A pistol-packing pastor who drew
national attention earlier this year for hosting a "God-and-Guns" event
at his church is stepping down from the pulpit to serve his flock with
a new mission.
Pastor
Ken Pagano ended his 30-year career last month when he resigned from
the New Bethel Church in Louisville, Ky., saying that he wants to focus
on church security and Second Amendment rights — a crusade he insists
is better fought outside the ministry.
"Thirty
years was a good, long run, but it’s time for a change," Pagano told
the Washington Times. "If I can write my own ticket, I want to get
involved more in Second Amendment issues as they affect the church, and
I can do more from outside the pulpit than from behind it," Pagano told
the paper.
About 200 people attended
Pagano’s "Open Carry Celebration" at the New Bethel Church in June. The
event commemorated the roles of religion and gun ownership in American
history, and included a handgun raffle. Attendees were also provided
with firearms-safety information.
While
Pagano says the event drew mostly positive responses, it made him
realize that he might have another calling — keeping worshippers safe. – [source]
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