MOUNT AIRY, N.C. (AP) — The pastor of a Mount Airy church accused of brandishing a gun as part of his sermon is in trouble -- with the police.

Jerry Wayne "Dusty" Whitaker, 58, was arrested during church services Sunday and is free on bond after being charged with possession of a firearm by a felon.

Members of Whitaker's Victory Baptist Church say they had no knowledge that he had been convicted in Virginia in 1990 of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm during drug trafficking.

Whitaker told them he was a retired Virginia state police officer and a retired U.S. marshal who was injured in the line of duty, said Garry Scearce, trustee chairman at Victory Baptist.

Whitaker denies ever telling anyone he was a marshal, but said he worked as a police officer for six years in Montgomery County, Va.

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In September, Whitaker reportedly brought a handgun and a shoulder holster to a service.

"He was driving home his point," Scearce said. "He said he was no longer a pistol-toting U.S. marshal.' He was a pastor."

Whitaker said the gun was a toy prop.

"I use parables," he said. "Once I pretended to be a blind man with a cane, glasses and can with coins. Why didn't they arrest me for impersonating a blind man?"