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As you can tell, I'm visibly shaken. I guess when I went into the hearing this morning
with the board of ordained ministry, I was hopeful that it wouldn't come to what it has
come to - my defrockment.
Frank Schaefer is taking stock after his fate was decided by a United Methodist church board.
The Reverend has been defrocked less than a month after being found guilty of violating
church law. He had conducted his son's same sex wedding ceremony and refused to vow never
to perform another gay marriage.
What I did was an act of love for my son.
Schaefer has been sentenced to a 30-day suspension and ordered to resign if he couldn't uphold
church doctrine. The Methodist Book of Discipline forbids ordination of homosexuals and pastors
conducting same sex marriages.
Now that I feel the effect of those exclusionary policies, finding myself outside of the church,
outside of my calling to minister in this church, it doesn't feel good.
Schaefer says he plans to appeal the verdict by the board and continue his fight for lesbian,
gay, bisexual and transgender rights within the church.