Arkansas Church Kicks Out Transgender Priest, Publishes Statement on Welcoming and Inclusion

I suppose the current scope of the farce wasn’t wide or bizarre enough. Today on its web site and Facebook page, the vestry of Grace Episcopal Church in Pine Bluff, after removing its transgender priest Greg (Gwen) Fry for no reason other than being transgendered, has adopted and published the following statement:

We extend a special welcome ...

to those who are single, married, divorced, partnered, LGBT, filthy rich, dirt poor, or struggle to speak English. We extend a special welcome to those who are crying newborns, thin as a rake or could afford to lose a few pounds.

We welcome you if you can sing like Pavarotti or can’t carry a tune in a stainless steel bucket. You’re welcome here if you’re ‘just browsing,’ just woke up or just got out of prison. We don’t care if you’re more Christian than the Archbishop of Canterbury or haven’t been in church since little Jack’s baptism or Uncle Fred’s funeral.

We extend a special welcome to those who are over 60 but not grown up yet, and to teenagers who are growing up far too fast. We welcome soccer moms and football dads, starving artists, tree-huggers, latte-sippers, vegetarians and junk food eaters. We welcome those who are addicted – whether in recovery or not. We welcome you if you’re having problems, you’re down in the dumps, or are suffering in body, mind or spirit. We extend an especially warm welcome to those who don’t like ‘organized religion’ (we’ve been there too!).

If you blew all your money on the horses, you’re welcome here. We offer a welcome to those who think the earth is flat, work too hard, don’t work or can’t work, can’t spell, or because grandma is in town and wants to go to church.

We welcome those who are inked, pierced or both. We offer a special welcome to those who could use a prayer right now, had religion shoved down their throat as a kid, or got lost and ended up here by mistake. We welcome tourists and locals, seekers and doubters, bleeding hearts and hardened ones … and you!

Adopted by the Vestry of Grace Episcopal Church as a statement of inclusivity and welcome on October 23, 2013

Grace Episcopal Church is a welcoming and affirming congregation in the Diocese of Arkansas.

The Rev. Fry may beg to differ, but there we are.

UPDATE: Farce Widens

Here is Bishop Benfield’s letter to the diocese, which reads in part:

After a week of serious conversations with the people involved, I decided that the long-term wellbeing of the priest as well as that of the congregation is best served by dissolving their pastoral relationship. This move will allow the priest to work on transitioning and begin a new life that will be lived with authenticity. It also allows the congregation to focus on the work that we have in every congregation: to restore all people to unity with God and one another in Christ.

Can this farce possibly widen even more?