July 8, 2009

Fargo (AP) — An eastern North Dakota Lutheran bishop says a pastor whose affair with an exotic dancer led to extortion charges against her has resigned from his church and his future as a minister will be decided in the fall.

Bishop Bill Rindy said the dancer, Bunny Byington, told him she was involved with a married pastor and he spoke with her several times before she gave him the pastor's name.

The 46-year-old Byington is accused of extorting $7,000 from the Rev. Mark Ostgarden in exchange for keeping quiet about their affair. She is free on $500 cash bail and said her attorney advised her not to comment.

Rindy said he set up a meeting in June with Ostgarden, an associate pastor at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Valley City, who resigned that day.

Ostgarden's wife said he was out of the area and was told not to comment.

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2009/07/08/pastor_extortion/