In brief: Gay marriage won’t result in defrocking

Nashville, Tenn. – A Methodist pastor who was disciplined after he officiated at the wedding of his gay son will be allowed to remain an ordained minister.

The Judicial Council of the nation’s second-largest Protestant denomination ruled Monday that a Pennsylvania church jury was wrong to defrock Frank Schaefer last year after he would not promise never to perform another same-sex wedding.

The council ruled on technical grounds and did not express support for gay marriage in general. Its decision is final.

Reached by phone after the decision, Schaefer called it “amazing.”

He said he was pleased, “not just for myself, but for everyone in the LGBTQ community and the church. This is a positive decision that keeps the dialogue going.”

Colorado theater shooter’s trial delayed

CENTENNIAL, Colo. – A Colorado judge has postponed the death penalty trial for movie theater shooter James Holmes so that Holmes’ attorneys can have more time to evaluate a second report on their client’s sanity.

Judge Carlos Samour wrote in a Monday ruling that jury selection will start Jan. 20. It had been set for Dec. 8.

The new schedule won’t unnecessarily delay the case but gives Holmes’ attorneys time to analyze the second sanity exam and prepare for trial, Samour wrote in the order.

Jury selection could take months, with opening statements to begin in early June, as previously expected.

Holmes, 26, a former graduate student in neuroscience, pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to charges of killing 12 people and injuring 70 in the July 20, 2012, attack.