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Leaders of the United Methodist Church have defrocked a Pennsylvania minister who 

officiated at the wedding of his son to another man

, NPR's John Burnett tells our Newscast Desk.



Though the wedding was in 2007, it wasn't until this year that Schaefer's congregation in Lebanon, Pa., learned of it, 

. Church member Jon Boger filed a complaint with Methodist officials. He said last month that Schaefer had "openly rebuked the United Methodist Church and its policies."


Boger's complaint led to Thursday's decision by the United Methodists' Board of Ordained Ministry.


For his part, Schaefer said this week that "I cannot uphold the Book of Discipline in its entirety. In fact, I don't believe anybody can." He declined a request that he voluntarily resign.  Copyright 2019 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

Religion and Faith

Mark Memmott

Author

Leaders of the United Methodist Church have defrocked a Pennsylvania minister who officiated at the wedding of his son to another man.

Minister defrocked for officiating gay wedding

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