Six months on the job was all it allegedly took for the operations manager at one of Oklahoma City’s oldest churches to land in handcuffs. Kandace Ballenger, who oversaw day-to-day operations at First Presbyterian Church in Oklahoma City, was arrested Thursday after church leaders say she racked up nearly $100,000 in personal expenses on the congregation’s credit card during her brief tenure. Church officials reported the suspicious charges to law enforcement; Ballenger was booked into the Oklahoma County Detention Center and later released on bond.
Court documents reviewed by KFOR allege Ballenger used the church card to cover a mix of personal bills, including more than $1,000 for home repairs, a custom quilt order topping $1,500, and recurring charges at a gym in Norman. According to the report, church leaders uncovered the questionable activity near the start of 2025 and terminated Ballenger after confronting her about the charges. They say the case has since been turned over to prosecutors.
Historic downtown congregation says it flagged the charges
First Presbyterian is among Oklahoma City’s oldest congregations and maintains a campus in the Paseo arts district on Northwest 25th Street. Property records list the church’s mailing address as 1001 NW 25th St., according to the Oklahoma County Assessor. The congregation also hosts music and community programs at the site, as noted by the Oklahoma Gazette.
Prosecutors review evidence as church seeks restitution
Church leaders say they have handed their documentation to prosecutors, and the Oklahoma County District Attorney’s office is now reviewing the allegations, according to KFOR. Under Oklahoma law, embezzlement and false accounts by officers are addressed in Justia’s compilation of Title 21 of the state’s criminal statutes, where related offenses can carry felony penalties.
What this case underscores for congregations…