A pastor has allegedly been “relieved of pastoral duties” by the church he worked for after he donned drag on the HBO series, We’re Here.
Pastor Craig Duke is a proud LGBTQ ally. The married father preaches about inclusivity and love for all. In 2018, he took over as lead pastor at Newburgh United Methodist Church in Evansville, Indiana.
Last month, he appeared on We’re Here, after being suggested by the local Evansville Pride organization.
Related: Shangela, Bob the Drag Queen and Eureka O’Hara get their own TV show
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The show features drag performers Eureka O’Hara, Shangela, and Bob the Drag Queen. The trio travels across small town America, transforming locals into drag queens and highlighting local stories of perseverance and inspiration. You can watch a clip of his segment from the 4.55 mark below.
At the time, Duke told Religion News Service, “It was an incredibly wonderful, refreshing, deepening, powerful spiritual experience.
“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. The invitation to be part of the show allowed me that.”
Duke said he participated because he wanted to learn greater empathy for the LGBTQ community and also show support for his daughter, who came out as pansexual two years ago.
However, it now seems his involvement in We’re Here did not go down well with his church. Last week, a GoFundMe was set up to raise money for Duke and his wife after he was apparently let go from the church.
“Pastor Craig considers himself to be a man of faith, a father, a husband, a social justice advocate, and ally for the LGBTQIA+ community,” says the fundraiser, set up by Chris and Erin Sexton. “Craig has a hope and has fought for a fully inclusive church that is welcoming to people of all races, all genders, and all sexual orientations. He longs for a day that all people are able to marry and serve as ordained clergy in the United Methodist Church.”
It says that Craig’s participation in We’re Here, “Unfortunately … caused much turmoil in the church that he was serving at the time and ultimately lead to him being ‘relieved of pastoral duties’ at that church. Craig will continue with a significantly reduced salary until no later than February 28. Obviously, this poses a major challenge to Craig and his family as they determine their next steps.”
At the time of writing, the GoFundMe has raised over $18,000 of a $30,000 target.
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The Newburgh United Methodist Church’s website makes no mention of Craig being dropped. However, the weekly sermon section on its newsletter, previously written by ‘Pastor Craig’, is now being penned by ‘Pastor Mark’. Queerty has approached the church, and Rev. Craig Duke, for comment.
We’re Here’s Eureka O’Hara was among those to highlight the GoFundMe page.
Everyone met Pastor Craig a couple of weeks ago on the Evansville, IN episode of #WereHere Sadly his participation in the show has caused the Church to “relieve him of his pastoral duties.”
If you can donate, great! If you can’t, please share! https://t.co/IgUYnaA4Az— Eureka! (they/them/theirs) 🐘👑 (@eurekaohara) December 5, 2021
UPDATE
A couple of hours after we published this story, Queerty was forwarded a copy of the letter that members of the Newburgh UMC were sent on November 26, by Mitch Gieselman, Superintendent, South and Southwest District, Indiana United Methodist Church.
“There has been a great deal of information circulating in recent weeks concerning the status of Rev. Craig Duke in the wake of his appearance on the HBO production ‘We’re Here’,” says the letter. “Much of that information has been less than completely accurate. My hope is to clarify the situation as best I’m able.
“No single resolution will be satisfactory to all. I’ve received numerous calls and emails that are highly critical of Craig’s actions, and I’ve received numerous messages of support for him. In such a polarized climate, our main intent is to foster an environment in which both NUMC and the Duke family can move forward in grace.
“Rev. Duke is being relieved from pastoral duties effective December 1, 2021. He will not be available to perform any pastoral functions at NUMC. He and Linda will continue to reside in the parsonage until no later than February 28, 2022, but he will not be at the church in any capacity. Rev. Mark Dicken will serve as interim pastor, with full pastoral authority, until a full appointment is made.”
It goes on to state, “Craig has not ‘resigned,’ nor has he been ‘fired,’ as these are not actions that are consistent with our appointment system. While there is a diversity of opinion regarding the moral implications of Rev. Duke’s actions, he has not been found to have committed any chargeable offense or other violation of the United Methodist Book of Discipline.
“In short, Craig has reached a place where he feels unable to continue to serve in parish ministry at present. During his time of being relieved from pastoral duties, he will be engaging in a process of renewal, reflection, and recovery that will be monitored by our conference Director of Leadership Development, Bishop Trimble, and myself. Our desire is to provide an opportunity for Craig to again be able to utilize his numerous gifts as a pastor in a local congregation. He will not, however, be returning to the NUMC pulpit.
“For now, I appeal to you to keep Craig and Linda in your ongoing prayers.”
Paulie P
It’s a shame. he did so good on the show and was an inspiration. He did say on the show that the housing he live din was provided by the church so now I guess he will be homeless come Feb 28. Though I imagine some other more open organization will welcome him.
Cam
One of The only requirement to be a member of a Christian church these days seems to be hating LGBTQ people.
joverit
you forgot sexually abusing children, hiding and protecting sexual abusers and stealing from the dumbest poor people
revjimbrooking
As a United Methodist Pastor I am sickened by how hateful church people can be!! If only they were as vocal about gun violence in this country perhaps there would be fewer murdered children!! Jesus weeps!
Hank31
There’s no evidence that they are “vocal” about drag. It was Pastor Craig who introduced the issue. If Pastor Craig had shot a child with a gun, I’m pretty sure he would have been relieved of his pastoral duties.
