British missionary nabbed for disrupting worship service

A British missionary was arrested for airing his religious beliefs and questioning the teachings of a pastor in the middle of last Sunday’s service.

Anthony James Walker, 48, and his Filipina wife, Nerissa, 42, were arrested Sunday afternoon for a commotion he caused while a Christian service was being held by the Bread of Life Ministries in Quezon City. Nerissa is also a missionary.

The Walkers face charges for violating the Revised Penal Code’s provisions on “interruption of religious worship” and “offending religious feelings,” said Superintendent Franklin Moises Mabanag, chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit of the Quezon City Police District.

A bail of P6,000 has been set for each of the Walkers, who are residents of Rodriguez, Rizal, Mabanag said in an interview.

Walker apparently did not agree with the doctrines being preached by Pastor Butch Conde at the group’s place of worship in Crossroad Building on Mother Ignacia Avenue.

Conde was in the middle of his service at around 1 p.m. when Walker stood up and said: “I have a comment. Give way to a prophet. The pastor’s teaching is ungodly.”

This offended the members of the church, prompting Conde to call for security personnel and the police.