The Church of the Nazarene has expelled a prominent theologian and minister from the denomination, for affirming and advocating for same-sex marriage and LGBTQ+ inclusion.

On Saturday, Rev. Thomas Jay Oord was found guilty of advancing teachings that were contrary to the Church of the Nazarene’s doctrine. The court ruled that Oord be stripped of his preaching credentials and expelled from membership.

The Church’s Regional Board of Discipline stated that “Oord is guilty of conduct unbecoming a minister and of teaching doctrines out of harmony with the doctrinal statement of the Church of the Nazarene,” as reported by the Religion News Service.

It comes after Oord co-authored a book with his bisexual daughter Alexa, titled Why the Church of the Nazarene Should Be Fully LGBTQ+ Affirming.

The 2.5 million-member global denomination states its position that “the practice of same-sex sexual intimacy is contrary to God’s will" in its Church of the Nazarene Manual.

The court also took issue with Oord’s disregard for church leadership, stating that he had “shown absolutely no repentance or willingness to submit to the authority of the church,” after being asked multiple times to stop advocating for LGBTQ+ issues. 

“His behavior exhibits a pattern of disregard and disrespect for authority,” the court added.

Oord expressed his disappointment at the verdict, saying he had hoped the Church of the Nazarene could be a “place for me and those who fully affirm queer people and their allies.”

In response to the verdict, former BBC presenter and Public Engagement Lead at Christian think tank Theos Andrew Graystone announced his resignation from the Church of the Nazarene membership. 

“I have co-taught with Thomas Jay Oord and contributed to a volume he edited. I have resigned my church membership in solidarity with him and our queer siblings,” he wrote on X.