SARASOTA — The Rev. John Green, superintendent of the Florida Conference’s Sarasota District, was suspended March 30 after a complaint was filed against him for misappropriation of district and conference funds.

According to the complaint filed with Florida Conference Bishop Cornelius L. Henderson, Green inappropriately used money from one district money market account to which only he had access. The complaint was filed by Dr. Randy Casey-Rutland, interim conference treasurer, and Dr. Charles Courtoy, executive director of the conference’s office of New Church Development and Church Redevelopment.

According to Courtoy, at least $255,000 was placed into the account, $150,000 from two conference grants intended to buy new church sites within the district and $105,000 from the district’s Board of Church Extension.

Although the exact amount misused is not known, Courtoy said the account had a balance of $46,000 when the investigation began. He also said Green admitted improperly using more than $100,000. "We don’t know if that’s all that’s been misappropriated," he said. "We know that $75,000 for a new site was spent for the designated purpose, but we don’t know what other activity went on in the account."

Green has expressed regret, according to Courtoy. "He apologized to the bishop…to me and…to the conference," he said. "He expressed great humiliation over what he had done and asked for forgiveness."

Green has repaid some of the money and has promised to repay more, according to Courtoy. "We’ve received, so far, with principal and interest, a little more than $83,000," he said. "There is a promise that we’ll receive $75,000 more."

Henderson suspended Green for 60 days under the provisions of paragraph 358.1.c of the United Methodist Book of Discipline, according to Dr. Keith Ewing, the bishop’s administrative assistant.

The Book of Discipline, the denomination’s rule book, allows the bishop, with the recommendation of the executive committee of the conference’s Board of Ordained Ministry, to "suspend the person from all clergy responsibilities, but not from an appointment, for a period not to exceed sixty (60) days." During the suspension, Green will have no pastoral duties, but will continue to receive his salary, insurance and a conference-provided parsonage.

Henderson now has responsibility for deciding how to deal with the complaint based on guidelines in the Book of Discipline, according to Ewing. "The bishop will follow all disciplinary procedures for handling the complaint," he said.

In a March 31 letter, Henderson asked conference clergy and local church lay leaders to keep "all persons and congregations affected by this matter in your prayers."

In addition to the church’s internal judicial process, which began with the suspension, the conference has also secured legal counsel to assist in an ongoing investigation. Courtoy said the conference is in the process of "doing an extensive investigation and thorough audit of all district accounts."

Casey-Rutland said Green has been removed from a position of financial responsibility within the district. "With John’s cooperation, we have removed his name and ability to act on the district’s behalf on all known district bank and brokerage accounts," he said.

Green’s six-year term as district superintendent ends this June, and the Rev. David Herman, pastor of First United Methodist Church, Melbourne, has been appointed as his successor. According to Ewing, Herman will handle Green’s duties in the conference’s pastoral appointment process. The Rev. James Jennings, pastor of First United Methodist Church, Sarasota, will serve as interim district superintendent.

Although the Discipline includes standards governing local church and district finances, there is wide latitude in those guidelines because of the variety of circumstances to which they apply, Casey-Rutland said.

The Florida Conference recently organized a task force of senior conference personnel to create financial guidelines for church, district and conference leaders to follow.