Openminded
Hank31, Their silence is deafening in this case. Anyone who can’t read between the lines of what the letter states is just in denial. The last few sentences basically state that the church leadership will be monitoring this man for signs of reform and change. This sounds like it is one tiny step short of conversion therapy IMO.
cliche guevara
Hank, we all get that you are in the throws of a gender crisis… you have made your discomfort with you are pretty clear. But in no way is drag comparable to shooting someone. That you think that it is does explain a lot about how hysterical you get with the subject of gender. Don’t worry, you being effeminate is’t harming anyone.
Bosch
Wow Hank. Putting on a dress is like shooting a child? Hey everyone, don’t let Hank babysit your kids, he clearly doesn’t understand the difference between right and wrong.
hoosier1969
Not surprising. That town is trash! My ex wife and her family live there. I had to visit it for many years. Full of backwards and bigoted people.
Hope he finds a new call in a more affirming area of the country and shakes that Newburgh dust off his feet!
Sqwoah
If this guy wants to dress up in women’s clothes and dance around…fine. But there are lots of places in this world for him to do that. It’s selfish of him to expect his church’s pre-existing views on arg to change because he wants too play dress up. There is a thing called being an adult.
Bosch
Judging someone for “dressing in women’s clothes and dancing around” is exactly the opposite of being an adult. You are clearly too young to know.
cliche guevara
Uhhhh …. yes… people expressing themselves in a way that zero impact on others is pretty much the definition of selfish. Do you even know what the word means?
ShiningSex
that church is fake christians. he was showing acceptance and love. the church is of hate.
Agility
Seems like this “church” doesn’t actually follow the teachings of Jesus.
GrizzleyMichael
I say take a wrecking ball to all the churches that so pathetic. The only churches that should be standing are the one that supports the LGBTQ and reports any wrong doing.
jayceecook
So the update that Q has added has me thinking twice about how I feel about this situation. I’m very concerned about the bit where it says that he will basically be going through some kind of rebrainwashing program to “pray the gay” away (in a sense) to regain his ministry privileges so he can find a new church within their denomination.
Openminded
Sounds like conversion therapy to me too.
jayceecook
@OpenMinded It honestly does. If that’s the case and he’s willingly going to take part in it, my sympathy for him and his wife has all but disappeared.
Another thing that bothers me is I can’t find any articles where he himself has spoken in this issue. No social media accounts other than an oddly silent FB account. Which also suggests he’s been told to not speak out on the matter. Another telling sign is that the GFM page has surpassed the goal and the update from the people who created it for them has said, “…any donations above the goal amount will be put towards the most effective ministry going forward.” On the surface that could be read as them starting their own congregation wherein he can minister to a broader community withing the UMC. However when coupled with the information that, “During his time of being relieved from pastoral duties, he will be engaging in a process of renewal, reflection, and recovery that will be monitored by our conference Director of Leadership Development, Bishop Trimble, and myself. Our desire is to provide an opportunity for Craig to again be able to utilize his numerous gifts as a pastor in a local congregation.” it smells like a scam or something.
I don’t know. I hope I’m wrong. I hope he will speak up on this matter himself and provide more detailed information on this situation.
Openminded
Yeah, the GFM is starting to sound like a Trump fundraising campaign. “Trust me, I know what I’m doing, just give me your money”.
jayceecook
@OpenMinded Ha! Seems like I’m not the only one who found the GFM a little problematic. There’s a new update addressing some of my concerns. I’m still side eyeing this whole ordeal because as it stands he still is going to go through with the “renewal, reflection, and recovery” process that will be “monitored by our conference Director of Leadership Development, Bishop Trimble, and myself [the Superintendent] .”
Hank31
Queerty says that he is a proud ally of “LGBTQ people” but the GoFundMe says that he is an ally of the “LGBTQIA+ community”? Of which fake, contrived Frankenstein-like initialism is he an ally?
As for the fate of the ex-pastor, I have mixed feelings. On the one hand, it’s great to see a man held accountable and face professional consequences for conducting himself in a degrading manner. On the other hand, the trend of “drag” being performed by straight men and women benefits gay/bi men, since it decouples this toxic behavior from gay/bi men and turns it into a broader societal problem.
Bosch
Oh Hank, you must be lost. 4chan is on the other side of town.
cliche guevara
@Bosch
4chan only allows manly men… soft boys like Hank aren’t welcome so we get to deal with the queen.
ggore
I fear for Eureka. She is so morbidly obese now that the state of her health cannot be good. She is going to have a heart attack or stroke or be a complete diabetic before long. I hope she gets help soon.
cliche guevara
“On the one hand, it’s great to see a man held accountable and face professional consequences for conducting himself in a degrading manner.”
Funny, you had an entirely different opinion when it came to Dave Chappelle. When people offered the faintest of criticisms of him you threw a hissy fit.
Anyway, sorry about the self loathing you have brought on by confusion about your gender.
Hank31
Dave Chappelle didn’t conduct himself in a degrading manner. He is a comedian and he told jokes about, among other things, what comes out of trans “vag.” It was very funny.
Bosch
@Hank31 do you know what projection is, Hank? I’ll give an example: someone bitching and moaning on a forum, showcasing their internalised homophobia like a badge of honour, but calling drag “toxic”. That’s projection.
cliche guevara
Hank, It wasn’t really needed but thanks for the demonstrating what I was talking about.
furrydad
Pretty sure this “church” would have removed Jesus from his ministry as well because he did rile up a few people. I pray for these so-called Christians that appear to know nothing of Christ’s word and ministry.