About the balancing act between trusting people and being cautious, Söderberg added:
As Christians, we are supposed to respond first with mercy, grace, and understanding. We don’t jump directly to judgment. However, we are also called to be good stewards…We would have discovered [these financial transgressions] much earlier if we had simply followed our own financial-management policies. We are all called to be good stewards of the resources God has blessed us with. Holding employees accountable, no matter who they are, is not being judgmental. It is being faithful.
City Council President: ‘I Do Hope This Is Not True’
Shirley Surgeon, president of the Hartford City Council, said in June she didn’t know details about the investigation or Thomas’ termination. She told Connecticut Public Radio he had shown honesty and integrity in local government while serving as a positive influence on young people. “As an elected official, we have to certainly uphold the most trust we can for the community, so I do hope this is not true,” Surgeon said.
After Thomas was arrested, Surgeon emphasized that elected officials must “uphold the values and trust placed in us by the residents of our city.” She said the council will focus on its work while the legal process unfolds.
Hartford Mayor Arunan Arulampalam reiterated those comments, saying city leaders face high standards. “We trust the judicial process to determine the facts and follow the appropriate process in place,” he said.
RELATED: Pastor’s Grandson Arrested and Charged With Embezzling $470K From North Carolina Church
This article has been updated to include new comments from Pastor Söderberg.
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