Methodist Pastor Faces Trial for Gay Son's Wedding

A United Methodist pastor in southeastern Pennsylvania faces a church trial for officiating the 2007 same-sex marriage of his son.

The Rev. Frank Schaefer says he knew that Methodist law forbade him from performing the ceremony. But he says that he believes God wants him to minister to all people.

The trial emerges as the latest flashpoint in a debate roiling the nation's largest mainline Protestant denomination. Hundreds of Methodist ministers have rejected church doctrine on homosexuality and some face discipline for presiding over same-gender weddings.

On Saturday, some 50 clergy plan to show their support by presiding over a same-sex ceremony at a Methodist church in Philadelphia.

Schaefer said he informed superiors that he planned to officiate the wedding, but faced no discipline until a congregant filed a complaint.