Top Methodist Court Officially Reinstates Pastor Defrocked For Officiating Son’s Gay Wedding

Frank Schaefer, the United Methodist Church (UMC) minister who was defrocked by church leaders and subsequently reinstated for officiating the wedding of his gay son, has been fully restored to his position as a pastor today following an official ruling from the church’s highest court.

Schaefer, who has become a prominent figure in the Methodist LGBT rights movement, was reinstated as a pastor — complete with back-pay and benefits — in June when a lower-level appeals court within the church reversed his defrocking on a technicality. The court ruled that the original decision to strip Schaefer of his ministerial credentials unfairly penalized him for things he might do in the future (such as perform another same-sex marriage), and inappropriately “mix[ed] and match[ed]” punishments. However, the lower court’s decision was appealed to the Judicial Council, the church’s highest juridical body, which heard oral arguments on the case last week. Today the Council upheld the lower court’s ruling, finding “no errors in the application of the church law and judicial decisions.”

“Today, we are witnessing a small, but significant step toward taking another look at the exclusionary policies of The United Methodist Church,” Schaefer said in a press release from Reconciling Ministries Network, which advocates for LGBT rights within the Methodist church. “ Full story here via Think Progress!

Methodist Church's Highest Court to Hear Case of Defrocked Pro-gay Pastor Frank Schaefer

When we last reported on Methodist pastor Frank Schaefer back in June, Schaefer - who was defrocked last year for officiating at his son Tim’s wedding to another man in 2007 - had been reinstated by an appeals panel.

That decision, however, was appealed to the Judicial Council, the church's highest court, which has announced it will hear oral arguments in the case October 22, the Associated Press reports:

The Rev. Christopher Fisher, who served as the church’s prosecutor at Schaefer’s trial, then appealed to the high court. 

The Judicial Council has the final word on the matter. No decision is expected until several days after the council adjourns on Oct. 25.

Back in June after Schaefer was reinstated by the appeals panel, he wrote on his website:

“I can't even begin to describe how meaningful this "refrocking" is to me. I never did understand the severity of my punishment for an act of love for my son Tim. The committee of appeals understood that my defrocking sought to penalize me not for what I did but for what I might do in the future.”

Minister: Methodist Church Appeals 'Refrocking'

Rev. Frank Schaefer  (Source:AP Photo)

A Methodist minister ousted and then reinstated after presiding over his son's gay marriage says the church is appealing his refrocking.

The Rev. Frank Schaefer says he is disappointed by the appeal, but not surprised.

Schaefer is moving to a California diocese this week after his decision to officiate his son's 2007 marriage thwarted his church career in Pennsylvania. He has since become a gay rights activist.

In a statement Friday, he says he hopes the church's Judicial Council will decline to take up the appeal from the counsel for the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference.

The Rev. Christopher Fisher of Schuylkill Haven is the church counsel. He did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

Schaefer says he prays for an outcome that would help "heal ... the wounds of homophobia."

Methodist Panel Overturns Pastor’s Defrocking

Frank Schaefer  (Source:AP Photo/Steve Ruark)

A pastor who presided over his son’s same-sex wedding ceremony and vowed to perform other gay marriages if asked can return to the pulpit after a United Methodist Church appeals panel on Tuesday overturned a decision to defrock him.

The nine-person panel ordered the church to restore Frank Schaefer’s pastoral credentials, saying the jury that convicted him of breaking church law erred when fashioning his punishment.

"I’ve devoted my life to this church, to serving this church, and to be restored and to be able to call myself a reverend again and to speak with this voice means so much to me," an exultant Schaefer told The Associated Press, adding he intends to work for gay rights "with an even stronger voice from within the United Methodist Church."

The church suspended Schaefer, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, last year for officiating his son’s 2007 wedding. It then defrocked him because he refused to promise to uphold the Methodist law book "in its entirety," including its ban on clergy performing same-sex marriages.

Schaefer appealed, arguing the decision was wrong because it was based on an assumption he would break church law in the future.

The appeals panel, which met in Linthicum, Maryland, last week to hear the case, upheld a 30-day suspension that Schaefer has already served and said he should get back pay dating to when the suspension ended in December.

The jury’s punishment was illegal under church law, the appeals panel concluded, writing in its decision that "revoking his credentials cannot be squared with the well-established principle that our clergy can only be punished for what they have been convicted of doing in the past, not for what they may or may not do in the future."

The topic of gay marriage has long roiled the United Methodist Church, the nation’s second-largest Protestant denomination. Hundreds of Methodist ministers have publicly rejected church doctrine on homosexuality, which allows for gay members but bars "self-avowed practicing homosexuals" from becoming clergy and forbids ministers from performing same-sex marriages.

