Virginia church encourages nudity at services

RICHMOND, Va., Feb. 10 (UPI) -- The pastor of a clothing-optional church in Virginia said he wants his congregation to bare their souls to Christ and accept themselves the way they were made.

Allen Parker, pastor of the White Tail Chapel in Richmond, said even the cold February temperatures aren't enough to dissuade some members of the congregation to shed some or all of their clothing for Sunday services, WWBT-TV, Richmond, reported Monday.

Parker said baring their bodies helps worshippers to bare their souls to Christ and learn to accept their bodies. He said there is nothing sexual about the nudity.

"There's not a feeling that you have to be better than one another, physically," Parker said. "We're humans, we have scars, we have what we have ... it's learning to love and accept that."