Church fears they will lose members in support of gay rights
A lesbian minister was suspended from her church duties Thursday and ordered to spend the next 20 days as a time for spiritual discernment. A jury of 13 United Methodist clergy convicted the Rev. Amy DeLong on a charge of performing a same-sex union, which is in violation of church law.
The jury voted 9-4 to suspend the pastor beginning in July. The same jury Wednesday found DeLong not guilty in a unanimous decision of the charge of being a “self-avowed practicing homosexual.”
Her conviction on the same-sex union violation came on a 12-1 vote.
DeLong is a partnered lesbian who has served as a clergy member for 14 years. Along with officiating at a lesbian couple’s union in 2009, she also registered with her same-sex partner of nearly 16 years under Wisconsin's Domestic Partnership Law that same year. She reported both actions to the annual conference.
DeLong, 44, of Polk County, was also ordered by the jury to write a document outlining issues that harm the United Methodist Church's clergy covenant.
That document is to be presented to the annual conference of the Wisconsin Conference of the United Methodist Church in summer 2012.
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