GAY NEWS FLASH: Defrocked Reverend Frank Schaefer Refrocked By Methodist Church

When gay news breaks, we flash it.

Schaefer stands in front of Zion United Methodist Church of Iona in South Lebanon Township.

Schaefer stands in front of Zion United Methodist Church of Iona in South Lebanon Township.

Reverend Frank Schaefer, the man who was defrocked by the Methodist Church for officiating the marriage of his gay son, received some good news this morning. The Judicial Council of the Methodist Church has affirmed his appeal, which asked that he be reinstated to ordained ministry. Read Schaefer’s reaction on GLAAD’s site:

Today, we are witnessing a small, but significant step toward taking another look at the exclusionary policies of the United Methodist Church. With its decision to validate my reinstatement, the Judicial Council has acted justly and wisely. Their decision signals hope to our LGBTQ community that has not always seen the rule of love and grace winning over the letter of the archaic law the church still subscribes to. Today’s decision also signals a willingness to continue dialogue and to seek solutions that will hopefully lead to a change in these archaic and harmful policies. The UM Church needs to find a way toward reconciliation, full inclusion of our LGBTQ community and an open altar for all God’s beloved children.

I will continue the fight alongside thousands of others in the reconciling movement for full inclusion and an open altar for all. I know the day is coming when this dream will be reality and I don’t think it is that far in the future.

A nice step forward, though, as Towelroad points out, the Methodist Church’s Book of Discipline still calls homosexuality “incompatible with Christian teachings” and bans clergy from officiating same-sex marriages. On to the next fight!