In Germany, a 50-year-old pole dancer staged a "performance" in a temple during a "service"

In an evangelical church in Lübeck, Germany, an event that sparked heated discussion and deep divisions among the congregation took place: after the sermon, a 50-year-old woman performed a provocative pole dance on the porch near the altar. This unorthodox performance, intended as a new approach to faith, was seen by many as inappropriate and provoked a serious debate about the limits of experimentation in the church.

According to the publication BILD, the «worship service» in Lübeck, which included a pole number, took place on December 22, 2025. Studio manager and poledance coach Anke Kestermann spoke immediately after the sermon, presenting her «art» on the pylon. What was supposed to be a «new access to faith» was deemed inappropriate and annoying by many members of the congregation.

Kesterman explained that her performance was not intended to be self-presentational, but to demonstrate the courage to be herself and a desire to redefine the role of the church. However, critics saw it as a problematic mixing of entertainment and worship. They emphasize that poledance, regardless of technical performance, is a form of self-expression closely associated with eroticism, which they argue is at odds with the sacred space of the temple. The argument that «dance can be prayer» was dismissed as insubstantial due to the lack of a specific religious reference.

Pastor Inga Meissner’s endorsement was also met with rejection. Instead of protecting the worship service as a place of focus and reverence, critics say the church seeks attention through provocative actions. For many worshippers, such staging crosses a clear line and exemplifies a trend in which church content is being diluted in favor of spectacular experimentation. «The Church,» reads the main tone of the criticism, » thus loses not relevance but credibility.

As a reminder, on May 4, 2025, an evangelical pastor performed a Star Wars movie-style cult event at the Bensberg church in the western German state of North Rhine-Westphalia. Pastor Samuel Gyorr dressed as one of the characters from the movie and «fought» with the congregation with laser swords.