What does the church say<\/h3>\n
The United Methodist Book of Discipline<\/a>, the denomination\u2019s law book, since 1972 has proclaimed the practice of homosexuality \u201cincompatible with Christian teaching.\u201d The book prohibits United Methodist churches from hosting and clergy from performing \u201cceremonies that celebrate homosexual unions.\u201d The 2012 General Conference, when it met April 24-May 4 in Tampa, Fla., rejected efforts to change that language, including a\u00a0proposal to say the church was in disagreement about homosexuality<\/a>. General Conference, the denomination\u2019s top lawmaking assembly, will next convene in 2016. Officiating at same-sex unions is a chargeable offense under the\u00a0Book of Discipline<\/a>. Clergy convicted in a church court can face a loss of clergy credentials or lesser penalties. However, church law does not censure those who disagree with church teaching on this matter \u2014 only those who actually take actions that violate church law. The Book of Discipline also states that\u00a0marriage<\/a>is between a man and a woman.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n Speaking to a group of reporters after the trial ended, he said he was surprised he walked out of the trial with the title of \u201cRev.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI gave them every excuse in the book to defrock me immediately but that did not happen,\u201d he said. \u201cI am still wondering what it means. I told them clearly that I can no longer be a silent supporter but now I feel I have to an outspoken advocate for all lesbian, gay, transgender and bisexual people.\u201d<\/p>\n The 30-day suspension seems to be \u201ctime for me to change my mind,\u201d he said. \u201cI am here to tell you, I will not change my mind. I am what I am.\u201d<\/p>\n In the next 30 days Schaefer is to be monitored by his district superintendent, the Rev. James Todd, and then report and be interviewed by the conference\u2019s board of ordained ministry.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is a very divisive topic<\/a>\u00a0and I am hoping we can get one little step further in the discussion and hopefully one of these days get rid of those exclusionary policies altogether,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n The Rev. Christopher Fisher, counsel for the church, told reporters, \u201cHe (Schaefer) gets to choose, it is his responsibility whether he can live within the covenant The United Methodist Church has for clergy. When we make our vows we promise to uphold the Discipline of our church and if we are not willing to keep those promises there are judicial procedures that are instituted.\u201d<\/p>\n Reactions have been pouring in after the trial.<\/p>\n Bishop Peggy Johnson, episcopal leader for the Eastern Pennsylvania Annual (regional) Conference said<\/a>, \u201cWe know that United Methodists have diverse opinions on this issue and our hope is that we pray and work together toward unity and greater understanding and healing.\u201d<\/b><\/p>\n Representatives of Faithful America, a non-denominational, online community that describes itself as dedicated to \u201creclaiming Christianity from the religious right and putting faith into action for social justice,\u201don Nov. 20\u00a0presented Johnson with a petition signed by more than 19,000<\/a>\u00a0calling for an end to clergy trials.<\/p>\n Good News, an unofficial, evangelical\u00a0United Methodist group that advocates maintaining the denomination\u2019s definition of marriage as between a man and a woman,\u00a0said the verdict and penalty was a sad day<\/a>\u00a0in the history of the church but eminently appropriate.<\/p>\n On the first day of the trial, Schaefer told his story of falling in love with The United Methodist Church.<\/p>\n He said he was called to ministry 22 years ago when he relocated to the U.S. from Germany. He talked about joining a \u201clively church in Virginia.\u201d After becoming active in that church the minister called him into the office one day and said \u201cI think you are being called into ministry.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMy first thought was I didn\u2019t want to go back to school,\u201d Schaefer said.<\/p>\n He said he fasted and prayed for three days. On the last day he said he had a dream. \u201cI saw myself talking to my best friend as a younger man, at 17, ready to graduate from high school. I was saying what I would really like to do is go to Bible college but I can\u2019t go without a sign from God. God was standing next to me and he asked, \u2018Who do you think put that desire in your heart?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n He took that as his sign. While he was in school, he and his family became involved with a United Methodist Church and \u201cloved it.\u201d<\/p>\n When it came time to decide on a denomination, Schaefer said, he called United Methodist Bishop Susan Morrison.<\/p>\n \u201cI told her I had always been active in church, I told her about my love for The United Methodist Church and she said, \u2018Welcome to The United Methodist Church.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThere have been many joys and some hardships but many joys. My wife always said she didn\u2019t sign up to be a minister\u2019s wife. She\u2019s right but she\u2019s a good one. We have struggled as a church family living in fish bowl.\u201d<\/p>\n Schaefer said three of his four children are gay.<\/p>\n During the news conference after the end of the trial, Schaefer again expressed his love for the church.<\/p>\n \u201cI do love the church and it will be a tremendous loss (if he has to surrender his credentials),\u201d he said. \u201cThere could have been a different ruling tonight that would have led to a path \u2026 There is a diversity of opinions in The United Methodist Church and that was not acknowledged tonight in this ruling.<\/p>\n \u201cI think my son is very proud of me for standing up for him and for everybody who is gay, lesbian, transgender and bisexual. I did this for him and my other children but I did it really for the LGBT community as well.\u201d<\/p>\n * Gilbert is a multimedia reporter for the young adult content team at United Methodist Communications, Nashville, Tenn. Contact her at (615) 742-5470.<\/i><\/p>\n Links to related articles:<\/p>\n Schaefer suspended 30 days for performing same-sex wedding<\/a><\/p>\nCalled to a new ministry<\/b><\/h3>\n
![\"Rev.](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/umcconnections.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/Schaefer-chalice-crop-290x288.jpg?resize=290%2C288\" "\\"Schaefer")
\n