Smart Talk: Defrocked pastor Frank Schaefer

What to look for on Smart Talk Monday, May 5, 2014:

In a case that made national headlines and had much of the country talking about how and whether religion and homosexuality can co-exist, Lebanon County minister Frank Schaefer was defrocked for officiating his son’s same-sex marriage.

The United Methodist Church charged and tried Pastor Schaefer last year with violating his vows and disobeying the Book of Discipline after the church learned of Schaefer’s role in the 2007 marriage of his son and his son’s partner.

Pastor Schaefer actually was given a reprieve if he promised to never perform a same-sex marriage again. He declined, noting that three of his four children are gay.

Frank Schaefer appears on Monday’s Smart Talk to tell his story and talk about the relationship between organized religion and homosexuality.

It is an especially timely discussion since same-sex marriage and acceptance of the LGBT community continue to be major topics of conversation across the country and here in Pennsylvania. As Schaefer points out, laws against same-sex marriage are often rooted in religion.

Schaefer was pastor at Lebanon Zion United Methodist Church of Iona until he was defrocked.