Pennsylvania Methodist Pastor Defrocked After Performing Gay Wedding
By Mark Abrams
NORRISTOWN, Pa. (CBS) --The Central Pennsylvania minister who was defrocked by the united Methodist church for officiating a few years ago at his son's same-sex wedding in Massachusetts is vowing to fight on.
The Rev. Frank Schaefer of Lebanon says he is upset and disappointed at Tuesday's withdrawal of his ministerial credentials.
But he says he does not hold his colleagues or church people who presided at his recent trial and those who enforced the church's Book of Discipline, even though some of them see inconsistencies in it.
"I'm upset at the exclusionary policies that we have in place and we must change those policies."
Schaefer says he will continue ministering to the LGBT community in whatever capacity he can and is hopeful an appeal filed with the church's judicial panel will succeed.
Schaefer acknowledged during a briefing Thursday in the sanctuary of the First United Methodist Church of Germantown that he will continue speaking out about the issue.
He also acknowledged he has been contacted by representatives of other religious denominations who have expressed interest in him serving as a minister in their churches.
Schaefer says he's willing to listen, but prefers to remain for now in the United Methodist Church.
