FILCHING FROM THE COLLECTION PLATE

In the worst embezzling incident to hit an American church to date, the Episcopal Church reported that its former national treasurer had stolen more than $2.2 million over the last five years. Presiding Bishop Edmond Browning had initially fired the treasurer, Ellen Cooke, in January for her "working style." ButTIME Religion correspondent Richard Ostlingreports the Church never knew about the alleged embezzlements until Cooke demanded an $86,000 severance package, which led auditors to check her books more closely. "The fact that this amount of money could be siphoned from church coffers in such a brief period while nobody noticed is simply extraordinary," says Ostling. He reports that the money went to slush funds she controlled with her pastor husband, two houses, jewelry, childrens' tuition and an occasional limousine rental. Even as the Cookes allegedly were raiding the till, says Ostling, dwindling donations had forced the 2.5 million-member denomination to cut its national office staff by a third.