An openly lesbian United Methodist minister will face a jury of her peers on two charges of violating by-laws beginning Tuesday in Kaukauna, Wis.
The Rev. Amy DeLong faces two charges of breaking the denomination’s ban on homosexuality. DeLong reportedly conducted a ceremony in 2009 that wedded a lesbian couple in addition to her admission of a same-sex relationship. She has been involved in pastoral ministry for eight years, according to the United Methodist News Service.
The three-day trial before a panel of 13 of her fellow Wisconsin United Methodist ministers is described in the Church’s Book of Discipline as a last resort, according to the UMNS.
The United Methodist Church holds that the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, a full communion partner of the United Methodist Church, began accepting noncelibate gay clergy in 2009, a practice The United Methodist Church has rejected.
DeLong recently told The Associated Press the charges have been hard to deal with. She openly admitted to practicing homosexuality and marrying a lesbian couple.
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