ATHENS, Ala. — An Alabama man who authorities say took over a church pulpit during worship and talked about his pending divorce was tackled by congregation members and arrested after allegedly trying to pull out a gun.

Thomas Zebulun Lewter, 34, of Athens is charged with making a terrorist threat after the incident Sunday at O’Neal Church of Christ.

‘‘During the service, he approached the pulpit and announced that he was sorry he was going to have to do what he had to do,’’ his wife, Kathryn Lewter, who has filed for divorce, wrote in a sworn affidavit. She was in the congregation as her husband spoke.

Some congregation members left the sanctuary while he was speaking. Others approached the pulpit and tried to convince Lewter to stop, but he tried to pull out a gun.

‘‘Members of the congregation tackled and restrained him until law enforcement arrived,’’ Kathryn Lewter wrote. ‘‘Before he was restrained, he made threats toward me and my father, blaming us for the divorce.’’

No shots were fired, and Lewter was taken to a hospital for evaluation.

ASSOCIATED PRESS