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Pastor Who Performed Son's Gay Marriage Keeps Ordination

The Methodist Judicial Council ruled Monday that a Pennsylvania church jury was wrong to defrock Frank Schaefer last year.
Image: Frank Schaefer, Tim Shaefer
Rev. Frank Schaefer, center, and his son, Tim Schaefer, second from left, walk to a meeting of the Judicial Council of the United Methodist Church, Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2014, in Memphis, Tenn. Rev. Schaefer was suspended and defrocked in 2013 for officiating at his son’s wedding to another man.Karen Pulfer Focht / AP
/ Source: The Associated Press

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A Methodist pastor who was disciplined after he officiated at the wedding of his gay son will be allowed to remain an ordained minister. The Judicial Council of the nation's second-largest Protestant denomination ruled Monday that a Pennsylvania church jury was wrong to defrock Frank Schaefer last year after he would not promise never to perform another same-sex wedding. The council ruled on technical grounds and did not express support for gay marriage in general. Its decision is final.

Following his hearing last week before the Judicial Council, Schaefer said he had no regrets for his actions. "I did what I did based on my heart and my conscience," Schaefer said. He has been traveling the country giving talks and sermons on gay acceptance. And last month, he released a book about his experience — "Defrocked: How a Father's Act of Love Shook the United Methodist Church." He could not immediately be reached for comment Monday.

IN-DEPTH

— The Associated Press