The Rev. Edward Monk is on leave from his position as rector of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Corsicana, Texas, while he fights the charges. He has served at St. John’s since 2003.
Monk also was chair of the Nashotah House Theological Seminary’s board of directors until he resigned in August, after church leaders and police began investigating the theft allegations.
On Dec. 18, a grand jury in Navarro County indicted Monk on three charges: theft of more than $300,000, fraudulent use of an elderly person’s identity and credit card abuse of an elderly person. The total amount Monk is suspected of stealing was not immediately available. Monk was arrested Dec. 21 and released after posting bail, according to a statement from the Corsicana Police Department.
Court officials told Episcopal News Service that Monk does not yet have a court appearance scheduled.
“Investigators continue to review thousands of pages of financial records from dozens of accounts spanning more than a decade,” said Corsicana Police Chief Robert Johnson. “We appreciate the ongoing cooperation of the local parishioners and the diocese and the assistance provided by the District Attorney and Attorney General’s Office.”
Police initiated their criminal investigation in July 2024, when St. John’s members reported suspicious financial activity. The Navarro County District Attorney also requested the assistance of the Texas Attorney General’s financial crimes unit.
The Diocese of Dallas also launched an investigation into the matter. The diocesan investigator reported finding that Monk had opened unauthorized bank accounts and routed money to other accounts, obtained a credit card under a church treasurer’s Social Security number and “used this card to conduct a multi-year spending spree that included personal trips.” The investigator questioned Monk about these discoveries but “did not find Fr. Monk’s explanations, or lack of, to be satisfactory.”
A church attorney filed a written complaint against Monk accusing him of six canonical violations under The Episcopal Church’s Title IV disciplinary canons, including “failing to safeguard the property and funds of the church” and “conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation.”
Monk has denied any wrongdoing. A Title IV hearing could be scheduled as soon as February 2025, according to the hearing panel’s timeline of future activity in the case.
Nashotah House, an Episcopal seminary in Wisconsin, issued a brief statement after Monk’s arrest. “We have not been contacted by law enforcement or otherwise involved in this investigation,” the seminary said. “The offenses charged by local law enforcement at the time of Canon Monk’s arrest appear to be unrelated to Nashotah House. We continue to pray for all involved.”