The Pennsylvania United Methodist pastor who officiated his gay son's wedding in Massachusetts six years ago has been defrocked, according to officials from the church.
Rev. Frank Schaefer was placed on a 30-day suspension while members of the United Methodist Church mulled his punishment for presiding over his son's same-sex union in 2007.
He met with church officials on Thursday, whereupon he was told to resign. According to the Associated Press, Schaefer was instructed to follow the words of the Book of Discipline, which the pastor adamantly stood against, saying that the book was discriminatory against homosexual people.
Schaefer stated earlier this week that he wouldn't give up his credentials voluntarily.
Spokesperson from the church John Coleman told AP on Thursday that officials made the decision to defrock Schaefer.
The 51-year-old pastor walked out of the brief meeting without comment, but did say that he'd speak on the decision later in the day.
Schaefer, who was born in Germany, was instructed to give up his position in the church in central Pennsylvania. But the pastor said earlier this week that he would stand against the "contradictory" doctrine.
"I am actively committing to having those discriminatory laws changed and banished from our Book of Discipline," Schaefer told the press. "That's the only way I can reconcile being a United Methodist at this point."
Schaefer's actions were regarded as "incompatible with Christian teaching," despite the fact that LGBT people are welcomed and accepted into the faith, according to the United Methodist Church's stance on gay and lesbian members.
During a press conference on Monday, Schaefer said that he was answering the call to love all people, and that he had no reason to apologize.
"I cannot voluntarily surrender my credentials because I am a voice now for many-for tens of thousands-of LGBT members in our church," he said.