Sex Shops Off Limits To Female Ministers. As Well They Should Be

[SomeRandom]

Jesus would have done it.

Exactly! The perfect cover!!

 

[The Reverend Bob]

Exactly! The perfect cover!!

And they would have probably given Jesus a gift bag

 

[SomeRandom]

And they would have probably given Jesus a gift bag

Hey being the Messiah comes with some perks, you know?

 

[The Reverend Bob]

Hey being the Messiah comes with some perks, you know?

This story makes me think what would have happened if the disciples all got together and tried to fired Jesus for hanging out with prostitutes and tax collectors.

"Hey, Jesus we're firing you as Rabbi because you hang with the wrong people"

We would be reading The Parable of the Twelve Bloody Noses if that happened

 

[Darkforbid]

But the full story of Butler’s departure turns out to be significantly more complicated. On Thursday evening, the New York Post ran a piece reporting that Butler had indeed been ousted over a harassment claim—but Butler was the accused. On a work trip to Minneapolis in May, the Post reported, she allegedly took two assistant ministers and a female congregant to a sex shop, despite their discomfort. Sources told the paper that Butler bought one of the ministers a $200 vibrator and other “pleasure gadgets” for herself and the congregant. The group apparently “ ‘felt pressured’ and feared professional retaliation.” A formal harassment claim was filed days after the trip, and the church hired an independent investigator who the Post says substantiated the claims.

 

[Sand Dancer]

You're not?

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I'm not a guy but that extra protuberance is quite handy.

 

[Shad]

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After all, ministers aren't supposed to enjoy sex, are they? Of course not. At least nothing more than the missionary position every other month, weather permitting.

"A female minister was fired after she was spotted exiting a sex shop… but that’s only the beginning of this bizarre story.

[Pleasure seeking minister]​

Rev. Amy Butler was let go from Riverside Church in Manhattan, [Although interdenominational, it is also associated with the American Baptist Churches USA and the United Church of Christ.] which was unusual in part because it’s known for being an extremely progressive church, and the sex shop story garnered plenty of headlines for obvious reasons. Butler allegedly took two church employees with her to the shop to “celebrate the birthday” of one of the other clergy members. She ended up buying items for several people on that visit. But the two members later said it made them extremely uncomfortable. (One congregant said everyone willingly agreed to go and it’s not like the trip was mandatory.)

But that was just the tipping point. Other issues relating to her contract negotiations were already brewing. She wanted more money to match what a male predecessor made. [The gaul!!!] She also wanted stricter punishments for volunteers at the church who committed any sort of sexual misconduct. Then the sex shop incident occurred… and Butler also reported creepy behavior from a fellow church members… and suddenly the church’s elders fired her.

So was she the victim of discrimination or the instigator in a case of sexual discomfort?

Whatever the case, members of the congregation are calling for her reinstatement, according to the Washington Post.

The 11 congregants introduced a petition at an all-congregation meeting Sunday — convened after morning services in part to discuss Butler’s exit — and asked the church to schedule a vote to bring back Butler as senior minister, according to three people familiar with the matter, including current and former church members.
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The more you read about what’s going on at this church, the more it’s clear that the church needs to do a far better job of explaining to the congregation and the outside world why they made their decision. As it stands, visiting a sex shop isn’t a crime, even when you’re a pastor and even when you invite church members to come with you. (Plus, it was off the clock and it’s not like she was using donations from congregants to make the purchases.) If Butler’s biggest “crime” was demanding equal treatment and better policies from her church, it’s hardly a reason to punish her.
source
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Update!

"Already?"​

Yup

"The Rev. Amy K. Butler, who was recently ousted from New York City’s famed Riverside Church due in part to a controversial visit to a sex shop in Minnesota, is expected to receive an exit package worth at least $500,000, as some congregants call for her reinstatement.

Riverside Church announced earlier this month that it would not be renewing Butler’s contract after five years with her as the first female leader at the helm. It did not state a reason. But the New York Post pointed to issues concerning her leadership, as well as a formal complaint that she took two Riverside Church assistant ministers and a female congregant to the Smitten Kitten sex shop in Minneapolis.

Butler was also reportedly pushing for an increase in her salary, which the New York Post reported was $250,000 a year plus an $8,000-a-month housing allowance and more than $55,000 in yearly pension contributions.

The 1,750-member church previously told The Christian Post that it would not be commenting on the specifics of Butler’s departure but documentation seen by the New York Post suggests that she will be moving on from the church with at least $500,000.

The payout is expected to include a full year of salary, six months of housing allowance, three years of annual $59,000 retirement contributions, a $100,000 “separation payment,” $10,000 for her lawyer’s fees, plus unused vacation for a package totaling $594,530.

The New York Post reported last week that Butler, a mother of three, reportedly gifted one of the assistant ministers who accompanied her to the sex shop, a $200 vibrator and purchased pleasure toys for herself and a female congregant.

[A $200 vibrator. Yeah, I was curious myself.]

$204.99
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The visit occurred during a trip to the 27th annual Festival of Homiletics where the 49-year-old presided over the closing worship service of the weeklong conference.

A source that spoke with the New York Post alleged that the single mother who was celebrating her 40th birthday when her boss gifted her the vibrator didn’t want it. She reportedly accepted the gift because she was afraid.
source

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Aside from the whole shop thing she is fleecing the church for a lot of money. Snake oil sells well.

 

[Father Heathen]

Spoiler: nsfw

 

[Skwim]

I'm not a guy but that extra protuberance is quite handy.

Mea culpa

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[Skwim]

Aside from the whole shop thing she is fleecing the church for a lot of money.

In what way? My guess is that the money she spent was hers, not the church's.

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