A United Methodist pastor from Wisconsin was suspended for 20 days Thursday for officiating a same-sex union, an action that is explicitly prohibited for United Methodist clergypersons. The Rev. Amy DeLong of Osceola openly admitted to marrying the lesbian couple, the admission that prompted a church trial this week in Kaukauna, Wisconsin. A jury of [...]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Methodist pastors who have defied a church ban on marrying gays were dealt a setback Wednesday when clergy members hearing a church trial found a colleague guilty of marrying a lesbian couple in 2009.

The 13-person jury of clergy members unanimously convicted the Rev. Amy DeLong. They found the 44-year-old not guilty of a second charge of being a “self-avowed practicing homosexual.” That vote was 12-1.

By Michael Louis Vinson, Post Cresent

A jury of Wisconsin Methodist clergy will meet Thursday morning to decide the punishment for an openly gay minister convicted Wednesday of performing a same-sex wedding in violation of United Methodist Church rules.

…

The 13-member jury was unanimous in convicting DeLong on a charge of performing a September 2009 same-sex wedding for a lesbian couple in Menominee.

In a 12-1 vote, the jury — called a trial court — acquitted DeLong on a second charge of being a “self-avowed practicing homosexual.”

From UMNS

The Rev. Amy DeLong faced numerous questions on the stand Wednesday morning about the nature of her relationship with her partner of 16 years, Val Zellmer….She balked at Lambrecht’s questions about her sexual activity, which he said he was reluctant to ask. DeLong said such questions should have been asked during the fact-finding investigation before the trial.

From UMNS

Finding the Rev. Amy DeLong not guilty of violating The Book of Discipline has the potential to “open the church to chaos and eventual schism or disintegation,” said the church’s counsel in his closing arguments.

From UMNS
“Clear and convincing evidence” will show the Rev. Amy DeLong has transgressed her covenant as a clergy member, the counsel representing The United Methodist Church said in his opening arguments.

DeLong’s counsel contended in his opening arguments that the case is not that simple.

For the seventh time in 20 years, The United Methodist Church will wrestle with the issue of homosexuality in a public church trial. The Rev. Amy DeLong, a lesbian clergy member of the Wisconsin Annual (regional) Conference, faces two charges of violating church law and the possibility of losing her ministerial credentials this week. Her trial begins June 21 at Peace United Methodist Church in Kaukauna, Wis.