Philadelphia, Pa., Dec 2, 2004 / 22:00 pm
A 13-members jury, made up of United Methodist church clergy, has found Pastor Irene Elizabeth Stroud guilty of violating church law by living openly with her homosexual partner, reported AgapePress.
Stroud could be defrocked as a result of the ruling, which came on the second day of her church trial.
Stroud’s congregation in Philadelphia had already agreed that she could continue preaching, teaching, and doing pastoral work as a lay employee should she be found guilty. She would not, however, be able to celebrate baptism or communion.
The Pennsylvania pastor had told the church trial Dec. 1 that she lives with her lesbian partner, Chris Paige. However, she did not plead guilty to violating the denomination's ban on homosexual clerics in non-celibate relationships.