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US pastor awaits fate over son's gay marriage

Frank Schaefer was pastor of Lebanon County United Methodist Church when he was found guilty by a church jury of breaking laws in 2013 for officiating his son's gay wedding in 2007.

Schaefer refused to say he would never perform another gay marriage and was suspended before being reinstated in June this year on appeal.

However, conservative members of the United Methodist Church appealed the decision to reinstate Schaefer.

This led to him having to attend a hearing before the Judicial Council - the Methodist Church's highest legal body - on Wednesday, regarding whether his reinstatement would stand.

Schaefer, who has three gay children, chose not to testify at this hearing.

He told US newspaper The Patriot-News: "I was present and I smiled and looked friendly.

"We feel good about our performance in the hearing today.

"We are cautiously optimistic that we will have a favourable ruling."

Rev Christopher Fisher, who argued against Schaefer's reinstatement at the hearing, said that deciding to reinstate him after suspending him "sends a message to the Church that it's OK to ignore and violate the discipline."

Several people with rainbow scarves attended Schaefer's hearing.

The Judicial Council is expected to make its final verdict within the next month.

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