Rev. Edward Monk, a longtime priest in the Diocese of Dallas, is facing serious criminal charges after allegedly embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars from his parish. Monk, who served as rector of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Corsicana since 2003, is accused of fraudulently obtaining a credit card under a parishioner’s identity and using it for personal expenses.
Monk was indicted by a Navarro County grand jury on December 18, 2024, on three felony charges: theft of over $300,000, fraudulent use of an elderly person’s identity, and credit card abuse. He was arrested on December 21 and released after posting bail.
Church leaders and police initiated the investigation in July 2024 after members of St. John’s reported suspicious financial activity. A diocesan investigator found Monk had opened unauthorized bank accounts, misdirected funds, and used the credit card to fund personal travel.
Monk has denied the charges and claims he did not commit any wrongdoing. A Title IV disciplinary hearing within the Episcopal Church is expected to take place in early 2025.