Have we all heard the news about the minister of First Congregational Church, Ripon, California? The one who forged deeds and sold off the church building and parsonage?
I’d hate to have been the title insurer and a law-suit-fest seems to be in the cards.
Of course, my readers want to know which unhappy fellowship will meet run into First Congo, Ripon at vicinage meetings.
The United Church of Christ? No.
The National Association of Congregational Christian Churches? No.
The Conservative Congregational Christian Conference? Ding-ding-ding.
Not my favorite group. Would be interesting to know if the 4Cs will lift a finger on any side.
This showed up as a link to a story in July 2012, so I thought I would look the situation up. The Church is in the same building they had in 2007 (see the Church’s internet site). The pastor served 6 months, and was released on a plea deal (due to information he received and told on a non-related issue while in jail).
He wrote a book about his experience in jail, and another book about priests gone bad, and currently is writing investment articles (he suggests gold and gold mining stocks as way to get through the upcoming hardtimes).