Church that fired gay music director closing down after congregation quits
A church in Indiana is closing its doors – after the congregation walked out in protest when a gay music director was forced to resign.
The First United Methodist Church in Alexandria, Indiana, sacked music director Adam Fraley in January after nearly six years with the church.
Mr Fraley – who has a male partner – said his sexual orientation had not been an issue before, but after a new pastor took over, he was pressured to resign and was eventually sacked.
Less than a year later, the church has taken the decision to close – citing financial problems and falling attendance, after the congregation walked out en masse in protest at the sacking.
Pastor David Mantor blamed a “downward spiral” at the publisher, saying: “This is a problem that’s going on everywhere, and that’s why we’re closing.”
Of the mass walkout – which reportedly lost as much as 80 percent of the congregation – Mr Mantor claimed: “This closure is not due to that situation whatsoever.”
“My wife and I have been involved in ministry for years and years. We will follow where the Lord leads us.”
The Church will close on December 31.