Traditionalists say clergy have no right to break church law just because they disagree with it. Some conservative pastors are calling for a breakup of the denomination, which has 12 million members worldwide, saying the split over gay marriage is irreconcilable.

Schaefer said Tuesday’s decision "signals a major change within the United Methodist Church, for sure."

The appeals panel, however, suggested it was not making a broader statement about the church’s position on homosexuality but based its decision solely on the facts of Schaefer’s case.

The decision noted that Schaefer’s son had asked him to perform the wedding; that the ceremony was small and private, held not in a Methodist church but in a Massachusetts restaurant; and that Schaefer did not publicize the wedding until a member of his congregation learned of it and filed the complaint in April 2013.

"The committee notes that, in another case involving different facts, a majority of its members might well have concluded that a different penalty better serves the cause of achieving a just resolution," the panel said, adding that some of its members wanted a longer suspension for Schaefer.

The church can appeal the decision to its highest court, the Judicial Council. Bishop Peggy Johnson of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference, which brought the case against Schaefer, planned to issue a statement later Tuesday.

Schaefer was charged in April 2013 after the member of his congregation complained to the church about his officiating his son’s wedding.

Defrocked Methodist Minister Frank Schaefer To Appeal

Frank Schaefer, the former Methodist reverend who was defrocked after performing his son’s gay wedding, has successfully filed for an appeal which will take place on June 20. The Washington Post reports that according to Jen Ihlo, president of the Committee on Appeals for the United Methodist Church’s Northeast Jurisdiction, “The decision to hear his appeal is procedural and doesn’t indicate the committee’s chances of approving it.”

Furthermore: ”The appeals committee has nine members – some clergy, some not – and none can come from Schaefer’s region around Philadelphia. The committee, Ihlo wrote, will consider two questions: Whether the evidence supports a conviction and whether there is a conflict between the conviction and penalty and “errors of Church law.”

Last December, the California-Pacific Annual Methodist Conference offered Schaefer a job because of his anti-discrimination stance, but stated that they would not be able to reinstate his ministerial abilities.

Methodists End Minister's NY Same-Sex Wedding Case

A United Methodist bishop on Monday dropped the case against a retired minister accused of breaking church law by officiating his son's same-sex wedding — a dramatic decision that came just months after another minister was defrocked for the same reason.The Rev. Thomas Ogletree, 80, a former dean of the Yale Divinity School, said he's grateful his church had decided not to put him on trial for what he called "an act of pastoral faithfulness and fatherly love."

Bishop Martin McLee, who made the announcement at a news conference in White Plains, a New York suburb, also called on church officials to stop prosecuting other pastors for marrying same-sex couples. The bishop said he would cease trials over the issue in the district he leads, which covers 462 churches in New York and Connecticut. Ogletree lives in Guilford, Conn.

The bishop later told The Associated Press that it was clear the minister, by conducting the same-sex rite, had "violated the Discipline" — as Methodists call their ecclesiastical laws.

But the bishop said the best way to deal with the case was to bring it to what he called "a just resolution. We didn't dismiss the case — we resolved it."

And then, he said, "the question was, do we go the punishment journey, or something more nuanced?"

McLee said the resolution was to ask Ogletree to participate in a public forum later this year — a broad discussion about divisions among Methodists over gay relationships and about how the church deals with human sexuality.

Ogletree's was the second high-profile United Methodist case in recent months over same-sex relationships. In December, the Rev. Frank Schaefer, a minister from Pennsylvania, was defrocked after he officiated at his son's same-sex wedding.

On Monday, Schaefer welcomed Monday's decision but noted it didn't seem fair.

Dallas pastor conducts same-sex service

The Rev. William McElvaney, a retired pastor and seminary president, followed through Saturday, March 1, on his earlier promise to defy United Methodist Church law by presiding at a same-sex union.

McElvaney, 85, conducted a wedding for George Harris, 80, and Jack Evans, 84. The men have been partners for 53 years and are longtime members of Dallas’ Northaven United Methodist Church.

A crowd of more than 200 attended the service at Midway Hills Christian Church in Dallas, applauding several times, including when Harris and Evans kissed after McElvaney led them through vows.

“I feel good about it,” McEvaney said afterward of his decision to do the service. “It was a rare privilege.”

Asked if he expects to have charges filed against him under church law, McElvaney said, “I have no idea. We’ll just have to see what happens.”

