Search warrants were executed this morning at each of their Wilmington Island homes where computers were seized and the men arrested. Both men are currently in the Effingham County jail where they face charges for Sexual Exploitation of Children.

The FBI-led Southeast Georgia Child Exploitation Task Force operates in conjunction with State and local law enforcement, to locate and recover juveniles that have been sexually exploited through prostitution and to identify and arrest those who would sexually exploit juveniles by other means. The task force is comprised of agents and officers from the FBI, GBI, Effingham County Sheriff’s Office, Liberty County Sheriff’s Office, and the Pooler Police Department.

The Rev. Bruce C. Fehr, Rector & The Rev. Lori L. Fehr, Priest Associate

The Rev. Bruce and the Rev. Lori Fehr are 2013 graduates of the School of Theology at the University of the South, in Sewanee, Tennessee, and were ordained to the priesthood on October 4, 2013, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi. Prior to seminary, they were both active lay persons in the Diocese of Central Gulf Coast and at their home parish, St. Francis of Assisi, Gulf Breeze, Florida, and previously at St. Paul's, Ventura, California. They each served on the vestries and as wardens at different times in the two congregations.

Bruce and Lori met in the 8th grade and have been married since 1980. They both earned their earned B.A. degrees in Social Ecology from the University of California, Irvine in 1982, and their Juris Doctor degrees from Pepperdine University School of Law in 1985. Bruce was an an insurance litigator in state and federal courts in California and Florida, and Lori has practiced in the area of child welfare and dependency law. She most recently served as a Senior Assistant District Legal Counsel for the State of Florida Department of Children and Families and as first a Managing Attorney and then Appellate Counsel for Children's Legal Services.

They have two grown daughters, Alexandra and Kimberly, and two border collies.

VOL NOTE: Bruce and Lori Fehr are new priests. They were both ordained on Oct. 4, 2013 by Bishop Benhase of the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia.

Statement on Priest’s Arrest

April 24, 2015
by Diocesan Staff

The Episcopal Diocese of Georgia was shocked and saddened to learn on April 23 that Federal agents arrested the Rev. Bruce Fehr on charges of downloading child pornography. The Diocese takes these allegations very seriously and is cooperating fully in every way possible with the investigation. Bishop Scott Benhase, on learning of the allegations, immediately relieved the Rev. Bruce Fehr of his duties.

The Bishop and staff are providing pastoral care to the Fehr Family and to the congregation of St. Francis of the Islands, Savannah, where he served as Rector. Canon Frank Logue will preside and preach at St. Francis this Sunday and will meet both with the congregation and the vestry following the liturgies. The prayers of the diocesan community are requested.