Community Corner

Thousands Sign Petition: Don't Prosecute Pastors for Officiating Gay Marriages

Pastor Frank Schaefer was convicted by a Methodist Church jury in Spring City earlier this week for officiating the same-sex marriage of his son.

Methodist Church representatives on Thursday presented a petition with more than 19,000 signatures urging Bishop Peggy Johnson and her cabinet not to pursue charges against clergy who officiate same-sex couples, in the wake of the suspension of Pastor Frank Schaefer, who performed a marriage for his gay son in 2006.

Methodists pastors, parishioners, and other supporters, representing online Methodist activist group Faithful America, visited the offices of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church in Audubon, a short distance from where the decision to suspend Schaeffer was made in Spring City on Tuesday.

Shaefer was tried and convicted for violating the church’s Book of Discipline, after being reported by a member of his congregation for officiating his son’s Boston Wedding.

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Schaefer was suspended from his job for 30 days, after which he will have to decide if he is able to uphold all aspects of Methodist teachings, including the belief that homosexuality is “incompatible with Christian teaching.”

At the trial, Schaefer said that he was called to serve all people, with no exceptions.

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“It's a matter of conscience,” Schaefer said. “I simply cannot discriminate against God's beloved children.”

The suspension sparked an outcry from Christians, which led to this petition, which states:

“Bishop Peggy Johnson, please join with the growing number of United Methodists who are obeying Jesus’ command to love our neighbors and disregarding the church’s immoral anti-gay rules. Don’t allow any more trials for pastors who officiate at gay weddings.”


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