Minister Resigns After Name On Escort List

An official of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has resigned after his name was discovered on a list of clients at a escort service.

The Rev. A.C. “Chris” Stein voluntarily resigned Wednesday just prior to the airing of a report by Minneapolis TV station that his name was on a list of about 1,000 clients of Black Tie Escort Service.

Stein told church officials he contacted the service on two occasions for therapeutic massages and that they were not sexual, said the Rev. Eric Shafer, director of communication for the church.

Stein used his church-issued credit card to pay for the service, but he has told church officials that he personally paid the bills.