Minister defrocked by United Methodist Church over same-sex marriage

[Redfairen]

Source: Philadelphia Inquirer

The Rev. Frank Schaefer was defrocked Thursday morning, writing another chapter in a case that enlivened the call for social change in the United Methodist Church as Schaefer was put on trial for officiating over his son's gay wedding.

Schaefer, of Lebanon, had hoped the church board would allow him to keep his credentials, effectively letting him to stand as a voice for social change in a church deeply divided over gay rights. The board and Schaefer met for only 15 minutes in the Norristown offices of the church's eastern Pennsylvania conference.

The decision was announced three days after Schaefer publicly rejected the options given to him by a church jury: recommit to upholding Methodist doctrine, including a ban on officiating gay weddings, or turn over your own credentials.

.......

"I cannot uphold those discriminatory laws and the language in the Untied Methodist Church's Book of Discipline that is hurtful and harmful to our homosexual brothers and sisters in the church," Schaefer said Monday to supporters and media packed into the prayer chapel of Philadelphia's Arch Street United Methodist Church.

Read more: http://mobile.philly.com/news/breaking/?wss=/philly/news/breaking&id=236561531&

[VA_Jill]

1. We'd probably take him

over here in the Episcopal Church…..remembering that John Wesley remained a priest of the Church of England right up to the day of his death. We're not so damn fussy about the gay either.

[Freddie]

3. He's welcome in the ELCA anytime

I read where he's had numerous offers to join denominations such as ours but he was daring the UMC to de-frock him to make a point. Point made, they look pretty un-Christian to me.

[Ken Burch]

7. The Congregationalists would be fine with him too...and the United Church of Christ.

Last edited Fri Dec 20, 2013, 03:46 AM - Edit history (1)

(Maybe event the Presbys).

[Sgent]

13. United Church of Christ

would take him no problem.

Church of Christ to me means the ideologues planted firmly to the right of southern baptists.

[Ken Burch]

14. I meant the United Church...and will correct my post.

Thanks.

[AtheistCrusader]

2. I though the Methodists had come around on this issue?

<megamind voice>
APPARENTLY NOT
</megamind voice>

[MADem]

5. Those cutesy little high-end, softly lit, sweet voiced, EXPENSIVE TV commercials sure made people

think so, didn't they?

I guess "THOSE PEOPLE" are free to worship with them, and shove money into the collection plate, and volunteer to strengthen their church community, but "THOSE PEOPLE" are not quite good enough to get married in the church to which they donate their time and resources.

There's only one thing for "THOSE PEOPLE" and their friends and family to say, in the face of this reality--and that would be "Fuck 'em." No attached to that comment, either!

[Ken Burch]

8. Something to ask HRC about, too...since she's Methodist...

n/t.

[moondust]

12. In some places they have.

One of my in-laws is a retired (liberal) Methodist minister. He says there are more conservative Methodist churches and ministers in the South that pull the broader church's doctrine to the right and inhibit progress, much like the political parties.

[MADem]

4. Did he actually say "Untied" and not United, or is that a typo by the paper?

I'm sure some sane church will take him. I hope he doesn't back down--he made the right call in the first place.

Geez, so much for all those touchy-feely commercials about how "welcoming" those assholes are.

Who KNEW that the Pope would come out looking better than the frigging METHODISTS this year? We all know the RC church is hardly out in front when it comes to equality, but the Methodists just a giant step backward into a steaming pile of shit with this decision.

[Humanist_Activist]

9. That picture is just, fucking atrocious, that homophobic bastard would NOT...

be wearing a "No H8" anything, considering he lobbied against same sex marriage in Argentina, using the typical tactics of homophobes of his type.

[MADem]

10. You do understand that picture is the cover of THE ADVOCATE?

And you do understand that THE ADVOCATE named him their person of the year, for changing the conversation, in essence?

No one--not even Francis-- is going to decree that the Catholics grow up and get with the program. Not even the Pope. There's a history of nastiness and bullshit that needs to be overcome, first. A lot of people need to be fired, retired, and shoved out of the picture.

It's pretty obvious, though, that he's started to lead them down a path away from hate.

