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Trial
Ends For Gay Pastor
by
365Gay.com from the Web, January 24, 2007
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Atlanta, Georgia -- An openly
gay Atlanta pastor who told his bishop that he is in a same-sex relationship
won't know his fate for about two weeks after his clerical trial ended on
Tuesday.
The Rev. Bradley E. Schmeling could be disciplined or removed from his church.
Schmeling, of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Atlanta, says that he
never kept his sexuality a secret and made it clear when he came to the diocese
six years ago that he opposed a ban on non celibate gay clergy.
In August he informed Bishop Ronald B. Warren that he was in a committed
relationship with another man. Warren immediately began proceedings
against Schmeling.
Schmeling said that he met Darin Easler when they were both Lutheran pastors.
Easler moved to the gay-welcoming United Church of Christ but Schmeling stayed
at St. John's.
Last year the denomination voted to leave it up to individual bishops whether to
maintain the ban on clergy in same-sex relationships.
The measure -- the product of three years' work by a special church task force
-- was meant as a compromise that will satisfy both those who support gay clergy
and those who regard gay sex as sinful.
The church trial began Friday with Schmeling appearing in before a 12-member
court. The public was not allowed to attend and all concerned are sworn to
secrecy until a decision is released.
The 12 committee members have only has four options if they find Schmeling
guilty.
The panel could call for a private censure or admonition; it could suspend him
from office either for a set period of time, or until there is "a sign of
repentance"; or it could remove him from the roster of ordained clergy in the
E.L.C.A.
Schmeling's congregation is standing behind him and has been holding daily
prayer vigils as the trial continued.
Some members of St. John's have threatened that if Schmeling is struck off the
E.L.C.A. list the church could defy the bishop and keep him on.
If that occurred Bishop Warren could bring charges against the church.
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