'Duck Dynasty' inspires Pa. church to go 'camo'
Posted: November 30, 2013 - 3:44am
BRADFORD, Pa. (AP) -- A northwestern Pennsylvania pastor inspired by the popular reality TV series "Duck Dynasty" is encouraging his congregation to come to church in camouflage clothing on Sunday.
The Rev. Chris Terbush tells the Bradford Era he's hoping to attract new members to The First Wesleyan Church of Bradford, and to celebrate the state's outdoors heritage before deer-hunting season opens Monday.
"Ultimately, the major goal is to draw new parishioners," Terbush said. "I thought it'd be neat if nothing else to show the community who we are."
"Duck Dynasty" chronicles a family known for their long beards and camouflage clothing that has made a fortune making and selling duck decoys to hunters.
The 30-year-old pastor and outdoor enthusiast is a native of Indiana and a life-long hunter. He plans to dress in his hunting clothes, as the evangelical Protestant denomination doesn't require that he wear a clerical collar or other garb to preside at church services.
"There are a lot of hunters in our congregation," Terbush said. "I know we live in a hunting community and we're open to all people including hunters."
The church is located about 120 miles northeast of Pittsburgh, not far from the border of New York.
Terbush said he's still working on a sermon that "could very well deal with the subject of camouflage itself."
"Camo Sunday" might even become a regular event if it proves popular.
"We'd love to do it every single year," Terbush said.