LAKELAND — A settlement between the Florida Conference and Dr. John Green, former superintendent of the Sarasota District, was reached early last May.

Green was suspended March 30, 2000 by the late Bishop Cornelius L. Henderson after a complaint was filed charging Green with misappropriation of district and conference new church development funds.

Green admitted to the misuse and has repaid just over $287,485. He has agreed to pay an additional $42,435 by February 2002.

The total amount includes repayment of the misused funds, any interest accrued, and legal and other expenses incurred during the investigation. Green also surrendered his ministerial credentials last Jan. 2 as part of the agreement.

“It’s a good resolution and an effective resolution,” said Paul Butler, legal adviser for the conference. “This was something done with a lot of integrity from the conference as a whole.”

Butler said Green acknowledged his misuse of the funds when he was first approached about the allegations. “He expressed his regret publicly and to the bishop,” Butler said.

“John did admit it, he committed to repay the funds and he apologized,” said Charles Courtoy, leader of the management team handling the investigation of the allegations and former executive director of the conference’s New Church Development and Church Redevelopment office. Courtoy said Green promised to cooperate with the investigation and repay the funds fully.

The complaint against Green was filed with Henderson March 27, 2000. All district accounts were frozen at that time.

The Florida Conference cabinet approved guidelines for district offices on managing district financial assets and resources in April 2000 to safeguard against future misuse of funds, according to Randy Casey-Rutland, the conference’s treasurer. “We’ve taken steps to make sure it doesn’t happen again,” he said.

ORLANDO — The Florida Annual Conference was served with a lawsuit filed by a “Jane Doe” in Seminole County, Fla., June 18, according to the Rev. Paul B. Butler, the conference’s legal adviser.

The lawsuit alleges sexual misconduct against the two former pastors of Orlando’s University Carillon United Methodist Church and names five defendants, including the conference.

The misconduct alleged in the lawsuit also formed the basis of charges filed Dec. 6 against the pastors by the Rev. Dean Witten, superintendent of the Orlando District. The charges were handled in accordance with paragraph 359 of the 2000 United Methodist Book of Discipline.

The two pastors were suspended from all pastoral duties Dec. 1 by the late Bishop Cornelius L. Henderson. In February, the two pastors separately surrendered their credentials, effectively giving up their rights of ordination and severing their relationship with the denomination as pastors, according to Butler.

“The church has no authority to take further action against the two men,” Butler said.

Butler said the church’s response to the situation began immediately after learning about the allegations against the pastors last fall and included “seeking to reach out to the plaintiff in this case.”