Gastonia, North Carolina couple accused of embezzling from church

Authorities say a couple who worked at a Baptist church in North Carolina used their positions to steal more than $350,000 over a three-year period. Alan and Linda Roland of Gastonia face four charges, including embezzlement and conspiracy.Officials say Alan Roland worked as the treasurer at Way of the Cross Baptist Church in Mount Holly and that his wife was assistant treasurer.Authorities say the Rolands wrote 811 checks to themselves. The Rolands declined comment after a first appearance in court Thursday. They have been released on unsecured bond and have been ordered not to go on the church's property.Pastor Robert Meeks says he's hopeful they will find a way to reimburse the church.Mount Holly's Way of the Cross Baptist Church held its first Sunday service this weekend since the former members accused of embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars appeared in court."It's about like starting all over. God's given us a new beginning," Way of the Cross pastor, the Rev. Bobby Meeks, said.The church’s former treasurer and secretary, Alan and Linda Roland, appeared in a Gaston County courtroom last week. Over the years, detectives say they embezzled more than $360,000 from the church bank account."We found out we didn't have but $1,700, and it was a shock to all of us," said Meeks.Church leaders had very little to say about the case Sunday except that the focus was on the worship service, one in which Meeks talked about forgiveness.
"I talked to them and just said, ‘just try to love each other and bring unity back in the church,’" he said. Meeks says his congregation is already in the process of replenishing the money that was taken. He says the ladies of the church raised more than $2,000 through several yard sales and they plan to hold other fundraisers to restore the church account.