed in a legal sense as guilty pleas. Armstrong will be sentenced in a few months on the misdemeanor charge and is on four-year probation on the felony. If violated, he will be a convicted felon and could face four to 12 years in prison. A restitution hearing will be held to determine how much money Armstrong must pay back to Grace Church.
Will CANA continue to stand by Armstrong? Should it?
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In October, Minns will meet with Armstrong and lawyers to digest the criminal investigation of the rector, the letter said.
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It means that Armstrong will have to explain his actions….
How evil must a congregation be, to stand by such an EVIL man?
The congregation isn’t evil. They have been misguided by Armstrong’s undeniable charisma.
I wonder how far that will go when the restitution hearing comes up and he’s ordered to pay back a ton of money. That would be a huge thing to try to explain away.
doubting thomas not evil but lead astray.
CANA wants to stand by their man.
Mims writes: “My love and respect for Don and (his wife) Jessie and the leadership of St. George’s has not diminished but rather increased by the way in which (they) have conducted themselves.”
This is Mims will determine guilt or innocence. Armstrong escapes yet again. Reminds me of how the Catholic church dealt with their priests doing little boys.
An example that white collar (literally – a white collar) crime is not taken seriously in this country.
Some of the African bishops who set up CANA have called for the imprisonment of gays. One took part in planning the ambush of a Muslim village where the women were raped. These are some real moral people support Mr Armstrong. If he had not held a position in CS that meant high level politicians were under his spell, he would be in jail after admitting guilt to stealing that much money. He and his congregation can blame on tolerate members of TEC all they want…this has nothing to do with his bigoted view on gays and women. It was an absolute abuse of power.
Don’t expect anyone from CANA to do the right thing. If he were trually a person of God, he would admit wrong doing, pay back the money, and step out of the priesthood he convenantly created when he was tried by TEC. TEC would have done the same with any priest who had taken that much money from the church.
By the way, to be Anglican, a church was been in communion with the Archbishop of Cantebury, CANA is not, using the word Anglician is another mistruth.
If he were trually a person of God, he would admit wrong doing, pay back the money, and step out of the priesthood he convenantly created when he was tried by TEC–
I agree but I believe the Episcopal Leadership also should step down for their support of sin.
I really cannot understand this person who calls himself Pastor. The only thing talk like this does is make Christians look bad. Stick to the Gospel.
Stick to the Gospel.
OK, DOES THE GOSPEL SUPPORT TEACHING THE PROMOTE SEXUAL SIN?
DOES THE GOSPEL SUPPORT A PERSON WHO IS PLEA BARGEN, THAT HE DID STEAL MONEY?
DOES THE GOSPEL SUPPORT A PERSON WHO REBEL AGAINST THE LEADER OF PEOPLE, HE SURRENDER TO?
I think that is what the problem is pastor. Unless you are inside of the issue itself, you never know what the real truth is, and for you to be making judgements about it all is disturbing.
Donald W – and for you to be making judgements about it all is disturbing.
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so is it disturbing to stand against sin?
is it disturbing when a Pastor takes a plea deal that leave an image of being guilt of a crime?
is it disturbing when a Pastor agrees to surrender his office due to sin and go under other leadership, then rebels against those leaders?
A question I have is on what information was Bishop Minns relying when he made his statement. It appeared very soon after Armstrong’s interview with David Virtue of Virtue Online in which he professed his innocence and very soon after his church St. George’s posted a column under “Rector recommends” showing support for Armstrong, with the clear implication that none of this should ever have ended up in criminal court and it was the fault of The Episcopal church that it did. Both the Virtue article (and subsequent comments by Armstrong quoted on that blog) and the article on the St. George website were factually suspect, and, frankly misleading if not dishonest. The St. George article has now been removed. But Minns may have been relying on these articles for his quick judgment. As the sentencing portion of the case moves forward, it would be appropriate for the district attorney to consider Armstrong’s words to Davis Virtue and the “Rector recommends” column. It would be appropriate for Minns to also consider the real facts of the plea bargain vs. what was presented by Armstrong.
