Washington church features live tattooing

MILL CREEK, Wash., Nov. 23 (UPI) -- Pastors at a church in Mill Creek, Wash., said while they featured live tattooing during a sermon, they are not promoting body art for their parishioners.

The Rev. Larry Ehoff of Gold Creek Community Church said church member Sharon Snell received a tattoo during Sunday's service as part of a sermon series titled "Permanent Ink," The Seattle Times reported Monday.

"We've said from the start that we are not advocating tattoos -- nor discouraging them," Ehoff said of the unorthodox church event.

"We think of it as amoral. It's neither immoral nor moral. It's just the choice of a person."

Snell, one of several parishioners who received tattoos during Sunday's service, said she got a police shield to remind her of the daily dangers facing her husband, a police officer.

"Anything can happen at any time," Snell said. "Him being an officer is a big part of my life and of who I am."

A prior "Permanent Ink" service featured a church member having a tattoo of the state of Texas removed, the Times said.