Troy church finances debated

Irregularities’ cited, but pastor calls allegations ‘baseless’

Troy — Allegations of possible mishandling of church finances are at the center of a controversy casting a cloud over the congregation at St. George’s Antiochian Orthodox Church.

George Samra, the church’s treasurer, says the church “is in dire financial shape” and that all he is trying to do is to get to the bottom of it.

Samra says he has uncovered a number of irregularities, including 24 checks signed in the name of someone who has been dead for two years.

“I only seek information and clarity for the benefit of the good people of today and for those who have sacrificed in the past to create a viable church,” wrote Samra in an e-mail Aug. 20 to parishioners and published on the Web site Orthodox Christians for Accountability.

Samra, who was elected as the church’s treasurer in January, has been suspended from his post and excommunicated from the church as a result of the controversy.

At the heart of his allegations is the 30-year mortgage on St. George Towers, a 10-story apartment building owned by the church, which was “recently” refinanced for $5.8 million.

“Many of our senior parishioners feel the Tower mortgage should be paid off by now, as 30 years has passed since the original note was signed,” wrote Samra in the e-mail.

“I discovered the mortgage was refinanced for $5,850,000 recently for 35 years and may have been modified another time in the past as well. When was this approved and by whom?” he wrote.

The church’s pastor, the Rev. Joseph Antypas, said the apartment building is operated by a separate organization and overseen by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development because it receives federal funds.

Antypas said there has been no wrongdoing in the church’s finances or operation of the St. George Towers, a 205-unit building on Hayes Road in Clinton Township.

Antypas called Samra’s allegations “groundless and baseless.”

“It is totally un-Christian and unethical,” said Antypas of Samra’s allegations and writings on the Internet. “It is totally baseless.”

“If he thought something was wrong, he should have gone to the police,” said Antypas. “He has not because he is not telling the truth.”

Antypas acknowledges the church’s mortgage was refinanced and that some of the interest from the balance will be used for future renovations for the apartment building.

A special meeting has been called for today by the 14-member church council at the church on East Maple.

Samra declined further comment about the issue until he has met with church officials.

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