He's not parroting the party line anymore--he gets to set the agenda. And it would appear that he's doing that.

So, if you have a problem with the picture, take it up with the magazine. I'm sure you won't be the only one who takes issue with his past remarks and doesn't want to see the possibilities in his more recent comments.

[Humanist_Activist]

11. His more recent comments just reaffirm his homophobic stances, and those of his church.

What possibilities are you talking about?

[MADem]

15. If you don't like the cover, I suggest you take it up with the editors of the magazine.

And if you're unclear about the "possibilities," I can only presume you must be first, unaware of that individual's role as the leader of his faith group, and an example to his flock, and second, unable to read the quote from him (it speaks of not judging) on the cover of the magazine.

[theHandpuppet]

17. Maybe he should give these folks a call?

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/12/20/new-mexico-same-sex-marriage-ruling-comes-amid-long-wait-national-trend/
New Mexico same-sex marriage ruling comes amid long wait, national trend
Published December 20, 2013/
Associated Press

"We hold that the State of New Mexico is constitutionally required to allow same-gender couples to marry and must extend to them the rights, protections and responsibilities that derive from civil marriage under New Mexico law," Justice Edward L. Chavez wrote...

...The American Civil Liberties Union and the National Center for Lesbian Rights represented same-sex couples in the Supreme Court case. They contended gay marriage must be allowed because of constitutional guarantees of equal protection under the law and a state constitutional prohibition against discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Meanwhile groups like the Flora Vista-based Voices for Family Values vowed to fight on. The group said its members already are gathering signatures for petitions to present to lawmakers during the upcoming session in January.

"The Catholic Church respects and loves the gay and lesbian members of our community," the New Mexico Conference of Catholic Bishops said in a statement. "We will continue to promote Catholic teaching of the Biblical definition of marriage to be that of one man and one woman."....

[MADem]

19. I'm sure you know how intractable that institution is.

Frankly, if he doesn't have one of his minions "give them a call," and in fact does nothing to support those angry NM yay-hoos, that, in and of itself, is a signal.

I heard he recently fired the well-fed Vatican guy who had as a job the selection of the US Catholic Bishops, so that, right there, is a start.

It's not a fast process with those guys. They're still wearing dresses; those went out of fashion several centuries ago.

[Humanist_Activist]

20. Look at the WHOLE quote....

"If someone is gay and seeks the Lord with good will, who am I to judge?"

What does he mean by that second part? People seem to outright ignore it, but, if we were to go by what the Catholic Church teaches, he's not judging gay people who choose to be chaste and don't advocate for equal rights for LGBT people. How is this a good thing?

You have to remember, he also condemned the "gay lobby" soon afterwards.

[MADem]

22. You need to write him a letter and ask him what he means.

My name is not Francis, and I don't live at the Vatican. I don't speak for the guy.

All I know is that he has sought rapprochement with people all over the world on a number of issues. He doesn't go for priests living in fancy digs and farting through silk, he, being a Jesuit, is intellectually rigorous, and the idea, near as I can tell, is to behave in one's dealings with people like that Jesus fellow.

That's probably why the magazine named him as ther POTY.

[Jesus Malverde]

6. Methodists defrock pastor who performed gay son's wedding

United Methodist church officials defrocked a pastor from central Pennsylvania on Thursday who officiated his son's gay wedding in Massachusetts, a move seen as contradictory to the denomination's beliefs.

The Rev. Frank Schaefer of Lebanon had already been suspended when he met with church officials to determine whether he would continue as a pastor.

Schaefer had been told to resign from the clergy by Thursday if he could not follow the denomination's Book of Discipline. But Schaefer has said the book discriminates against gay people and vowed this week that he would not voluntarily surrender his credentials.

Church spokesman John Coleman said that officials decided to defrock him.

Schaefer left the short meeting with church officials without commenting but planned to address the matter later Thursday.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/12/19/methodist-pastor-gay-wedding/4124461/

[rucky]

16. Not to worry. Sarah Palin will defend his First Amendment rights

right?

[winter is coming]

18. Their doors may be open, but their minds and hearts, not so much. n/t

[Humanist_Activist]

21. Fucking homophobes. n/t