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MALDEN, Mo. 鈥� A southeastern Missouri preacher went on leave from his church and is seeking professional counselling after giving a sermon that chastised married women who 鈥渓et themselves go鈥� and held up former first lady Melania Trump as the pinnacle of feminine beauty.

A video widely circulated on social media shows Pastor Stewart-Allen Clark鈥檚 sermon before the 1st General Baptist Church in Malden in the state's bootheel. The sermon was roundly panned as sexist and counter to Christian teachings.

In the video, Clark berated wives who gained weight after marriage and admonished that they should look good for their husbands, adding, "it's important that he thinks you鈥檙e hot!

鈥淚鈥檓 not saying every woman can be the epic 鈥� the epic 鈥� trophy wife of all time like Melania Trump,鈥� Clark said, as a photo of the former first lady appeared behind him on a screen. 鈥淢ost women can鈥檛 be trophy wives, but you know ... maybe you鈥檙e a participation trophy.鈥�

The church's website said Clark began his leave on March 2 and is seeking professional counselling.

A statement from the General Baptist Council of Associations, with which Clark's church is affiliated, also condemned Clark's sermon.

鈥淕eneral Baptists believe that every woman was created in the image of God, and they should be valued for that reason," the statement said.

The Associated Press