The 13-member jury convicted Schaefer on two charges: That he officiated a gay wedding, and that he showed “disobedience to the order and discipline of the United Methodist Church.”
The jury will reconvene Tuesday morning for the penalty phase, where Schaefer faces punishment ranging from a reprimand to losing his ministerial credentials.
The church’s lawyer, the Rev. Christopher Fisher, told the jury that Schaefer clearly violated the Book of Discipline. He said the complainant, Jon Boger a member of Schaefer’s congregation was dismayed and shocked when he learned this year about the ceremony.
Fisher used his closing argument to condemn homosexuality as immoral and said Schaefer had no right to break a Methodist law that bans pastors from performing same-sex marriages just because he disagreed with church teaching. He told jurors they were duty-bound to convict.
“You’ll give an account for that at the last day, as we all will,” he told the jury, to audible gasps from spectators
Youll give an account for that at the last day, as we all will, he told the jury, to audible gasps from spectators
And they convicted him! Wow! Amen!!
I expected as much.
If a pastor can officiate a gay wedding, then a layman can baptize.