An Anti-Gay Pastor Resigns After His Grindr Profile Was Discovered

A reverend resigned after an unidentified source discovered his profile on gay dating app Grindr.

Reverend Matthew Makela is a married father of five who formerly served as an associate pastor at St. John's Lutheran Church in Midland, Michigan, according to Queerty.

Reportedly, the pastor frequently spoke out against the LGBT community and once wrote in the comments section of an op-ed for the Midland Daily News that homosexuality is a condition similar to alcoholism.

Makela's recently-deleted comment allegedly read,

We don't tell a person born with tendencies to abuse alcohol to keep on giving in to his innate desires because he can't help it. We try to help him in his struggle.

He also suggested on Facebook the acceptance of transgender individuals would allow perverted, straight men to sneak into girls' locker rooms.

Screenshots obtained by Queerty earlier this week, however, show Makela speaking to men about "making out naked" along with "oral and massage."

He resigned from his position shortly after the screenshots were publicized, and he informed his wife and senior pastor of his alter-ego.

St. John's senior pastor, Reverend Daniel Kempin, posted a letter on the church's website on Wednesday and explained Makela's resignation.

Posted on Queerty, the letter said,

It is my grief to inform you that Pastor Makela announced his resignation as a pastor of St. John's through a letter that was read in worship on Sunday, May 17. To make matters worse, the details of sin that have been kept confidential are being posted online by those who seek to do harm to the Makela family and to St. John's. This is taking an already difficult situation and making it even more painful… The facebook pages associated with St. John's have been taken down in an attempt to remove the opportunity for malicious posters to have access to St. John's members…

The letter ends with this quote from the Bible,

Be very careful, then, how you live, not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity because the days are evil.

Kempin vehemently advised his congregants not to "panic" and "be patient and trust God" should they come across the Grindr screenshots.

Citations: Grindr Screenshots Reveal Antigay Pastor Is A Top Who Likes To Cuddle (Queerty ), Church Warns Congregants Not To Read Rev. Makela Grindr Story Deactivates FB Page (Queerty)