Bishop Jim Njegovan’s son charged with fraud

The Venerable  Noah Njegovan, Executive Archdeacon of the Diocese of Brandon, has been charged with fraud for running up over $190,000 in personal expenses on a church credit card.

The spending occurred over a two and a half year period, an average of $76,000 per year in disappearing funds. This surely brings into question the diligence of the diocesan auditors and overall leadership; how can you not notice the evaporation of $76,000 per year?

Here is the article:

A priest — the son of a Brandon bishop — is accused of fraud based on an allegation that more than $190,000 in personal expenses were charged to a church credit card.

The accused appeared in court for the first time on Monday, but Father Shane Bengry said that members of the Anglican Diocese of Brandon had already been notified of the accusations.

“We wanted to be as transparent as possible to our congregations … we tried to keep people abreast of what was going on,” said Bengry, who is chairman of the communication committee for the diocese.

Noah James Bernard Njegovan, 30, is charged with fraud over $5,000.

He made his first appearance in Brandon court on Monday, and his next court date is set for May 9.

Njegovan is the son of Brandon Bishop Jim Njegovan.

Noah Njegovan was executive archdeacon and assistant to his father at the time of the alleged offence.

He worked out of the synod office on the 300-block of 13th Street.

Njegovan, an Anglican Church of Canada priest, has had his licence to officiate suspended pending the outcome of his court case. That means he presently can’t preside over church functions.

The allegations against him haven’t been proven in court.

Court documents allege that the Anglican Diocese of Brandon was defrauded when a business card was used for personal affairs between March 12, 2010, and Sept. 12, 2012.

Bengry said that a precise figure for the alleged fraud has yet to be calculated, but he said it’s clearly more than $190,000. Another estimate puts the total around $198,000.

The money represents funds gathered by diocese members through their parishes to keep the diocese running, Bengry said.

The Anglican Diocese of Brandon stretches along the length of Manitoba, along its western boundary and contains more than 50 congregations.

Losing that money has led the diocese to liquidate some of its assets to allow its work to continue.

“We’re not a wealthy diocese,” Bengry said.

An insurance claim has been filed for a significant portion of the loss, but “nowhere near” the full amount.

Bengry said that financial irregularities came to light during a regular, albeit delayed, audit performed after an employee resigned in August.

The employee left of his own choosing and wasn’t fired, Bengry said. He’d held his dual positions with the diocese for about three years.

It was only later, once the replacement employee completed the audit, that the financial irregularities were found and city police were notified in mid-January.

Noah Njegovan, who currently has a Rosenort address, was arrested in February and then released pending Monday’s court date.

Congregation members were initially notified of the financial irregularities on Dec. 2, Bengry said. A letter was read from the pulpit of each Anglican church within the diocese.

Members were later provided with an update on the investigation which included the dollar estimate for the fraud. They were also told of the charge against Noah Njegovan and that he was to appear in court.

Bengry said that Bishop Njegovan, due to his relationship with the accused, kept himself out of the matter.

Fraud allegations aren’t exclusive to the church, Bengry noted.

“This happens in all sorts of organizations … people do the best they can and yet people do fail for a variety of reasons,” he said.

However, in light of the allegations, the diocese has put new financial rules in place to prevent fraud.

For example, in this particular case it’s alleged that online transfers allowed the fraud to continue undetected.

Bengry said there are now strategies in place to better follow such transfers and allow the diocese executive to approve expenses.

14 thoughts on “Bishop Jim Njegovan’s son charged with fraud

    • Mike Skliros suggested I apply for the job when it came up. If nothing more than to see Jim’s reaction at getting the application. He would not have appreciated a picture of Bishop Malcolm on my desk.

      The Diocese Financial Statement is here (hard to find). The 2008 income is almost non-existent, but rebounded. If this were a business it would be in debtors court.

      A search of Queen’s Bench records revealed what may amount to some of the motivation for this act.

  1. From an old Mustard Seed 2009

    The Ven. Noah Njegovan has been appointed Executive Archdeacon and Administrative Assistant for the Diocese of Brandon. He succeeds Canon Mike Lowery who is retiring at 21 years in the position of Office Manager of the Synod office. Bishop Jim Njegovan, after making the appointment, made a statement to clear up any confusion over the choice of his son. “Some people assumed that he is the Archdeacon of Brandon. That is not the case. Archdeacon Curtis remains such until his retirement at which time a new Archdeacon of Brandon will be appointed. Likewise Archdeacon Constant Clark remains Archdeacon of the Pas until her successor is announced.” Noah’s title as Archdeacon instead derives from the position he holds as a priest exercising the ministry of Administrative Assistant to the Bishop and Office Manager of the Synod Office, which was Canon Lowery’s title.

