TALES FROM TRINITY

Liz Sterling strolled into the church office a few minutes after noon. She had been serving as treasurer of Trinity for a couple of years. Liz didn’t mind the routine, a monthly report for the congregation council, coming to the church office once a week or so to cut checks and pay the bills. Several checks needed to be signed, and last Sunday’s offering needed to be recorded on the church balance sheet. It was her lunch hour, and she could usually get a few items taken care of at church before eating and returning to Weston Realty. It was also a time when Pastor Paul left the office, and she could do a little snooping when Carol, the secretary, wasn’t watching. Liz discovered that Paul had a habit of writing notes to himself on small slips of paper. It helped remind him of things he needed to do, and they were more visible lying on the desk in the open than waiting for the computer to boot up, or searching through his desk calendar. Liz pulled the checkbook from the file cabinet, sat down at the table in Carol’s office, and began signing checks. Carol stood up, “Liz, would you mind grabbing the phone if it rings? I need to step out a minute.” “Sure, Carol; no problem.” As the secretary headed for the restroom Liz glanced into Paul’s office and noticed several notes on his desk. She walked over, scooped up the notes, and tucked them in her purse. When Paul returned that afternoon or the next day he would probably think they had fallen on the floor, or been dropped in the waste basket, or that he had placed them somewhere else. He is so absent-minded he probably writes notes to remind himself to go to the john! Ha! Speaking of the john, I’d better get out of here before Carol returns. Liz finished signing the checks, put the checkbook back in the drawer, and hurried out the office door, very pleased with herself. She said goodbye to Carol as they passed in the hall. Back at the realty office Liz glanced at the notes she had taken from Paul’s desk. A reminder to call Darrel Thomas, re: Immigration Committee; the name Jana Nygaard and a date for her surgery; and a short grocery list which appeared to be in Cheri’s handwriting. Oh, this is going to frustrate the heck out of him, Liz thought as she gleefully tossed them into her wastebasket. Liz had been working very hard since taking over as treasurer. First, she was delighted to find an old discretionary fund which had been set up for Pastor Bjornstad years ago. It had apparently fallen into disuse and been forgotten. An old book of checks was tucked into a file folder which had been passed on to her from Rick Rousch. Working from home one evening, she set it up for internet banking but kept it separate from the other funds for Trinity Lutheran. For a password, she used Paul’s middle name and the numbers of his birthday. She said nothing to Paul about her discovery. Nor did she list the fund on her monthly report. Next, she began a monthly transfer from the General Fund into the Pastor’s Discretionary Fund. She varied the amount transferred and listed it as a bill paid to PDF on the treasurer’s report. Only once during the past year did someone from the council ask what PDF meant. She lied, saying it was for office supplies; and no further questions were asked. Now, all she needed to decide was how and when to remove the money from the fund. It gave her great joy to know that in her file at Weston Realty was a copy of Paul Walker’s signature from the signing of the Agreement to Purchase their new home. After a few months, Liz decided to write a check from the Pastor’s Discretionary Fund and forge Paul’s signature. She made the check out to CASH for $500 and took it to the bank. With an air of confidence she asked to speak to the branch manager. Her professional nametag from Weston Realty read LIZ. She shook hands with the manager. “Hi! I’m Liz Sterling from Weston Realty. I’m also the treasurer for our church, Trinity Lutheran, which has several accounts here. Our pastor is trying to help one of our church families,” she lowered her voice to a whisper, “but he wants to make sure they remain anonymous. He asked if I would come here to cash this check from his discretionary fund. Can you help me?” The manager examined the check. Everything appeared in order. “Certainly, Ms. Sterling. Step over here to one of the tellers.” That was easy, Liz thought to herself. Guess I’ll just let this little fund build up a while and see how much I can save for a rainy day! Liz thanked the teller and tucked five $100 bills into her purse. That afternoon, Paul returned to the office to see if Carol had any more messages or questions for him. He also wanted to pick up the note which Cheri had given him this morning. He was not about to forget those groceries this time! He glanced across his desk. Where is that list? I know I put it here this morning. “Carol, have you seen my grocery list anywhere? Maybe I laid it on the table in your office?” “No, Pastor, I haven’t seen it.” Paul checked his pockets. “Darn it! I’m getting more and more forgetful. I’m way too young for senility!” Carol chuckled in response to Paul’s self-deprecating humor. Paul returned to his desk, reluctantly dialed Cheri’s number at the law firm where she worked, and confessed he had lost the note. “Can you please tell me what I needed to pick up at the grocery store before going home? And don’t worry; I’ll be there in time to meet Randy and Chip after school.”