By Michael Muskal, Los Angeles Times The Rev. Frank Schaefer, who officiated at his son’s gay marriage, was defrocked Thursday by the United Methodist church after he refused to change his position on gay marriage. Schaefer, of Lebanon, Pa., was suspended last month for violating church policy on same-sex marriage. A church jury gave him…
by John Lomperis (@JohnLomperis) October 30, 2013 posted by the IRD. With much public fanfare, and cheered by well-funded liberal caucus groups, retired United Methodist Bishop Mel Talbert performed a same-sex union service in the Birmingham, Alabama area for a self-described “gay activist” and his male partner last weekend. Bishops and all others who make the choice to…
The denominations may be different, but the rules being broken and the tactics being applied are the same. Both the United Methodist Church and the Presbyterian Church (USA) prohibit their ordained leaders from participating in the performance of same-sex weddings. All ordained officers have agreed to submit to and be governed by the mutually agreed…
In a recent conversation about same-sex marriage with a pro-LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer) advocate who is an ordained teaching elder in the Presbyterian Church (USA) she disclosed that she persisted in performing gay marriage ceremonies even though she understands the denomination’s clear prohibition of the act. It is legal in the state…