    “When we advertised the position, nationally and within the diocese, it was for an Administrative assistant/Executive Archdeacon. All three of the applicants were ordained and would have been so designated,” said the Bishop. Noah is excited to starting in a role which will involve both priestly ministry and his interest in business and finance.

    He’s grateful for the legacy left by Canon Lowery. “This a great relief in entering a large position. I believe and give thanks to God that I have been called to this position, and so may faithfully serve God, and the wonderful people of this diocese.“ Noah completed 13 business and accounting College/University credited courses prior to his entrance into seminary. Those courses include financial accounting, mathematics, spreadsheets, marketing principals and applied communications, all of which are applicable to his new position. He also completed Native Spirituality studies through Brandon University where he was given the honour of receiving an aboriginal name, White Thundercloud, and was made a member of the Bear Clan. His past work experience also includes managing a successful restaurant in Brandon, where he gained experience doing payroll and operational accounts. He was incumbent of the Prairie Mountain parish in 2006 and 2007.

    “While we have not had an Executive Archdeacon in Brandon for some time,” said the Bishop. “Prior to Mike’s becoming the Administrative Assistant/Office Manager there was a history of the position being held by a clergyperson. Archdeacon Robert Calderwood served in that position for Bishop Conlin. Our second Bishop Ivor Norris served as Archdeacon and Secretary of Synod, as did our third, Bishop Wilkinson.” The Bishop hopes any confusion has been clarified, and this will alleviate “any fears of nepotism, always a risk in appointing qualified family members.”

    I’m a bit disappointed in Noah, but he has to deal with it, but Jim’s head-in-the-sand response is troubling.

  2. If the allegation turns out to be true later in court, it will be a sad day for the Diocese of Brandon. What non-believers see in believers is what they will believe about God. It is very important for believers to live a life according to the will of God.

    • From those in the Diocese that I keep in contact with there is a quiet anger-disappointment that this happened. With the Cathedral running a constant deficit and undetermined retirement of the Dean what is the future? This all happened under the Bishop’s nose and I know questions were circulated about the lack of a routine audit.

      I would suspect that outside of insurance the Diocese will not be reimbursed.

      Sell the Synod office and move into Robin’s office, that’s worth about $200K

  3. It would appear that whoever was paying for the credit card hadn’t checked to see if the expenses were authorised.
    Since the money was spent over a lengthy period of time, the monthly cost would have been about $6250.
    Even so, one would have thought that receipts and other documentation would have been requested from the beginning.

  4. Speculators will speculate. Manufacturers will manufacture. We don’t know the facts. Don’t throw stones. Read your Bible instead.

    • Read your Bible? Did Noah read the 8th Commandment? I remember when reading those was part of the service. I have experience in law enforcement. The charges, arrest and court appearance are not done on a whim or hint of a rumor.

      Apparent facts discovered through logical inquiry that would lead a reasonably intelligent and prudent person to believe that an accused person has committed a crime, thereby warranting his or her prosecution,

      Probable cause is a level of reasonable belief, based on facts that can be articulated, that is required … to arrest and prosecute a person in criminal court. Before a person can be … arrested and prosecuted, … police and prosecutor must possess enough facts that would lead a reasonable person to believe that the … charge is true.

      Civil references deleted

      • My point being that no one here knows the facts yet so we should not speculate as some here are already. Yet some just throw stones. Mature.

        • Tim, I don’t see how reporting the fact that there were sufficient grounds to make an arrest and require a court hearing is speculation. This has been the result of an on-going investigation by what we must assume are competent investigators.

          The fact is that a large sum of money has gone missing and criminal charges have been laid. A trial if necessary explicit details will emerge, however, it seems there is substantial evidence that Noah is culpable.

          And one should not make an assumption that no one here knows the details, you might be surprised.

  5. My prayers go out for this fellow, and as someone has said here, we don’t know the circumstances; the how, and the why. I feel for him, and his father, and the people of the diocese who have been let down, and the Body of Christ which has been taken from.
    Forgiveness with repentance, yes, but there must be consequences.
    A Professor and successful entrepreneur told our Business class:
    “Never hire your relatives, they’ll rob ya blind!”

  6. Guilty. 700 dollar keg dinners and attempting to keep up with the boys club jack offs in Brandon for the past 2 years Caught up with ya big guy.

    • We must wait for the verdict. We live in Canada, not China. We must continue to pray for one another. God will forgive those who truly repent of their sins. Don’t forget the fact that we are all sinners. Of course, there will be consequences of one’s actions. We are all responsible for our own actions. Christian believers are the living epistles, probably the only bible non-believers will care to read daily. We must be careful with our attitudes, words and actions.

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