UPDATED:
The Methodist pastor found guilty in the case of presiding at his son’s wedding has been received the news of the penalty that will be imposed. Philly.com reports:
A United Methodist minister from Southeastern Pennsylvania who was convicted under church law of officiating at his son’s same-sex wedding in Massachusetts will be suspended for 30 days.
The same jury of pastors that convicted the Rev. Frank Schaefer on Monday of breaking his vows suspended him from his ministerial duties for 30 days Tuesday. His credentials will be revoked if he violates church rules during that time.
Schaefer told jurors he is unrepentant for the 2007 marriage and refused to promise he wouldn’t perform more gay unions. He says he has been called by God to be an advocate for the rights of gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgendered people
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The Huffington Post recaps the complaint, trial, punishment and reaction:
(Schaefer said) The church “needs to stop judging people based on their sexual orientation,” he told jurors. “We have to stop the hate speech. We have to stop treating them as second-class Christians.”
After the jury pronounced its sentence, Schaefer’s supporters began overturning chairs in the courtroom — symbolizing the biblical story of Jesus overturning the tables of the money changers — and held an impromptu communion service
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The Washington Post, also with a lengthly account, included this:
“This is an effort to push out people who are in ministry with gay and lesbian people. It’s very sad,” said the Rev. Dean Snyder, the longtime pastor of Foundry United Methodist Church in Dupont Circle, who came from Washington with 10 congregants. Snyder has performed more than 20 same-sex weddings but has never had a complaint filed against him.