Defrocked Pa. Pastor ’In Shock,’ Will Appeal
A United Methodist Church pastor defrocked for officiating the gay wedding of his son says he intends to appeal and is shocked by church officials' decision.
The pastor, Frank Schaefer, says he is "somewhat in shock still" by the church's move to revoke his pastoral credentials but says he will continue to fight to eradicate discriminatory language in church doctrine.
Schaefer had been told to resign from the clergy by Thursday if he could not follow the denomination's Book of Discipline. But Schaefer says the book discriminates against gay people and says he wouldn't voluntarily surrender his credentials.
Church spokesman John Coleman says officials decided to defrock him.
Copyright Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.