The United Methodist pastor was asked to surrender his clergy credentials after a church trial for officiating at his son’s same-sex nuptials. Read continuing coverage of the response to this high-profile case.
Perspectives on Schaefer case, same-sex debate, in United Methodist Church
The debate around same-gender weddings and human sexuality has heated up in The United Methodist Church after recent events including the defrocking of a pastor for performing the wedding of his gay son. Here is some of the debate.
December 23, 2013
Schaefer, family, join Foundry UMC in Washington
Frank Schaefer, the former United Methodist clergyman who was defrocked Dec. 19, is now a member of Foundry United Methodist Church and mulling over an offer to move west. Schaefer, his wife, Brigitte, and two of his four children – sons Kevin and Jordan – were received into membership by the Washington congregation, with dozens of people surrounding the family on the platform during the installation.
December 22, 2013
Bishop Schol addresses Schaefer case, clergy trials
Bishop John Schol issued a video statement Dec. 20 in response to the defrocking of Frank Schaefer and called for The United Methodist Church to stop using clergy trials as a way to resolve differences in the church.
December 21, 2013
Pennsylvania pastor invited to join Cal-Pac conference
Frank Schaefer, who was asked Dec. 19 to surrender his ministerial credentials to the Eastern Pennsylvania Annual Conference has been invited to join the California-Pacific Annual Conference.
December 21, 2013
2013: Same-sex wedding issues abound
Weddings and trials sound disharmony for The United Methodist Church as it ends a year that included two well-publicized same-sex weddings and a high-profile church trial for a pastor who officiated at his son’s same-sex nuptials.
December 19, 2013
Defrocked pastor to preach Sunday in D.C. church
The Rev. Frank Schaefer says he is not ready to give up on The United Methodist Church and will immediately seek an appeal of a decision to take away his ministerial credentials.
December 19, 2013
Pennsylvania pastor says he will not surrender clergy credentials
At a news conference at Arch Street United Methodist Church Dec. 16, the Rev. Frank Schaefer said he will not surrender his clergy credentials and intends to continue to be an outspoken advocate for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.
December 16, 2013
Schaefer says he does not blame others for trial
When asked what he would say to the people who brought charges against him for officiating at his son’s same-sex marriage, the Rev. Frank Schaefer said, “I cannot blame them because at one point I also had a different opinion.
November 22, 2013
Petitioners ask bishop to end clergy trials
Two days after a United Methodist pastor, the Rev. Frank Schaefer, was found guilty of violating the denomination’s lawbook for officiating at his son’s same-sex wedding, representatives of Faithful America presented United Methodist Bishop Peggy Johnson with a petition signed by more than 19,000 calling for an end to clergy trials. It was learned, however, during the presentation of the petition that a new “supervisory action” has been started against another United Methodist pastor.
November 21, 2013
Schaefer suspended 30 days for performing same-sex wedding
The Rev. Frank Schaefer has been given a 30-day suspension and told that if he can't uphold the Book of Discipline he must surrender his credentials.
November 19, 2013
Penalty phase begins in Pennsylvania clergy trial
SPRING CITY, Pa. (UMNS)—A jury of ordained United Methodist clergy has found the Rev. Frank Schaefer guilty on both counts of violating his vows as an ordained United Methodist elder not to perform same-sex marriages and disobedience to the order and discipline of The United Methodist Church.
November 18, 2013
Church preparing for Pennsylvania clergy trial
For the first time since the 2012 United Methodist General Conference upheld the church’s stance that “homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching,” a United Methodist pastor will face a church trial for officiating at a same-sex union. The Rev. Frank Schaefer goes on trial Nov. 18-19 for officiating at the same-sex union of his son in 2007. The trial will take place at Camp Innabah, a United Methodist church camp in Spring City, Pa., about 30 miles northwest of Philadelphia.
November 15, 2013
More than 50 United Methodist clergy show support of marriage of gay couple
Inside the walls of a 150-year-old United Methodist church in Philadelphia on Nov. 9, Richard Kevin Taylor and William Robert Gatewood celebrated their 25-year love story with a service of Christian marriage. More than 40 faith leaders, mostly United Methodist, were in attendance for the service, which is forbidden by the United Methodist Book of Discipline.
November 9, 2013
Same-sex wedding is high-profile prelim to church trial
The wedding this weekend in Arch Street United Methodist Church in Philadelphia of two men is stirring many emotions in the denomination because not only will this same-sex couple be married in a United Methodist church, more than 51 United Methodist pastors have said they will officiate.
November 8, 2013
Upper N.Y. pastor expects to face church trial
The Rev. Stephen Heiss announced that expects to face a church trial on charges that he has violated the denomination's ban on clergy officiating at same-sex unions. He is at least the fifth clergy member this year facing church legal action related to the church's homosexuality stance.
October 28, 2013
Update: Finance agency extends benefits for same-sex couples
General agencies of the United Methodist Church will extend employee benefits to same-sex couples under a decision by the board of directors of the denomination’s General Council on Finance and Administration.
October 22, 2013
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