Posted on 02/04/2022 5:44:24 PM PST by Morgana
NEW YORK (AP) — The Rev. Craig Duke has been a Methodist minister for three decades, building a reputation as a staunch advocate of LGBTQ inclusion. His pastoral duties have now been terminated — the result of a bitter rift surfacing in his Indiana church after he sought to demonstrate solidarity by appearing in drag alongside prominent drag queens in the HBO reality series “We’re Here.”
Duke, 62, said he thought most of his 400-member congregation at Newburgh United Methodist Church shared his inclusive views, and he was taken aback when a prominent congregation member, soon backed by other churchgoers, circulated emails attacking him.
“You have thrown NUMC under the bus to elevate a minority of individuals,” said one of the emails. Another, according to Duke, said Satan must be pleased with the discord over LGBTQ rights.
Duke, who declined to identify his chief critics, told The Associated Press that the attacks “felt very personal,” causing him to worry about his mental health.
“It was a matter of sadness and disappointment and heartbreak on my part … realizing I was losing the ability to lead,” he said.
Under United Methodist Church protocol, a pastor does not have the option of resigning, but Duke said he made clear to his immediate superior, regional superintendent Mitch Gieselman, that he needed to step away.
(Excerpt) Read more at fox59.com ...
WARNING BEFORE YOU CLICK ON THE LINK..BARF ALERT
“Duke, who declined to identify his chief critics, told The Associated Press that the attacks “felt very personal,” causing him to worry about his mental health.”
—
I’d say the “mental health concern” ship sailed a long time ago.
“The Rev. Craig Duke has been a Methodist minister for three decades, building a reputation as a staunch advocate of LGBTQ inclusion.”
Sounds like he should have been ‘terminated’ decades ago, given his history. Have any kids there spoken up, yet?
It was “ministers” like him that made me leave the Methodist church a LONG time ago back in the 90s.
“I’d say the “mental health concern” ship sailed a long time ago.”
He had his nails did. Oh yes this is NOT my Grandmother’s Methodist Church.
In the United State, if you want to spit on God, fine, that is your right. Just don’t be surprised if you find your church not too happy about it, particularly if you’re the one leading it.
I’m reminded about another teacher of error who lauded his congregation with a lesson about those bad old theological conservatives in the apparent belief that his congregation would follow him but instead he got fired and having exposed the infiltration of his and other congregations a lot like him got shown the door.
Craig Duke : Servant of Satan much ?
We have Methodist Churches in our area that have been forced to buy back their own churches (that they themselves built) in order to keep their buildings after leaving the UMC Conference. So sad. One 100 year old church had to close its doors and they had just remodeled it.
I’m an LGBT supporter too: Liberty, Guns, Bible & Trump! 🤣
He’s METHodist
That’s a big issue right now in the Methodist Church, every church has to make its conference the trustee of all church real estate. Those of us who are going to the global Methodist Church or the Free Methodist Church have to negotiate an exit with the UMC. It’s worth it though.
“Duke, who declined to identify his chief critics, told The Associated Press that the attacks “felt very personal”.”
Well, Craig, perhaps that’s because it was YOUR person parading in drag on TV, sinning against God and shaming your congregation.
“I’d say the “mental health concern” ship sailed a long time ago.”
Indeed. To wit, I dated a pastor’s kid during college. At first I was impressed by the dude, but once I got past trying to impress him and win his approval, it was obvious he was an arrogant, alcoholic turd with a massive ego. He became an insufferable bore after 18 months and I had to bail on his daughter for the sake of my own sanity.
* this guy was Harry Fosdick … a “modernist” … aka a heretic
Worried about his mental health?? LOL. Wait until you’re before the judgment seat.
You’d figure that drag queen pastors would be the logical end of all of this LGBTQ advocacy, but I guess it was a bridge too far —at least in Indiana. I am guessing there are some UM congregations and conferences that would have celebrated this.
It has to be worth it. . .but small congregations can’t afford it especially in these times. The 100 year old church I mentioned was told by the district/state? person that he would rather see it turn into a Coon Hunter’s barn than another church. It was a small rural congregation. . .my boss’s church and I had visited there once. So sad.
“causing him to worry about his mental health”
That’s the least of his worries.
YOU WIN !
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.