DALLAS (ABP) — The Baptist General Convention of Texas has given authorities information about the alleged misuse of the convention's church-starting funds between 1999 and 2005.
A convention representative gave officials at the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Southern District of Texas copies of a report and all relevant exhibits produced by a recent BGCT-commissioned investigation. Investigators had uncovered misuse of $1.3 million in convention church-starting funds designated for the Rio Grande Valley.
The report accuses Armando Vera, Aaron de la Torre and Otto Arango of using the funds to start churches that did not actually exist.
In a letter to BGCT Executive Board members Dec. 11, Executive Director Charles Wade said the information was given to federal authorities after legal counsel informed convention leaders the attorney's office would be the “most appropriate starting point for consideration of possible criminal law violations.” He did not rule out the possibility of also giving the information to local authorities if it is deemed wise to do so.
The move was in accordance with the BGCT Executive Board's motion for Wade to “evaluate the advisability of referring the findings of the October 31, 2006, report to any appropriate government investigatory agency.”
In recent weeks, Wade has also said the convention will seek restitution for the alleged misuse of funds. He recently met with Vera, de la Torre and Arrango to request reparations.
Wade did not disclose each man's response to the request, but he said the convention will contemplate other actions, including mediation, arbitration or a civil law suit, to recover the lost funds. The action reflects a recent motion of the Executive Board to “consider on an expedited basis the feasibility of and the full range of methods for recovery of funds.”
“Continue to pray that God will move in hearts to make things right financially and that legal authorities will give the report appropriate consideration,” Wade told board members. “Also pray for the churches involved and for our work in the Rio Grande Valley in general. These churches are made up of wonderful servants of our Lord who desire to move forward in reaching their part of the state for Christ.”
-30-