Since General Conference 1972, The United Methodist Church has declared the practice of homosexuality to be incompatible with Christian teaching. Church law says United Methodist clergy must not officiate at same-sex unions and United Methodist cChurches must not host such services.

McElvaney announced in a Jan. 19 Northaven worship service that he would risk a church trial and the possibility of losing his clergy credentials by officiating at a same-sex service. Evans and Harris stepped forward to have him do a service for them.

Midway Hills Christian Church, part of the Disciples of Christ denomination, agreed to host. The reception Saturday was at Northaven United Methodist.

Bishop Michael McKee of the North Texas Conference has not commented publicly on McElvaney’s actions. Officials of Good News, an unofficial caucus that supports church law regarding homosexuality, earlier appealed to McElvaney not to do the service, saying such an act would be divisive.

`A gift, a challenge’

McElvaney is pastor emeritus of Northaven United Methodist, and led other churches in North Texas. He also was president of Saint Paul School of Theology and a professor at Southern Methodist University’s Perkins School of Theology. Both seminaries are United Methodist.

Another Methodist Clergyman Will Be Going To Trial For Officiating Son's Same-Sex Wedding

Following the recent defrocking of Reverend Frank Schaefer and demands for reconsideration of church doctrine by some leaders, the United Methodist Church has charged yet another member of its clergy, Reverend Thomas Ogletree, for officiating at his own son's same-sex wedding. The act violates church law, which does not approve of same-sex marriage. Ogletree, a retired member of the church's New York district and former Dean of Yale's Divinity School, was informed of the charge via mail last week. He refused, like Schaefer before him, to promise never to officiate at a same-sex wedding again, and as such his trial, which will take place on March 10th, is moving forward. 

 

The Associated Press reports:

"It is a shame that the church is choosing to prosecute me for this act of love, which is entirely in keeping with my ordination vows to 'seek peace, justice, and freedom for all people' and with Methodism's historic commitment to inclusive ministry embodied in its slogan 'open hearts, open minds, open doors,'" Ogletree said in a statement...

Bishop Martin McLee, who leads the New York Annual Conference, asked for prayers for all involved and noted church procedures allow for a negotiated settlement even after a trial starts. "It is my hope and prayer that a just resolution can be arrived at and a trial can be avoided," McLee said in a statement.

The Rev. Randall Paige of Christ Church UMC in Port Jefferson Station, N.Y., who led the clergy who filed the complaint, said, "we take no joy" in the charges against Ogletree.

Unlike other congregations, like the Evangelical Lutheran and Episcopal churches, the United Methodist Church has continually refused to alter church law regarding same-sex marriages. In the face of rapidly changing marriage laws throughout the United States, the church may need to rule on its own doctrine sooner rather than later.

Indiana Church Fires Gay Choir Leader and EIGHTY PERCENT of the Congregation QUITS!

The interim minister of the United Methodist Church in Alexandria, Indiana has shamed Christians nationwide in yet another incident of faith-shielded bigotry when he refused Adam Fraley the position of choral director based on his sexual orientation, according to church members David and Nancy Steele.

Fraley had previously functioned as choir director for about six years, and church members were satisfied with his work, according to the Steeles. However, after a new minister joined the church, he said that he was uncomfortable with Fraley leading the music. The unnamed “new” minister, according to the Herald Bulletin, did not fire Fraley, but gave him an additional workload that resulted in Fraley’s resignation.

After about six months, a new interim minister took over, and the Steeles–and the rest of the congregation–were hopeful that David Mantor would accept Fraley back into his old position. Mantor initially agreed, but changed his mind after Fraley was back in the job about three weeks. The next day, he told David Steele that his services would not be needed either, as the district superintendent felt Steele was not supporting the positions of the minister therefore was neglecting his duties.

Under church law, “self-avowed, practicing homosexuals are not to be certified as candidates, ordained as ministers, or appointed to serve in The United Methodist Church.” However, Dan Gangler, director of communications for the Indiana Conference of the United Methodist Church, clarified that the church only prohibits gay people from being ordained. While bigoted and discriminatory, the official church stance is not bigoted nor discriminatory enough to prevent Fraley from leading the church in song. ”Any other leadership positions should be filled at the discretion of the congregation and the minister,” Gangler added.

In other words, it seems as though the minister may be overstepping his bounds in denying the position to Fraley against the congregation’s wishes. “It’s almost like he’s hijacked the church,” said David Steele, “He is completely going against what the church body wants.”

