Michigan Pastor Resigns after Caught Sharing Photos on Gay Dating App

Carrie Dedrick | Updated: May 20, 2015

Michigan Pastor Resigns after Caught Sharing Photos on Gay Dating App

A Michigan pastor resigned from his position this week after photos he shared on a gay dating app surfaced online. 

TIME reports Rev. Matthew Makela of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Midland was caught sending sexual messages and photos to a user on the app Grindr. When the photos surfaced online, he immediately resigned from his pastoral position. 

Makela is married and the father of five children. He often spoken against homosexuality, claiming he love people with same-sex attraction, but they needed help in their struggles with the “sinful temptation.” 

Makela’s former church responded to the situation in a letter that expressed grace. 

“This changes nothing. Matt is still forgiven and he is still loved, and we will do what we can to stand by him and the family as they face this spiteful attack of shame. God is bigger than this and will see us through,” the letter said. 

Publication date: May 20, 2015



Michigan Pastor Resigns after Caught Sharing Photos on Gay Dating App