GOSHEN, Ind. (AP) – Two Mennonite conferences plan to review the credentials of a Goshen pastor who presided over the marriage of a same-sex couple in violation of the religion's rules.
Assembly Mennonite Church Pastor Karl Shelly said he performed the service in May after determining he believes same-sex unions merit equal standing with heterosexual unions.
The Elkhart Truth reports Mennonite Church USA guidelines state pastors holding credentials “may not perform a same-sex covenant ceremony.” His credentials will be reviewed by the Indiana-Michigan and Central District conferences that oversee the Assembly Mennonite Church.
Mennonite Church USA denominational minister Nancy Kauffmann says no pastor has lost a credential for performing a same-sex marriage. Central District Conference minister Lois Johns Kaufmann says it once before reviewed a pastor for performing a same-sex marriage ceremony.
