Indiana pastor fired for appearing in 'drag queens' series

By David Crary -

The Rev. Craig Duke has been a Methodist minister for three decades and has built a reputation as a strong advocate for the inclusion of the LGBTQ community.

But his pastoral work has ended due to a bitter disagreement that arose at his church in Indiana after he showed his solidarity with LGBTQ people by appearing dressed as a

in an episode of the HBO series

Duke, 62, said he thought the more than 400 members of his Newburgh United Methodist Church (NUMC) shared his inclusive vision.

Hence he was surprised when a prominent member of the congregation, later supported by other parishioners,

.

"You have thrown NUMC under a bus to raise a minority of individuals," said one of the emails.

Another, according to Duke, indicated that Satan should be happy about this disagreement about LGBTQ rights.

Duke, who declined to identify his critics, told The Associated Press that the attacks felt "very personal" and led him to worry about his mental health.

"

Realizing that I was losing my ability to lead," he said.

Under United Methodist Church (UMC) protocol, a pastor does not have the option to resign, but Duke told his immediate superior, regional superintendent Mitch Gieselman, that he needed to step aside.

On November 26, Gieselman, who had listened to critics and supporters of the pastor, sent a letter to the NUMC congregation announcing that Duke "is released from his pastoral duties."

Duke said he and his wife will be able to continue living in the NUMC parsonage for the next three months.

Gieselman said her salary will be suspended entirely on February 28 and that they will then have to move.

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Gieselman said in his letter that Duke's actions have "polarized" the congregation, but that none of it constituted a formal violation of the United Methodist Church Book of Discipline, which functions as a legal code for Methodist clergy.

"They

," Duke said.

The

episode

featuring Duke in a dress, high-heeled boots, a pink wig, and heavy makeup was filmed in July but aired on November 8.

Duke was invited to appear on the series by an Evansville LGBTQ Pride group.

We're Her

e, an Emmy-nominated series in its second season, follows the journeys of three

artists

as they travel through towns and small cities across the United States in search of people to join them as

.

Before the episode aired, some members of the congregation complained that Duke had not anticipated them about his decision to appear on the show, which included scenes recorded in the church.

In response, Duke addressed the congregation in August and said he was sorry that trust in his leadership had been shaken.

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However, he defended his reasons, saying, "

on a national scale."

Any hope that the conflict would be resolved was dashed in mid-November, when the couriers attacking him began to circulate.

Disagreements within the Duke congregation reflect broader divisions in the United Methodist Church, the largest Protestant denomination in the United States.

Conservative leaders of the Methodist Church have revealed that they have plans to form a new denomination, the Global Methodist Church, with a doctrine that does not recognize same-sex marriage.

This move could accelerate the long-awaited breakdown of the WBU over different approaches to LGBTQ inclusion, including whether people from this community should be ordained as clergy.

[The United Methodist Church seeks to divide itself over differences with gay marriage]

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the United Methodist Church General Conference, where this issue was to be discussed, has been postponed for two consecutive years and is now scheduled for August 2022, in Minneapolis.

According to Duke, one of the reasons he was invited to appear on

was precisely because of the division in his church and at WBU.

"

" wrote Duke addressing his congregation.

The decision to end Duke's duties has already had repercussions.

His wife, Linda, who worked in youth ministry, resigned.

So did the church's administrative assistant, Erin Sexton, who along with her husband, Chris, organized a GoFundMe campaign to help the Dukes.

As of this Wednesday morning, more than 900 people had raised a total of $ 52,000.

Some of them shared messages of support for Duke's inclusive work.

["I have been told that I am the antichrist": An openly gay pastor recounts the criticism he has received for his sexual orientation]

Chris Sexton said he has been a member of the NUMC since childhood and described Duke as one of the "most genuine and engaging pastors."

But the Sextons said many members of the congregation have preferred to steer clear of the conflict over the series, letting criticism of Duke dominate the debate.

Duke still doesn't know what his next step will be, but he says he doesn't plan to be a pastor again.

One possibility, he said, would be for him and his wife to set up an inclusive "camp" for youth and young adults.

"

. There are many people who have been hurt by religion, who have felt rejection, who are looking for us, and who are hopeful that this will prompt me to do something different on their behalf."