Note #9095 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:
06053 Feb. 3, 2006
U.S. Orthodox church admits 'errors,' pledges to tighten financial controls
by Chris Herlinger Ecumenical News International
NEW YORK - The Orthodox Church in America (OCA) says it will release by March 31 the results of a financial audit ordered after former employees and critics of the denomination alleged mismanagement and misappropriation of funds.
In a statement issued last month, the 1-million-member church, based in Syosset, NY, acknowledged past mistakes after reviewing "concerns raised in recent weeks by persons formerly associated with the administration of the church and by other persons, who have obtained documents from the chancery office files." It said it was moving to make changes in financial procedures.
John Matusiak, a denominational spokesman, told Ecumenical News International that the church would not comment further until a meeting of its bishops after the release of the audit. The bishops' next meeting is scheduled for May.
A group calling itself "Orthodox Christians for Accountability" has alleged that officials may have hidden as much as $2 million in secret bank accounts, and that the money has not been included in the denomination's financial records, the Russian news agency Interfax reported last month.
In the "context of accountability, and repentance," the church said in its Jan. 20 statement, "it was deemed important to implement procedures which would prevent future mistakes."
The audit was ordered by the denomination's Lesser Synod, an administrative body.
The Orthodox Christians for Accountability says on its Web site that the financial issue is of growing concern to a number of church clergy and members.
In its statement, the denomination said some charges and allegations made publicly have been unfairly "accepted as indisputably the truth."
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