By ALEX DEMARBAN
Tundra Drums

A Bethel grand jury has indicted the Moravian church’s top administrative official in Alaska on felony counts of sexually abusing a 12-year-old girl.

Carl Ekamrak, 52, is the Moravian Church’s Bethel pastor, according to Sgt. Chris Salyers of the Bethel police.

Ekamrak is also listed in a blog published by a member of the Moravian clergy (http://bishopnicholson.blogspot.com/2010/03/2010-synod-highlights.html) as president of the church’s Alaska Provincial Board.

Church officials refused to comment or did not return phone calls Tuesday.

On June 29, the grand jury handed down five counts of sexual abuse of a minor against Ekamrak, according to the indictment.

The lone first-degree count said Ekamrak engaged in “sexual penetration (digital)” on “June 21-22.”

Lesser counts from that same date said he touched the girl’s breasts and rubbed his “clothed covered penis against her stomach.”

Another count alleges that on June 16 Ekamrak touched the girl’s “breast with his hand.”

Salyers said Ekamrak was arrested by Bethel police on June 22 in Bethel.

Salyers would not provide additional information about the case.

Walter Larson serves as co-pastor of the Bethel Moravian Church, said Larson.

“I can’t say anything,” he said.

The Moravian Church in Alaska has a strong presence in the Kuskokwim region in Southwest Alaska.