Associated Press: A lesbian minister in the United Methodist Church who lives with her partner was found guilty Thursday of violating a church ban on actively gay clergy and defrocked.
A 13-member jury made up of Methodist clergy convicted the Rev. Irene Elizabeth Stroud on the second day of her church trial. Methodist law bars "self-avowed, practicing homosexuals" from ministry. The jury voted 12-1 to find Stroud guilty; nine votes were necessary for conviction.
It voted 7-6 to defrock Stroud, the bare majority necessary in the penalty phase of the trial, though her supportive congregation in Philadelphia has said Stroud can continue performing most of her duties as a lay employee. However, she will be unable to celebrate baptism or Communion.
