US: Complaint filed against 36 ministers for blessing same-sex wedding
Three dozen United Methodist Ministers are the subject of a complaint, and are subject to disciplinary action, for blessing a same-sex wedding.
The wedding, which took place in Philadelphia on 9 November, was blessed by the 36 ministers. They blessed the ceremony in order to show support for Reverend Frank Schaefer who was defrocked following a church trial.
Schaefer was reinstated last month.
Bishop Peggy Johnson of the United Methodist church’s eastern Pennsylvania conference released a statement saying that she would follow the disciplinary procedure.
She said she hoped that “a just resolution can be achieved,” but did not release details of who filed the complaint, or any details.
Despite that the United Methodist Church accepts gay and lesbian members into its congregations, its rule book deems homosexuality “incompatible with Christian teaching”.
