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By Kris Smith
According to documents released by the Hearing Panel of the Episcopal Diocese of Dallas, The Rev. Canon Edward R. Monk, SSC, former rector of the St. John’s Episcopal Church in Corsicana, is facing six Title IV charges including fraud and mismanagement of the financial accounts of the church. Monk has served the St. John’s Church community for 21 years, until he was placed on administrative leave by church leaders in August.
The documents include correspondence from Jolayne LaCour, the President of the convened Hearing Panel specifically geared toward Fr. Ed Monk and his attorneys.
The document states ‘This matter involves allegations of misconduct by you in violation of the Canons of The Episcopal Church.’
The concerns were brought to Fr. Lee by the St. John’s Episcopal Church’s junior warden.
The Rev. Tim Cherry was appointed Diocesan Investigator, at which time, he contacted Fr. Monk. After the interview, Fr. Cherry did not find Monk’s explanations, or lack thereof, to be satisfactory, which was reported in the Report #10 For Ministry Funds Abuse.
The document references the background of the charges – a large number of checks drawn on the ministry fund of St. John’s Episcopal Church, with Fr. Edward R Monk’s signature. These questioned checks were brought to the Acting TitleIV.2 Intake Officer, Fr. J. Oliver Lee, citing concerns of the lack of documentation to support the checks as required by the rules, with concerns of possible misappropriation of revenue from the ministry fund. While investigating the ministry fund, other matters were discovered, including the opening of unauthorized or fraudulent bank accounts and depositing funds to other unknown bank accounts.
The report also alleges that Fr. Monk took advantage of an elderly volunteer church treasurer to gain a credit card under the man’s social security number and the parish name and used the credit card for a “multi-year spending spree” on items like personal trips, causing “extreme harm to the treasurer’s personal credit record, resulting in debt collection.”
Cherry also stated in the report that ‘Monk solicited “a five-figure gift from a parishioner to ‘fix’ the problem,” and used part of the funds to pay personal debts. He then “limited the function of the treasurer and stopped providing financial information to the treasurer.”’
In response to the Hearing Panel notice, Fr. Monk responded via e-mail – ‘With respect to the Hearing Panel Notice, dated October 3, 2024, I deny all allegations brought against me in these proceedings. I reiterate all prior requests to my office and the potentially exculpatory evidence therein.’
He continued, “The repeated denial of my access to information, including my personal files and the church records, and decision of the Reference Panel to proceeded even though my counsel could not attend, has in the past and continues to now prevent me from not only defending myself, but specifically prohibited me from participating in these proceedings in a meaningful way.”
A hearing panel (or trial) for the case is planned for February 2025.
Fr. Monk currently serves as vice chairman of the Navarro County Appraisal District Board of Directors.
Navarro CAD Chief Appraiser, Bud Black, stated in a telephone interview with NavCo, “We are aware of the allegations; however, Fr. Monk can only be recalled by the taxing entity that appointed him to the board. Furthermore, Fr. Monk does not have financial signing privileges.”
Corsicana Police Chief Robert Johnson stated, “Criminal charges are still under a joint investigation with CPD, the Navarro County District Attorney’s Office and the Texas Attorney General’s Office.”
The NavCo Chronicle will keep you advised of all information as it becomes available.
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