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6 p.m. EDT June 23: Jury votes to suspend Wisconsin pastor

by Heather Hahn June 23, 2011

A jury of 13 United Methodist clergy in the church trial of the Rev. Amy DeLongvoted 9-4 to suspend the pastor for a period of 20 days, beginning in July. The jury convicted DeLong on a charge of performing a same-sex union in violation of church law. Details were to be announced soon after the decision became known at 6 p.m. EST Thursday.

The same jury Wednesday found DeLong not guilty in a unanimous decision of the charge of being a “self-avowed practicing homosexual.” Her conviction on the same-sex union violation came on a 12-1vote.DeLong has been a clergy member in Wisconsin for 14 years and is director of an advocacy group. In 2009, she agreed to officiate at a service for a lesbian couple, and she and her longtime partner registered under Wisconsin’s Domestic Partnership Law.

United Methodist News Service reporter Heather Hahn and photographer Mike DuBose are covering the trial and will post coverage here as well as on the UMNS Facebook page and Flickr.

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