UMC suspends minister for performing same-sex union
A United Methodist minister was suspended for 20 days by a church court in Wisconsin for performing a same-sex union in 2009, a breach of denominational rules. After deliberating seven hours, a jury of local United Methodist clergy voted 9–4 on June 23 to suspend Amy DeLong of Osceola, Wisconsin.
The closely watched trial—presaging another contentious quadrennial United Methodist legislative meeting next April 24–May 4 in Tampa, Florida—resulted in unusual rulings. For the first time in 20 years, the conviction of a minister conducting a same-sex union did not result in a defrocking or indefinite suspension.
The jury ruled that DeLong should write a report on issues that break the covenant between UMC clergy or be suspended for one year. DeLong admitted during the three-day trial to performing a "holy union" ceremony for a lesbian couple in 2009 but said she would not pledge to stop the practice, which is banned by the church. "I can't imagine doing that," she testified, according to United Methodist News Service.
