A Hartford church leader who also serves on the City Council has been terminated from his position as an associate pastor after questions surfaced in May over his use of church funds.
Officials at South Church removed Alex Thomas from his position after they became aware of charges made to a church credit card, said Rev. Adam Thomas S枚derberg. S枚derberg said the church has since filed a report with Hartford police.
鈥淚t was important for us for other people to be made aware,鈥� S枚derberg said. 鈥淗owever, until [Hartford police] can verify the information that we provided them with, it鈥檚 all still speculation.鈥�
Lt. Aaron Boisvert, a spokesman for the Hartford Police Department, said Wednesday the department has begun an investigation to determine whether or not a crime has been committed based on information received from the church.
Thomas declined to comment on the circumstances when he was reached at his home in Hartford Wednesday afternoon.
Thomas previously served as director of family ministry at the historic church, located on Main Street in Hartford. Thomas was also a leader of its youth programs for two years, S枚derberg said.
In that role, S枚derberg said, Thomas led group activities for more than a dozen Hartford youth on Friday nights 鈥� an idea that S枚derberg said Thomas generated to help give teenagers a safe and positive environment to spend time after school.
鈥淜ids loved him,鈥� S枚derberg said, adding: 鈥淭hey don鈥檛 know how to completely process it, how two things can be true, because he was such an important, positive part of the last two years of their lives.鈥�
Eulalia Garcia, senior deacon at the church, said the situation raised alarm and concern among members of the congregation.
鈥淥f course it was a blow to the trust of the congregation,鈥� she said, 鈥渂ut everything was reported, and now we have to let the court system run its course.鈥�
Thomas, a Hartford native, was sworn into office for his first term on the Hartford City Council in January as a member of the Working Families Party.
According to a , Thomas grew up in Hartford鈥檚 North End, attended local public schools and was active in Hartford City Mission, the Hartford Artists Collective and the Wilson-Gray YMCA.
The biography indicates he is the first Black pastor of South Church, an independent Congregational church that traces its back more than 350 years.
鈥淎lex is passionate about providing enrichment and development for Hartford鈥檚 youth,鈥� the biography reads. 鈥淭hrough his past work as a youth pastor, program director, and camp counselor, Alex has a connection to and understanding of Hartford鈥檚 young people that informs his priorities for City Council, including increased city programs for youth, improved parks and public spaces, and safe, affordable housing.鈥�
Hartford City Council President Shirley Surgeon said Wednesday she was unaware of the circumstances involving the investigation and Thomas鈥� termination from the church. Surgeon said Thomas demonstrated honesty and integrity during his time on the council, and has been a positive influence on kids in the community.
鈥淎s an elected official, we have to certainly uphold the most trust we can for the community,鈥� she said, 鈥渟o I do hope this is not true.鈥�
