The proceeding marked the seventh time over the last two decades that the church has held a trial involving homosexuality, according to the United Methodist News Service. The church is expected to take a hard look at its policies on homosexuality during its legislative conference in 2012, Lambrecht said.

An openly-gay United Methodist minister was suspended from her religious duties for 20 days after elders decided on Thursday that she violated church doctrine by performing a same-sex wedding.

Rev. Amy Delong was also required to write a paper about how she should deal with issues that “create an adversarial spirit” within the church, according Rev. Tom Lambrecht, representing the Wisconsin Conference of the United Methodist Church.

“We feel good that it recognizes that there was a violation of church law and that there is a punishment levied,” Lambrecht said of the decision.

DeLong is required to complete the first draft of the document by January 1, 2012. The final draft is to be completed by June of 2012. If she fails to comply with the ruling, DeLong will be suspended from her ministerial duties for one year.

Delong said her goals during the proceeding were to tell the truth about herself, to help the church live up to its goals, and to send a message of love to gays.

“I am standing in the light of God and feel confident and strong. We have opened some doors and it feels like a new day,” she said after the trial.

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