Church Tithe

Interesting story from our local newspaper, the Era Banner, about criminal conduct at a local church. I guess the leadership at that church did not put enough emphasis on basic corporate governance practices. Then again, they probably didn’t think that they had common thieves in their congregation.

A Newmarket bookkeeper has been sentenced to nine months house arrest after she bilked a church and day care centre out of almost $200,000.

Marjorie Joy Hume, 55, worked for the Grace Church on Carlson Drive.

Her duties included looking after the financial affairs of the Grace Church Day Care Centre and the Newmarket and District Christian Academy.

A routine audit of the organization’s books turned up evidence Ms Hume had been ripping the church off to the tune of $199,000 between March 2000 and March 2005.

She pleaded guilty to one count of fraud over $5,000 and was sentenced Wednesday by Justice Peter Tetley to a 12-month conditional sentence, including nine months of house arrest.

Ms Hume has already paid back $185,000 to the church and was ordered to pay another $14,600 in restitution.

She was also put on probation for two years and is required to complete 200 hours of community service.