Couple accused of stealing from Baptist church in North Carolina

[gb93433]

Can someone explain how somebody could steal so much money from a small church and nobody find out about it until after so much money was stolen.

The article is at http://www.abpnews.com/content/view/5441/53/

 

[Salty]

When I worked in a convenience store - I went thru training to be a manager. They taught how "how to steal" - so we could identify those employees who steal.

If well planned, it is possible.

Also, most church members just "accept" the financial report - without any questions.

One church I attended, the treasure was not elected by the congregation, rather he was appointed by the pastor and deacons - a full background check was made on him.

 

[rsr]

It's a good question; obviously someone wasn't watching.

There was a similar case here just a few days ago:

http://www.swoknews.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=28203&SectionID=11&SubSectionID=98&S=1

 

[RevGKG]

What about the fact that he was treasurer and she was assisitant teasurer. That should not be! :BangHead:

 

[Jon-Marc]

One church I went to for about 20 years was broken into 5 or 6 times while I was there. I had my tools there, and they were taken. Our guitar player had a much loved guitar stolen that was worth more than he paid for it. Our church didn't have much of value, but they always found something to steal. Some people seem to have the philosophy, "Why work for it when you can steal it?"

 

[gb93433]

One church I attended, the treasure was not elected by the congregation, rather he was appointed by the pastor and deacons - a full background check was made on him.

The second chruch I pastored had a regular practiceof inviting the Mormon bishop to come and teach about once a year. When I came and asked to have the book audited the deacons had quite a look on their face. I was usggesting that to be sure that we were communicating to the congregation that we were credible and above board. Later I found out that two of the deacons had been lying about the attendance too. So when I asked them to be accountable that produced some red flags rather quickly. Later I was audited by the IRS and my accountant sent the IRS a letter showing that what was done was right and the church was wrong. The deacons must have thought that I was the biggest dummy until they began to learn that I had been in business as a manager in the largest business in America in its type of business. We dealt with millions of dollars each year and then to go to a church dealing with less than 100K was laughable. Of course they still thought that a pastor shouldn't know anything about how the world operates.

 

[HAMel]

It's a shame but you simply can't trust anyone.

 

[Salty]

It's a shame but you simply can't trust anyone.

Thus we should not feel offended if somone needs a refererence on us for a particular job

 

[SaggyWoman]

Wow. That is over in my neck of the woods. I am not familiar with the church...it isn't one of the larger churches or known churches in the community...in fact it is back up in a housing neighborhood.

 

[gb93433]

It's a shame but you simply can't trust anyone.

Couldn't in the days of Noah also.

Love many, trust few, and paddle you own canoe.

 

[Crucified in Christ]

Can someone explain how somebody could steal so much money from a small church and nobody find out about it until after so much money was stolen.

The article is at http://www.abpnews.com/content/view/5441/53/

I love the quote (in the article) that the couple had only intended to borrow the money, but that the amounts got out of hand. I wonder if that might be because they continued to steal such massive amounts. :tonofbricks:

I also like that they have stolen $360,000+ in the last three years, yet have to ask for a public defender. I would be interested in the spending spree they have been on.

 

[Jon-Marc]

Why should they spend their stolen money for a lawyer when they can get one for free? :smilewinkgrin:

 

[gb93433]

Why should they spend their stolen money for a lawyer when they can get one for free? :smilewinkgrin:

A free one will not give them as much work resulting in poorer representation. Didn't you know that money buys justice?

 

[blackbird]

If my seminary history is still correct---I remember studying of the early days of SBC Cooperative Program revenues----seems there was a fella connected with the collection of CP funds along the years of the '30's who collected millions of hard earned $$$$$$$$'s for the CP and then made a "Beeline" to old "Meh-hee-ko"(Mexico)----if he hasn't spent all the bula bula by now---he's gettin' close!!!

On the lighter side----the present church I'm in----when I was "up for employment"---they ran my name through the ringer---they patted me down and turned me upside down and inside out

"Have you ever been convicted of a felony?"

"Convicted??? No!! Never convicted!!!":saint::laugh::laugh:

 

[gb93433]

IOn the lighter side----the present church I'm in----when I was "up for employment"---they ran my name through the ringer---they patted me down and turned me upside down and inside out

"Have you ever been convicted of a felony?"

"Convicted??? No!! Never convicted!!!"

That is good. What kind of an answer would they have expected if you had been convicted and were unwilling to disclose it. At a place where I worked they ran an MVR report, a credit history and a background check. That was managing a business. I wished one of the churches I pastored had done that. It is one thing for them to ask and another for them to find out for themselves.

People that do little checking I ask a lot of questions myself and do not even wonder what they are like. It tells me they generally have low standards.