An inflammatory religious text placed on a sign in Keswick town centre by a street preacher has caused offence and angered passers-by.
A quote from the Bible on the billboard – from 1 Timothy 2:12 – said: “I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet.”
Keswick Ministries, which organises the Christian convention taking place in the town at the moment, has distanced itself from the preacher, who claims on the sign to be representing a church in Workington.
The Keswick Reminder has been unable to verify this, despite trying the number on the billboard several times. The paper has requested a comment but nobody had responded at the time of going to press.
In a statement, Keswick Ministries said: “This billboard message was likely to have been chosen in order to oppose Keswick Ministries, as the main platform speaker on July 20 was a woman – a theologian from Egypt.
“It has come to our attention that someone who regularly ‘street preaches’ in Keswick town and elsewhere has handed out literature with branding which looks very similar to that of Keswick Ministries.
“There has also been a billboard message presented that has provoked a negative reaction in Keswick and on social media.
“We would like to emphasise that this person has no connection with Keswick Ministries. Keswick Ministries’ material will only come through our official communications channels and with our official branding.
“Keswick Convention works closely with the police who are aware of the above and are monitoring the situation.”
John Gravett, of Lakeland Photographic, who took the picture above, said: “Walking through town today I saw this ‘preacher’ outside the Moot Hall. Not only was his preaching misogynistic but homophobic and anti-semitic. A lady who was deeply offended asked the police to move him on, but they did not, and I know they have done so in the past.
“This man promotes hate, and should not be allowed to carry out his preaching on the streets of Keswick.”
Residents and visitors took to social media to berate the actions of the street preacher.
“I’m quite sure that the people of Keswick will not be converted to your way of thinking especially with such an aggressive approach,” said one person on social media. Another said it was “quite disgusting” that the sign was displayed in the town centre adding that it was “all the more appalling when you see it is done in the name of a church”.
The preacher was also jeered at by members of the public as they walked by and one commentator online said: “Well done to everyone who stands up to this filth and hate.”
