TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — A well-respected music director at a church in northern Michigan has been terminated just months before his planned retirement, following the revelation of his same-sex marriage, igniting protests among choir members and discontent within the community.

Bob Holden, a member of the St. Francis Church choir, expressed his disappointment, noting the director’s exceptional talents. “He’s incredibly skilled on the piano and has perfect pitch, which makes attending church each week a joy for me,” Holden remarked. He further voiced concerns about the church’s treatment of its members, questioning if other community members, like himself — a divorcee — could also face repercussions.

Fred Szczepanski, who had served as the church’s music director for 34 years, revealed that he was dismissed on October 18 by Rev. Michael Lingaur. The church’s decision followed an anonymous complaint about Szczepanski’s marriage to his partner in a same-sex ceremony held in Nevada in 2020. Despite his long tenure and the fact that his voice still serves as the greeting for callers to the parish office, the church chose to let him go.

The Catholic Church traditionally upholds that marriage is intended as a union between one man and one woman, and it generally opposes same-sex marriage. However, Pope Francis has indicated that priests may bless same-sex unions.

In response to the firing, the Diocese of Gaylord, which oversees St. Francis Church, stated in a written communication, “We take employee privacy very seriously and are not able to disclose details about individual personnel matters.”

On the following Sunday, a significant turnout of protesters congregated outside the church, displaying signs featuring slogans like “Love Not Hate,” “God Includes, Not Excludes,” and “Fired Not Retired.”

Additionally, on October 20, choir members chose to wear black and left their seats unoccupied while refusing to perform, signaling their solidarity with Szczepanski. “The community is in pain; there’s a lot of sadness. In a world filled with turmoil, the church needs to stand as a sanctuary, but instead, it seems to be embroiled in its own conflicts,” commented church member Toni Stanfield.