The beloved music director of a northern Michigan church was fired just months before his retirement after authorities learned he was in a same-sex marriage.
Fred Szczepanski said he was fired Oct. 18 from St. Francis Church in Traverse City for marrying his longtime partner, Bill Thompson, in a same-sex ceremony in Nevada in 2020.
Szczepanski, who had been the church’s music director for 34 years, was confronted by the Rev. Michael Lingaur after church leaders received a letter from an unidentified person, according to the Traverse City Record-Eagle.
In a letter to parishioners at St. Francis Church in Traverse City, the diocese said his gay marriage violates the condition of the ministerial agreement for his employment.
“A public act of same-sex marriage is a formal recognition that a relationship is more than friendship and therefore jeopardizes a ministerial agreement for employment,” the diocese said.
Fred Szczepanski (pictured) said he was fired Oct. 18 from St. Francis Church in Traverse City after church leaders learned she had married a man four years ago.
Szczepanski, who had been the church’s music director for 34 years, was confronted by the Rev. Michael Lingaur after church leaders received a letter informing them of his marriage.
‘Marriage is a permanent, faithful and exclusive alliance between a man and a woman.’
Outraged parishioners protested Szczepanski’s firing on October 27, holding signs outside the church that read: “Love, don’t hate,” “God includes, doesn’t exclude,” and “Fired, not retired.”
On October 20, choir members dressed in black, left their seats empty and refused to sing, the Record-Eagle reported.
“They fired him because he’s gay,” said choir member Bob Holden. ‘He is extremely talented, he is perfect on the piano, he has perfect pitch and because of him, I look forward to going to church every week. I’m divorced. Will I be the next to be expelled?
Liz Yarch, a former member of the choir, said she had resigned over the firing.
Outraged parishioners protested Szczepanski’s firing on October 27, holding signs outside the church.
Protesters’ signs included messages that read: “Love, don’t hate,” “God includes, doesn’t exclude,” and “Fired, not retired.”
“Some people were told Fred retired, but last time I checked, people who have served for more than 30 years get a retirement party,” Yarch said. “Fred was fired for his personal life and that seems cruel to me.”
Szczepanski said that when he confirmed his marriage, Lingaur told him that his services were no longer needed and that he was not allowed to take communion during St. Francis worship services.
Dave Martin, a member of the church’s pastoral council, told the Record-Eagle that he received a copy of the letter, which was postmarked from another state and was written by a person he did not name, but had a seasonal stamp. . connection with San Francisco.
Szczepanski reportedly intended to retire in January, but now her husband has created a GoFundMe to help cover insurance costs, legal fees and bills.
The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Grand Traverse embraced Szczepanski and said more than 245 people would join their service on Nov. 3 to “affirm and support Mr. Fred Szczepanski.”
Szczepanski reportedly intended to retire in January, but now her husband Bill Thompson (left) has set up a GoFundMe to help cover insurance, legal fees and bills.
In January, former St. Francis leader the Rev. Don Geyman was named in a report on sexual abuse and clergy misconduct by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel’s office.
The report included sexually charged text messages that Geyman allegedly sent to a woman he had previously counseled.
Diocese of Gaylord Bishop Jeffrey J. Walsh replaced Geyman with Lingaur in July, and Geyman was transferred to St. Ignatius of Loyola in Rogers City, according to the Diocese website.
