Reverend advised couples to run around naked, and took nude pictures of one pair

A Bloemfontein reverend who advised engaged couples to run naked through city parks has been fired by his church, Die Volksblad newspaper reported on Friday.

Reverend Steyn Venter, from the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Bloemfontein, was immediately fired after his disciplinary hearing, the president of the KwaZulu-Natal and Free State Conference Reverend BMP Ngwenya told the newspaper.

The church and Venter reportedly refused to comment further.

It was believed that Venter, who gave marriage counselling to young couples, was reported by church members for giving “improper advice”.

Couples were apparently told to strip naked and run through city parks and photographs were apparently taken of one couple.

“I feel bad about what had happened, but now it’s luckily over,” the report quoted one of the people involved.

According to a newspaper report in July, one of the couples agreed to have naked pictures taken.

The minister apparently kept copies of the pictures.