A pastor in Indiana was allegedly fired from his church for dressing up in drag to appear in the HBO documentary We’re Here. This is reportedly because it created too much turmoil in their area.
Pastor Craig Duke, from Evansville, Indiana, recently appeared in an episode of the show, which follows ‘top drag entertainers Bob the Drag Queen, Eureka O’Hara, and Shangela Laquifa Wadley as they travel to small cities and towns across the country, transforming locals into fierce drag queens.’
Pastor Craig wore drag in support of the LGBTQ+ community, including his daughter who is pansexual. He said that it was a way to express his love for them and for his church.
However, a GoFundMe page was set up for him by United Methodist Church. He and his wife are expected to soon be forced to vacate their church-owned home.
According to reports, an Indiana pastor was fired for dressing in drag in support of the HBO documentary We’re Here. It caused “turmoil” in the church.
Pastor Craig Duke, from Evansville, Indiana, dressed up in drag to show his support for the LGBTQ+ community
After Pastor Duke donned full-length drag to perform a number of dance moves, Eureka, drag queen, called him ‘dope’ and’super fire’.
After it aired, the pastor told Religion News Service that it was ‘an incredibly wonderful, refreshing, deepening, and powerful spiritual’ experience.
He added: ‘I was surrounded and immersed in a culture that I’ve never been immersed in, and one of the things in ministry, if you want to involve people different than yourself in your ministry, you have to go to where people different than you are. I was able to do that because of my invitation.
Pastor Craig was a strong advocate for inclusion, but it seems that his church is not ready to accept him.
Following the broadcast, he was relieved from his pastoral duties so that he could “engage in a journey of renewal, reflection, recovery.”
‘Unfortunately, Craig’s participation in this show caused so much turmoil in the church that he was serving at the time, and it ultimately lead to him being “relieved of pastoral duties” at that church,’ the GoFundMe page reads.
According to his GoFundMe page, United Methodist Church, where he was employed has since “relieved” him from pastoral duties.
In drag, he showed his support for LGBTQ+ people. He also dressed as his pansexual daughter and said that he wanted it to be a “bridge” between the church of the LGBTQ+ community.
However, after the broadcast, his church reportedly’relieved’ him from his pastoral duties. Some even reported that he was going to lose his home.
This has resulted in him and Linda losing not only their income but also their home. The church owned it since then.
Craig will remain with Craig, but with a substantially reduced salary. This is until February 28th. Craig and his family will face a significant challenge as they decide their next steps.
“Pastor Craig believes he is a man who has faith and is a father, husband, social justice advocate, as well as an ally to the LGBTQIA+ community.
“Craig is a man of hope, has worked for an inclusive church, which welcomes all people, races and sexual orientations.
The team has raised over $47,000 within a span of just one week.
Numerous community members raised their support for him and set up a GoFundMe page to aid the Reverend. They have already raised more than $47,000 within a matter of weeks.
Religion News Service received the following statement from the pastor: “It was an incredibly amazing, refreshing and deepening spiritual experience.”
His dismissal has angered commenters who have posted their support on the internet.
“Pastor Craig does not deserve it!” One donor said that he was ashamed of the actions taken by the ministry. “This campaign should be a reminder that religion can’t keep up with modern times.
A second person said, “The state in which I reside disappoints me yet more.” Indiana, you can do worse! Do better, Christianity! Choose love.
Shangela, a HBO actress, also spoke out in an Instagram video about the issue, blaming the church for bullying the pastor.
“The church bullied him, because he believes in love and acceptance.
“He made a decision to follow his faith, and he appeared in We’re Here. Pastor Craig was let go. This is wrong.
But that’s not our show’s purpose. It’s all about people coming together.
A letter from United Methodist Church claimed that they released him because he was unable to “engage in a journey of renewal, reflection and recovery”.
In an Instagram clip, Shangela, the HBO Star Shangela, Laquifa Wadley addressed the issue and criticised the church’s bullying of the pastor.
Even we, as members of the LGBTQ+ group, don’t have to agree with someone’s opinion. However, they do it for us every year. They’re now doing the same to our allies.
“People who advocate for LGBTQ+ people are important. We will all take care one another if we don’t get taken care of by others.
Queerty obtained a letter that was reportedly sent out by the church after the episode aired, and in it, the church said Pastor Craig needed to step away because he felt ‘unable to continue to serve in parish ministry at present.’
Superintendent Mitch Gieselman stated in the letter that “No one resolution will satisfy all.”
“I have received many calls and emails critical of Craig’s actions. I also received many messages of support.
“In such a divided climate, our principal intention is to foster an environment that both NUMC (and the Duke family) can progress in grace.
“In other words, Craig feels that he is no longer able to minister in the parish ministry.
“During the time he is free from his pastoral duties, he will engage in a process for renewal, reflection and recovery.”