The sexual orientation of a new pastor in a Missouri church softball league has put his team on the bench.

Rev. James Semmelroth Darnell, the 27-year-old pastor of St. John United Church of Christ in Saint Clair, told FoxNews.com that pastors of three other churches in a local church softball league said their teams would no longer take the field against St. John after hearing rumors questioning Darnell's sexuality. Rather than force the issue, St. John pulled out of the league.

"Three teams had issue with that and no longer wanted to play against our team since I am an out bisexual person," Darnell told FoxNews.com. "And it's surprising because I don't even play, I have no affiliation with the league."

Darnell, who joined the church in October after completing seminary in Washington, D.C., said he anticipated his sexuality might lead to "some difficulty" in the town 45 miles west of St. Louis, but had no idea it would ultimately cause his church to quit the softball league.