Steele’s family has stopped attending the church–a difficult adjustment for them. In a show of solidarity for Fraley, about 80% of the church congregation has joined them in emptying the pews. “They all embraced him,” Nancy Steele told the Herald Bulletin, “They’re upset about the way he was treated.”

Fraley is touched by the way the congregation stands behind him, and that he feels that his love for another man can exist within the realm of Christianity. ”I don’t like how people pick and choose which verses they want to apply,” said Fraley, “The Bible also says gluttony and divorce are bad but people seem to ignore those.”

Fraley feels that much of the support is because the congregation got to know him before they knew “gay” him. It helped to lessen the barriers that would normally exist. Both Fraley and the Steeles say that, if the situation is rectified, they will return.

Methodist Pastor Defrocked Over Gay Wedding Offered Job in California

A United Methodist pastor from central Pennsylvania who was defrocked after officiating his son’s gay wedding was invited by a California Methodist bishop to serve in her region in yet another sign of a split in the nation’s largest mainline Protestant denomination.

Frank Schaefer said he is deciding whether to accept the offer from Bishop Minerva G. Carcano to join the California-Pacific Annual Conference. The region includes California, Hawaii, and the Pacific Islands.

"I’m actually leaning toward it right now, but I can’t make that decision myself because it involves my entire family," Schaefer said. "We are considering it very, very seriously."  Full story here!

Methodists Ask Bishop to Ignore Anti-Gay Rules

"SOME United Methodists are calling on the church’s eastern Pennsylvania bishop to stop holding religious trials for pastors who perform gay weddings.

A group plans to deliver a petition with about 20,000 signatures to Bishop Peggy Johnson at the church’s regional office in Norristown.

The petition was organized online by the group Faithful America. It asks Johnson to disregard the denomination’s "immoral anti-gay rules."

The Methodist church accepts gay and lesbian members, but it rejects the practice of homosexuality as "incompatible with Christian teaching." Full story here!

I was once a United Methodist.  Must say I am very disappointed in the Church.

Methodist Church "Convicts" Pastor Of Performing Wedding For Gay Son

Yesterday the United Methodist church "convicted" a Pennsylvania minister of performing a same-sex wedding for his son.

A jury of his pastoral peers convicted the Rev. Frank Schaefer on Monday of breaking his vows by officiating at the 2007 ceremony in Massachusetts after a trial that has rekindled debate over the denomination’s policies on homosexuality and same-sex marriage. The jury reconvened Tuesday morning for the penalty phase, at which both sides will present witnesses. Schaefer could face punishment ranging from a reprimand to a suspension to losing his minister’s credentials. “Obviously I’m very saddened. What we’re hoping for tomorrow is a light sentence,” Schaefer’s son, Tim Schaefer, 29, whose wedding led to the charges, said after the verdict Monday night. Frank Schaefer didn’t deny that he performed his son’s wedding, but said he did it out of love, not a desire to flout church teaching on homosexuality.

The Washington Post notes the the church's only witness against Schaeffer was a man whose mother, the church's choir director, has been feuding with Schaefer.

Pennsylvania Pastor Faces Church Trial for Officiating Gay Son's Marriage

Over the weekend, Rev. Frank Schaefer joined with his supporters at Coleman Chapel in Lebanon, Pennsylvania for a candlelight vigil.  No one had died: the vigil was for Schaefer himself, who is facing a church trial for officiating his gay son's wedding in Massachusetts in 2007.  The Lebanon Daily News reports:

Schaefer is pastor of Zion United Methodist Church of Iona in South Lebanon Township.

"We know of a lot of churches that are doing it," said Schaefer, "but we're hoping that a lot of churches that we don't know of are doing it."

Schaeffer said the prayer vigil were not just for him but for the gay community.

"People are called upon to pray for me as I prepare for trial, for my family, but also for the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) community at large, because this is for a cause. This is not just for an individual."

Schaefer could lose his ministry if he is convicted of violating church rules.  The United Methodist Church allows its members to be gay, but does not recognize marriage equality or allow LGBT people to join the clergy.

According to the Daily News, a group of over 30 United Methodist pastors in Pennsylvnia who support Schaefer say they will officiate a joint same-sex wedding.

Schaefer hopes that his church will reconsider its position on homosexuality, and credits his son with changing his own views:

"Everything changed for me when I learned that my oldest son was gay," he said. "I think we need to look at this issue again. This is not just an issue of theology. This is an issue of life and death for our young people."

Schaefer said that as a teenager, his son considered suicide because of his struggle with his sexual identity.

"We, as parents and as Christians, rallied around him and affirmed him, and it brought him through some very rough times," he said.

Schaefer's trial will begin on November 18th.