Seek To Replace Glenview Church Pastor
Leader Of glenview Orthodox Church Faces Felony Theft Charges
Saints Peter and Paul Greek Orthodox Church is working with Midwest regional church officials to replace Rev. James Dokos who led the Glenview congregation and was placed on indefinite unpaid leave Friday.
Dokos faces felony theft charges for allegedly misappropriating about $110,000 from a church trust fund while at his previous posting in Milwaukee, much of it for personal use, prosecutors allege.
Monday, Assistant Milwaukee County District Attorney David Feiss said prosecutors had been in touch with Dokos’ attorneys within the last few days, presenting them with the charges against Dokos and working to schedule a court date.
“The Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago has learned of the decision of the Milwaukee district attorney to move forward,” Chicago Metropolis spokesman Kevin Lampe said in a written statement. “We will continue to cooperate with the district attorney’s office. We will continue to monitor developments in this case and administer our parishes in accordance with our Archdiocesan Charter and Regulations.”
Bishop Demetrios Kantzavelos of Moskissos, the second highest ranking official in the Chicago Metropolis overseeing Greek Orthodox Churches in Illinois, Wisconsin and other Midwestern states, placed Dokos on unpaid administrative leave last Friday (June 20), Lampe said.
Lampe confirmed the bishop would be working with Sts. Peter and Paul church council to appoint a new senior pastor in Glenview.
Dokos served as proistamenos (senior pastor) at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Milwaukee before moving to Glenview in a straight swap of clergy between the two churches in July 2012.
Feiss said Dokos faces Class G felony theft charges that could lead to a maximum 10 years imprisonment and $25,000 fine if convicted.
Last fall, Kantzavelos removed then Sts. Peter and Paul Parish Council President James Gottreich from his post because he called for Dokos to be placed on leave from the Glenview church while Milwaukee County officials conducted an investigation.
When asked about Gottreich’s removal Monday, in light of Dokos’ removal from office Friday, Lampe told the Journal & Topics Newspapers there were, “many issues within the church, those issues are staying within the church.”
The Journal was unable to reach senior Glenview church officials for comment. An attorney for Annunciation referred all inquiries to the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s office.
The criminal complaint, obtained by the Journal, claims Dokos was a trustee of a trust of more than $1.1 million while serving at Annunciation.
In 2008, Dokos opened the trust account after the estate of its benefactor died. The complaint said later that year, Dokos transferred $1.1 million to Annunciation.
Prosecutors allege that after the transfer, the trust account still held more than $100,000 that other church members were unaware of.
Prosecutors said Dokos spent about $110,000 of trust funds between 2008 and 2012 on items not allowed by rules of the trust. Prosecutors say much of that money was spent on personal items. Spending on those personal items was not discovered until 2013 when an insurance payment was returned to the church, prosecutors add.
In 2008, Dokos allegedly wrote himself a check from the trust for $25,000. Prosecutors say Dokos took the advice of an attorney believing he was entitled to the funds when he was not. Other trust funds included $57,000 to pay off personal credit cards that included at least $17,000 in items for personal non-church purchases, such as $20,000 at high-end restaurants, $5,000 for jewelry for his wife, trips for his wife and daughter and shopping trips to stores like Nordstrom’s, Neiman Marcus, Dior and David Yurman. Trust funds even went to decorate the Dokos home for Christmas, the complaint says.