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	Episcopals May Revoke Armstrong's Ordination By Ed Sealover The Gazette July 31, 2007 http://www.gazette.com/articles/church_25448___article.html/armstrong_diocese.html Denver - An ecclesiastical court made up of Episcopal Church leaders could revoke the ordination of the Rev. Donald Armstrong today in the messy split between the former Grace Church and Saint Stephen's pastor and the denomination he left. Armstrong seems unconcerned with the outcome of the rare proceeding scheduled for 9 a.m. in Denver: A spokesman for the reorganized Grace CANA Church said the pastor will spend the day mountain biking. Armstrong and Episcopal Church leaders have battled publicly since the church inhibited him — essentially putting him on administrative leave — in December while investigating allegations of theft and fraud. In March, Armstrong and a majority of the leaders from the local church voted to break away from the Episcopal Diocese of Colorado, claiming it had become too liberal on matters of sexuality. The secessionist congregation linked up with the Convocation of Anglicans in North America, and the breakaway church continues to operate in its downtown Colorado Springs location while it battles the Episcopal diocese in court for the building. Today's proceeding will not settle issues of who gets to stay in the church building. But it could bring an unusually harsh end to the relationship between Armstrong and the church he left. A panel of roughly five clergy members and laypersons will hear claims that Armstrong stole nearly $400,000 from the church and used the money on cars, cell phone bills and his kids' education, among other things. The court could then take action ranging from acquitting Armstrong to deposing him, which would mean that his ordination in that church would be revoked. Martin Nussbaum, an attorney representing the diocese and the former members of Grace Church, said such proceedings are seldom seen in Colorado. "Ecclesiastical courts considering disciplinary action against clergy are, in almost all religions, very rare," Nussbaum said. "This is an unusual case. There are many facets to this." Although an attorney for Armstrong has been involved in court filings this far, Armstrong is showing no interest in any decision. Alan Crippen, a spokesman for Grace CANA, said that since Armstrong and the Grace CANA church are no longer under the jurisdiction of the Episcopal diocese, he has no reason to attend. "We've psychologically moved beyond that," Crippen said. "We are taking it so seriously that Tuesday, Father Armstrong is going mountain biking." In the proceeding at St. John's Cathedral in Denver, Armstrong will face six charges. The diocese allegations: - He took $392,410 from the church, most of it for his family's use, and failed to report $548,097 in income to the Internal Revenue Service; - He received $122,479 in loans from the board over a 10-year period, a violation of the Colorado Revised Nonprofit Corporation Act; - He caused the church to be encumbered with deeds of trust totaling $4.5 million without the approval of the bishop or the Standing Committee of the Diocese; - He violated his temporary inhibition by calling and writing to the clergy, staff and parishioners about church business operations and other things while he was on leave; - He improperly used church discretionary funds, which are meant for the needy, on things such as car repairs, electronic equipment and parking tickets; - He failed to maintain proper books of the parish. A decision could be made the same day. Contact: (303) 837-0613 or ed.sealover@gazette.com.
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