The Rev. Dr. Norman J. Kansfield has been found guilty by his denomination and suspended from ministry for conducting a marriage ceremony for his daughter and her partner. The New York Times reports:
SCHENECTADY, N.Y., June 17 - In the first trial of a minister in 100 years, the general assembly of the Reformed Church in America found Friday night that the Rev. Dr. Norman J. Kansfield, a leading Protestant theologian, had violated church law by officiating at the marriage of his daughter, Ann, to her partner, Jennifer Aull, a year ago.
The delegates also voted to suspend Dr. Kansfield, 65, from the ministry until he changes his views to fall in line with church doctrine, and to strip him of his standing as a professor of theology in the church.
Dr. Kansfield said the decision was "going to be very hard to deal with.
"My life," he said, "has been the ministry." But he was encouraged that at least one-third of the delegates - those who did not vote against him - were willing to consider a "far more open stance on the inclusion of gay people."
Rev. Kansfield has paid a high price for following his call from God to minister to all. Courage and conviction – and criticism – are the hallmarks of faithfulness. My prayer is that he be returned to ministry and that all of our churches one day ask God’s forgiveness for how gays and lesbians have been treated by those who claim the title Christian.
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