FORT WORTH, Texas (ABP) — Claude Thomas, who resigned as pastor of First Baptist Church of Euless, Texas, three weeks ago to become chaplain and special assistant to the president at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, abruptly declined the new position Oct. 19.
Within days of Thomas's accepting the Southwestern job, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported the pastor's spending at the 8,500-member suburban Fort Worth church was being investigated by church members.
The review found no missing money and concluded many of the church's financial practices are sound, but it raised questions about Thomas' spending during a 2002 overseas trip and about a lax credit card policy, the newspaper reported Oct. 4.
Thomas, 61, has not commented on the church's audit, and it is not known if his resignation from the church or the seminary is related to the audit. Harold Samuels, a church trustee and former Euless mayor, said he did not know whether Thomas resigned at the request of church leaders, but added, “I would not say it was a coincidence.”
Thomas was named to the newly created post of chaplain by Paige Patterson, president of the 3,000-student Southern Baptist seminary in Fort Worth.
“Upon more mature reflection, I am not certain that this move is best for my family or for the seminary at this particular time,” Thomas said Oct. 19 in a statement released by the seminary. “I have come to believe that I should not make such a commitment until I am certain about what I should pursue as the next step in my life and ministry.”
Patterson said that, while he was personally disappointed, he “fully understands the decision and prays heaven's richest blessings on Dr. Thomas and his family.” Patterson added: “I am sure that he is making a wise decision for all.”
The $35,000 audit by a local CPA firm examined a $25,000 European trip and month-long sabbatical that the church gave to Thomas in 2002 and found that Thomas had exceeded that budget by several thousand dollars, according to the newspaper. It also examined the use of credit cards by staff members. “There were some questionable charges to the credit cards of all the senior staff, some more than others,” Samuels said. “I won't single anybody out.”
Thomas, a two-time graduate of Southwestern and former national alumni president, was pastor of the Euless church for 12 years. He was president of the SBC Executive Committee and Pastors' Conference.
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— By ABP staff