EmilyH it is that shadow of being guilt of a crime, is why I believe Armstrong show step down….
How a Pastor reach the lost with the Gospel of Jesus Christ with ths shadow hanging over his Church, due to his Actions..
Pastor Roy, others have told you that you should be careful when making such condemning statements, and I must fully agree with them. Please read the new story on Armstrong’s account of what transpired and why. It includes a link to an e-mail interview that you might find interesting. And I hope on every one of these stories where you have “called for Armstrong to step down” you will be posting a full apology in public for your judgments. How would you feel if you did nothing wrong and were smeared by defiled religionists in the public arena? Then come to find out that other church leaders were joining in with the attackers of the faith in slander? I look forward to your response after reading the story.
Tony – sorry, but because he has brought a shadow of doubt into his church, he needs to step down..
An if you read futher you would see I have called for the Episcopal Leadership to step down for their support of sin…
How would you feel if you did nothing wrong and were smeared by defiled religionists in the public arena?
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Did he plea guilty to a crime?
Wow, you seem not to be able to understand either. He was forced to enter this agreement or spend millions of dollars he did not have to defend himself. I have read Armstrong’s statements (some here apparently have not) and it is easy to see what happened here. They really had nothing on him. But I see if pastor actually answered your question Tony, he would have to admit he is really wrong on this. Pride is a terrible thing.
Armstrong spent millions of dollars trying to take legal possession of Grace Church. Where did that money come from?
Now Armstrong is not willing to raise funds to clear his name.
1) Perhaps the Parish was tired of funding Armstrong’s court trials and wouldn’t donate any money for his defense.
2) Why should Armstrong care about his good name, guilt, innocence if his faithful flock, Mims, and CANA etc are behind Armstrong no matter what. Armstrong probably doesn’t care what anyone else outside his CANA or flock thinks.
I am a friend of Reverend Armstrong and have been through all of this and many years before as a church member, and I can tell you that the Reverend only spent the money defending our church through what we still believe was nothing more than a calculated hostile takeover. If you really knew the facts about what actually happened, you would be sickened by the people now running the property. Our members would have defended Reverent Armstrong to the very end if need be, but it was HIS decision to take personal insult by allowing even the one charge against him to stand so that no more money would be wasted in defense against these corrupt and very well-funded people. Keep your eyes open, our church was not the only one being taken away like this by the very same people with the same agenda. This is why their funds are unlimited for the attacks.
As a leader of a church, you do not spend your time worrying about things like this happening, but instead on the preaching of God’s word and the tending of your flock. Satan comes like a thief in the night and steals and destroys. Church leaders, be aware that others with corrupted intentions are out there ready to take what they can from God’s people in any way they possibly can, even using our own laws to do so.
This church is not the only one being attacked the way it is. Keep your eyes open to see what follows this across the country. God’s people will certainly be tested and must be at the ready! Churches will be turned against churches and Christians against Christians, which serves only to weaken the effect of our witness for God. Open your eyes and mind your tongues. God is the God of grace and love, but he is also the God who washed the Earth of it’s sins with the flood. Do not think he is weak. He is, was and always will be I AM.
What I find odd is that a former County Commissioner, the District Attorney and another elected official here in Colorado Springs were on the Vestry Committee. At some point in time, they had to be aware of what was going on, did nothing about it, which makes them as guilty as Rev. Armstrong. Whose second signature was on the checks drawn for his childrens computers, cars and college? Then he attempted to steal church property that belonged to the Episcopal Diocese of Colorado and took over the properties and held them until a court had him removed. I find this reprehensible and those men should also face charges and Armstrong should be charged with theft from the elderly as well as everything else he is facing. This has all the appearance of a white wash and he deserves prison. His mighty ego would really take a tumble in the prison system. What a message this is sending!!!!