Sex | Arizona Church Gods, Goddesses Arrested For Sexual Offerings

Tracy Ellise, the founder of the church is also involved in the practice, police said.

Elise was allegedly involved in a suspected brothel in Seattle, Washington which was shut down in 2009.

Phoenix Police spokesperson, Steve Martos said, "They were committing crimes under the guise of religious freedom. It's a sad situation when people are trying to hide behind religion and church to commit a crime."

Alex Averill, another member of the church who calls himself a "spiritual warrior" said, "I say people call me what you will, but at my church, I'm labeled a practitioner. At my church, I'm labeled a shaman.

No, I do not charge for sex. I work off donations. I work off of what people can leave me as offerings."

Four of 20 people arrested are men and two of the four are alleged prostitutes, police said.