Former NY Church Board Member Indicted for Stealing $3.8 Million From Congregation

A former board member of the Swedish Seamen's Church in Manhattan was indicted for allegedly stealing approximately $3.8 million from the Swedish Church of New York congregation. The multi-year theft drained the small ethnic congregation's endowment and triggered a joint investigation by New York state and Swedish authorities. The case is a stark reminder of the financial governance vulnerabilities that small congregations face when trust in volunteer leaders substitutes for strong internal controls, and adds to a growing list of prosecutions targeting church financial malfeasance.