A Protestant pastor was expelled from his ministry after a brief television appearance as ‘drag queen’, dressed in a large pink wig and a sequined mesh, a person in charge of his congregation confirmed to AFP on December 8.
Craig Duke, 62, appeared last month on the HBO channel’s “We’re Here,” where ‘drag queens’ recruit residents of small towns to participate in a show. She came out in high-heeled boots, a crucifix around her neck, lipstick, and shadow purple eyes.
After that “powerful spiritual moment”, as he described it during an interview for the agency Religion News Service, this member of a United Methodist Church was mired in controversy.
Faced with “numerous calls and very critical emails,” but also supportive, the local head of that church decided to “relieve of his pastoral mission” to Duke, reducing his salary and prohibiting him from offering his religious services on the premises near Evansville, Indiana .
However, in a letter to parishioners, the religioso Mitch Gieselman He assured that Duke “has not been recognized as responsible for any infraction of the disciplinary regulations.”
Gieselman confirmed the authenticity of his mail, dated November 26. Duke, however, has no regrets. “If you want to involve people other than yourself, you have to go meet them. The invitation to that program allowed me to do so ”.
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