A Michigan minister has opened a tattoo parlor in his church in an attempt to attract parishioners.
Reverend Steve Bentley told The Flint Journal he had a non-traditional outlook and was keen to bring parishioners back to the church.
Named Serenity Tattoo, the parlor has two artists plying their trade by appointment or from noon until 8:00pm, Monday to Saturday. The duo have said they will not fill requests for tattoos that glorify drugs, gangs or the Devil.
'The tattoo is a really prominent art form in our culture today,' said Bentley, who has two tattoos himself. 'I don't think it should be owned by a culture of drug abuse and pornography.'
The pastor said he considered tattooing a 'morally neutral' practice - no different from pierced ears.
