Anti-LGBTQ+ Evangelical Pastor Arrested for Allegedly Groping A Man In Public
The EPC disapproves of homosexuality, same-sex marriages and transgender identities. The EPC disapproves of homosexuality, same-sex marriages and transgender identities.
Smith allegedly approached the man in the retail store on Monday morning and touched him through his clothes. The pastor then reportedly fled, according to WXII, and was apprehended by police in the woods behind a Sheetz gas station.
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The pastor has been charged with one count of misdemeanor sexual battery and booked into the Alamance County Detention Center. He was released after posting his $3,000 bail.
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His church, the EPC New River Presbytery, said in a statement, that it was “very sad to hear about these allegations” and is praying for the pastor, his family, the church, and ” anyone else involved in the incident.”
The EPC denomination consists of over 600 churches with approximately 145,000 members, according to the EPC website.
The EPC’s position paper on human sexuality — released during Pride Month 2017 — defines marriage as being only between a man and a woman.
“God helping us, we shall continue, within our churches and in the public arena, to teach against and to refuse to condone or participate in any sinful form of sexual practice,” the paper says. The paper then goes on to list various sexual “sins,” such as “homosexuality,” “same sex union,” and “gender change” along with other sins like sexual abuse, divorce and remarriage. Together as a people, we must all seek healing for our own lives and for each other’s lives, discovering what it means to be godly men and women in the circumstances decreed by His providence.”
The bottom of the EPC’s position paper states, “A Position Paper is not to be regarded as binding on the conscience of churches or individuals.”
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