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Pastor Donald Clough banner.jpg
Moray Coast Baptist Church
Pastor Donald Clough.jpg
Moray Coast Baptist Church
Church News

Complaints after 'misogynistic' sermon at Scottish church but pastor denies wrongdoing

by Sophie Drew

A church in Scotland has been met with complaints to the charity commission after a US pastor gave a "misogynistic" sermon - a criticism he firmly denies. 

During his preach at Moray Coast Baptist Church, in Scotland, Pastor Donald Clough suggested that many of the problems in the world stem from women no longer submitting to their husbands. 

He went on to say that female Christians should also submit to the men in their church because they "tend to be more easily deceived" in spiritual matters. 

He argued that the "primary function" for a Christian woman is "to be married, to have children, and to tend to household affairs - the cooking, the cleaning, the washing up, the preparing of meals".

The National Secular Society has accused the church of being "misogynistic".  

The pastor - who hails from Minnesota, US - condemned modern-day ideals, saying women who wish to pursue careers "have a very different focus than what God intended." 

Pastor Clough and his wife Tabitha started their own independent Baptist church in Scotland after training at the New Testament Baptist Church in Minnesota. 

People took further offence to his comments about the importance of maintaining a good physical appearance. 

He said: "I wouldn't want my wife going around looking like something the cat dragged in, as they say, or like she was wearing a sack or something like that. I want her to look nice.

"I want other people to see how nice she looks. But I don't want her to look sensual, only when she's around me, but I don't want her looking that way around other people and I don't want her drawing attention to herself in a sensual way.

"I don't want her looking ugly but I don't want her being extravagant to the point of excess."

Following his sermon a complaint was made to the Scottish charity commission. 

An OSCR spokesperson told Premier Christian News: "We can confirm we have received a concern about this charity, which is currently being examined in the usual way according to our published policies. We cannot comment any further at this time."

Pastor Clough responded to the criticism, telling Premier Christian News: "I believe that men and women are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27), and that they are equal in God’s sight (Galatians 3:28).  

"I believe that men and women occupy different roles, both within the home (Ephesians 5:22-33), and within the church (I Timothy 2:12-14), but this in no way means that women are inferior to men. 

"The accusations of misogyny are completely untrue. When my wife and daughters read some of the articles that have been printed about me, they laughed because of how ridiculous they were.  

"I have never taught that women are inferior to men.  One newspaper article states that I said women are here to serve men, but I have never once said that.  Another newspaper article said that my message “contributes” to the abuse of women, but I am firmly against abuse of any kind.  

"Most of the newspapers that have written articles about me did so without even contacting me first.  

"As with any message that I preach, I am not giving my own opinions, I am simply preaching and teaching the truth of God’s Word, as I see it.  I don’t try to make my messages fit with the times, or with popular opinion.  It is my job as a pastor to preach the whole Bible, faithfully (Acts 20:27).  

"I realise that those who don’t believe the Bible will see things differently than I do, and that is okay.  

"But I take the responsibility of preaching the Word of God seriously, and I will continue to preach it faithfully, without compromise."
 

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