FRANKLIN — A former bishop’s assistant has been charged with stealing more than $100,000 from the northwestern Pennsylvania synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Online court records don’t list an attorney for 64-year-old Mary Housholder of Franklin. She declined to comment Wednesday when reached at her dog-training business, Claddagh Glen, which allegedly benefited from some of the money she’s charged with stealing.

Housholder was an assistant to Bishop Ralph Jones based in Oil Creek Township, Venango County, when the thefts occurred since 2009.

Troopers say Housholder stole $50,000 from the synod’s Mission Investment Fund by writing a check to her dog-training business.

Church officials say Housholder acknowledged that and said she was trying to pay it back. Other thefts emerged as the investigation continued.