OSCEOLA, Wis. -- A gay Wisconsin pastor suspended for officiating a same-sex marriage says she would do it all over again in heartbeat.
Last Friday, a clergy jury found Rev. Amy DeLong guilty of conducting a 2009 lesbian union. Her church trial lasted nearly three days but she was all smiles the entire time. DeLong said she had to be jubilant because she believed her trial was breaking a long silence within the United Methodist Church.
"As a gay person in the church, we're always asked to compromise about our relationships," DeLong said.
The 44-year-old said for a long time she was torn between obeying the church and obeying herself. But now she is done compromising.
"There is so much I love about the United Methodist Church. But this is one place I think they have fallen short. They have embraced fear and discrimination and I don't see that as my job to embrace that as well," DeLong said.
She feared she would lose her position in the church. However, the jury only sentenced DeLong to a 20 day suspension and acquitted her of another charge regarding her active homosexual relationship. She believes this is a sign the Methodist Church is moving toward acceptance of gays.
"I hope to give birth to a new church that will not tell the next generation of gay and lesbian kids that they are somehow less than or that is something that is wrong with them," DeLong said.
The pastor believes the Methodist Church will accept gays someday. The question she has is "when?"
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