An Open Letter to the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church from Ellen F. Cooke
Episcopal News Service. May 4, 1995 [95086]
Ellen F. Cooke
In the May 1995 issue of Episcopal Life just published I was startled to read that "lawyers and the presiding bishop's office were negotiating a date in early May to provide for disclosure of the audit results and any action the church might consider as a result of the misuse of funds by former treasurer Ellen F. Cooke." Until this announcement my lawyers had not been consulted about a date for any kind of statement or report. It was my desire, supported by my attorneys, that we discuss and establish a mutual date and a complete process before any full disclosure statement was to be revealed by either party.
It is true that on December 21, 1994 the presiding bishop asked me to resign as Treasurer. He told me that my husband's call to be rector of a parish in McLean, Virginia was the precipitating factor for his request. I should add that we resided in Virginia for the first 18 months I was Treasurer; that I maintained my residence in Virginia throughout my tenure as Treasurer based at the headquarters in New York; and that the current Treasurer, Mr. Burchell is also a Virginia resident.
On January 6, 1995, after consultation with legal counsel of the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society, I submitted my resignation as Treasurer.
On February 9, 1995, in response to his request made to me the night before, I met with the presiding bishop and his legal counsel, to hear allegations of misuse of funds.
At that time I expressed to the presiding bishop, and reiterated to my diocesan bishop, Peter Lee, a desire to know the facts of the matter, to accept full responsibility for any inappropriate use of funds, to make full and complete restitution to the church, and to seek therapeutic assistance immediately in order to understand what happened and why.
On Saturday, February 11, 1995, I began a series of extensive psychiatric evaluations. I am continuing with this therapy. In the psychiatrist's opinion, I experienced a breakdown precipitated by many factors external to me and related to the workplace. A summary of his psychiatric evaluation is available to appropriate parties upon request. I have given a copy to my diocesan bishop.
In the judgment of the psychiatrist who has evaluated me, I am one of a small percentage of the population who by reason of personality are simply unable to stop in the face of enormous pressures and stress. He believes that my subsequent actions, blocked from memory during this time, were a cry for help which I fully expected to be discovered and questioned, and which escalated as I tried to escape from a situation which had become intolerable.
In late March a priest of the Episcopal Church wrote and offered her pastoral support if and when I needed it. After several conversations she agreed to be my priest and pastor. She has consistently held up to me the truth of my inappropriate and wrong response to the situation in which I found myself. But she has also helped me acknowledge the pain, abuse and powerlessness I have felt during the years I worked as a lay woman on senior level at the church headquarters.
Since receipt by my lawyers of the Coopers and Lybrand report I also have been working with my accountant to identify any and all funds which might have been personally misused by me. The source of these monies verified to date was income in off-budget accounts held for distribution by the presiding bishop at his discretion, by the presiding bishop and treasurer at their discretion, and a prior year's reserve and adjustment account for gain and loss.
It had been my belief, and that of my lawyers, that a process of discussion of differences, mediation and agreement on the account of money would take place in order to make possible an orderly plan of full restitution. Although there are significant differences with the auditors' report which need to be addressed and agreed upon before any settlement can be arrived at, no response from me or my lawyers to the Coopers and Lybrand report has been requested by any national church official or by lawyers representing the national church as of this writing.
As evidence of good faith, and in support of my determination to make full restitution, our two pieces of real property were conveyed to the church for a nominal sum, my husband having relinquished his interest in these properties to me.
I have offered to relinquish any future interest in pension, health and life benefits due to me at retirement, relieving the actuarial liability for these future benefits and releasing the funds towards restitution.
As well, I have also expressed a willingness to relinquish any interest in the separation agreement based on my eight years' work and described in the presiding bishop's letter to me of January 6, and establish a plan for restitution, working until such time as full repayment is made.
I am experiencing deep remorse and regret for the pain and grief my actions have caused my family, friends, co-workers and the general church. I also feel sorrow for any pain I may have caused the presiding bishop. I do pray regularly for the presiding bishop and for the church.
I need to participate in a process of mediation, restitution and reconciliation. Notwithstanding any inaccurate and misleading statements or reports received by the church or issued by the press, I will continue to hope that such a restitution, reconciliation and forgiveness will be possible, modeling to a sinful and broken world our faithfulness to each other and our belief in the redemptive power of God.