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The Statesman's just reported that a former pastor in Round Rock has been arrested on felony theft charges. 48-year-old Donald "Roddy" Clyde, a pastor of Fellowship at Forest Creek since 1992, is accused of embezzling over half a million dollars from the church.
Suspicions were first raised by the church's accounting department, which found "questionable activity" in their ledgers. Recognizing that their Senior Pastor was likely misappropriating these monies for other non-church purposes, they contacted the Round Rock Police Department.
Clyde resigned from Fellowship at Forest Creek earlier this week, and turned himself in yesterday.
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THIS JUST BURNS ME UP. POOR PEOPLE LIKE ME HAVE TO SCRAPE UP FOOD OUT OF DUMPSTERS AND ALL THE WHILE THIS GRUBWORM IS POCKETING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS DONATED BY HARD WORKING POEPLE FROM THE COMMUNITY.
DEAR LORD, LET ME GRIP MY STREET WORN HANDS AROUND HIS PENCIL NECK AND HE'LL FEEL THE FIRE OF HELL. A PUBLIC STONING WOULD BE TOO GOOD FOR HIM. I VOTE THAT HE DIES FROM A MILLION NEEDLE STICKS
OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
Did you know that the pastors who were alerted to the situation: Shannon Paz, Gerald Thurman and David Burleson - went outside the church to discuss their findings before even asking Roddy about it? That’s right, they waited until Roddy left town with his family, then held their “secret meeting” to discuss who they should tell next! They also weren’t taking very good care of this pastor. In this area, it will take $125,000 a year to replace him, yet he was only officially being paid $52,000. No wonder why he became disillusioned and felt unappreciated - he was! Why didn’t anyone take care of him so temptation wouldn’t have been as strong? In addition, Pastor Clyde asked to be given the chance to apologize to the congregants, and was denied that opportunity.
It sounds to me like there have been a myriad of sins in this case. Shouldn’t we offer all involved the forgiveness, grace and mercy that Christ offers us? After all, isn’t that the whole reason he died on the cross?
Did you know that the pastors who were alerted to the situation: Shannon Paz, Gerald Thurman and David Burleson - went outside the church to discuss their findings before even asking Roddy about it? That’s right, they waited until Roddy left town with his family, then held their “secret meeting” to discuss who they should tell next! They also weren’t taking very good care of this pastor. In this area, it will take $125,000 a year to replace him, yet he was only officially being paid $52,000. No wonder why he became disillusioned and felt unappreciated - he was! Why didn’t anyone take care of him so temptation wouldn’t have been as strong? In addition, Pastor Clyde asked to be given the chance to apologize to the congregants, and was denied that opportunity.
It sounds to me like there have been a myriad of sins in this case. Shouldn’t we offer all involved the forgiveness, grace and mercy that Christ offers us? After all, isn’t that the whole reason he died on the cross?
I am aware of a letter circulating regarding favor of Roddy Clyde. This letter disturbs me deeply because it was sent via email to many members of the Fellowship. The true victims of the crime being expected to rescue the perpetrator. There is something really sick about that.
I would like to present a differing opinion.
Roddy was arrogant and mean spirited. The way he treated those who served under him even before his fall was unconscionable.
What Roddy did to the church and those who trusted him is huge. Lives have been broken because of his actions. The impact of his crime is still being felt in waves throughout the people who followed him. Forgiveness and repentance in the abstract are nice concepts. But they don’t really account for the damage he has caused to the lives of others, whether they depended on his ministry for financial, professional or spiritual reasons. Stealing money to go on fancy vacations, buy land and horses has caused numerous others to needlessly suffer.
The letter circulating says that “sending him to prison would make his rehabilitation impossible“. This is a ridiculous statement. People who steal $700,000 normally get sent to prison as a consequence of their action. Roddy taught many times that being a Christian does not alleviate consequences of our bad choices. He called that accountability. The letter goes on to say that a prison sentence will immediately cause feelings of responsibility, regret and remorse to those who are a part of sending him there. This too is absurd! The others are not the reason he would be in prison, his own choices are.
For this, the state should impose a punishment that is relevant to the crime against humanity that he committed. If Roddy only gets a sentence of probation, it will send a very dangerous message to the citizens of Williamson County that if you commit a crime but are sorry enough, you can get away without serving time.