(WNY News Now) – Attorney General Michelle Henry announced that James Collier, former pastor of a now-defunct church in Pennsylvania, must repay over $305,000 after misappropriating donations for personal expenses.
HARRISBURG – In a decisive action against financial misconduct within religious organizations, Attorney General Michelle Henry has announced a court ruling requiring James Collier, the former founder and pastor of Peniel Christian Fellowship International, to pay $305,704 due to the improper use of ministry funds.
Collier, who, along with his wife, served as the only board members of the church, was found to have diverted substantial amounts of money donated to the fellowship into personal accounts. These funds were used for personal expenses, including vehicle purchases and rent payments, rather than supporting the church’s intended mission.
The ruling was handed down by a Dauphin County Orphan’s Court judge, following an investigation led by Investigator Andrew McCole and litigation by Senior Deputy Attorney General Jason R. Lewis. The ordered repayment is intended to benefit another religious institution with missions similar to those of Peniel Christian Fellowship International.
“These charitable funds were intended to further Christian ministry as outlined in the fellowship’s mission — instead, the pastor and overseer of the funds acted on his own personal greed and diverted the funds,” Attorney General Henry said. “Charitable funds must be used as they were intended, and our office plays a role in ensuring such assets and funds are not misused.”
In addition to the financial restitution, the court has mandated several critical measures: Collier is to be removed from the church’s bank accounts, the church is to be dissolved, and he is prohibited from serving on the board of any nonprofit organizations in the future.
The church had received a significant bequest of $387,478 from the estate of a former parishioner, which further underscores the betrayal of trust in this case.
Leave a Reply