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Methodist minister found guilty of breaking church rules

Following a trial in Kaukauna, a Methodist church jury has found a gay pastor guilty of breaking Church rules by officiating at a lesbian wedding. The jury has suspended United Methodist Reverend Amy DeLong from ministerial duties for 20 days.

The unusual part of the penalty requires DeLong to use those 20 days to work with a committee of church officials on creating a new process for resolving disputes over ministerial violations of church covenant. If she doesn't help write a report on this new process, she could be suspended for a year. United Methodists across the nation are watching the DeLong case. Pastors of churches in several states have also violated the ban on marrying gay couples. DeLong could appeal this ruling to the church's judicial council.

Before the penalty was imposed, she said she would not promise to abide by the ban on officiating at same sex weddings.

"Because the message that would give to the couple that I did join in holy union, it would give them the message that their union is somehow invalid," says DeLong. "And I would never send that message to them."

The United Methodis Church's prosecutor in the case, Reverend Tom Lambrecht, says church officials are pleased that the jury held DeLong accountable for violating church doctrine and creating animosity and division among church members. He calls the penalty a creative way of changing church procedure in a way that may prevent future trials like this one.

United Methodist officials say the current church rules on gay marriages is clear. They say God's love doesn't necessarily equate to acceptance of all behaviors.

Wisconsin schools and Google will work together

Wisconsin public schools can now use a suite of Google Apps as education aids thanks to an agreement between the internet giant and the state Department of Public Instruction (DPI).

The deal between Google and the DPI lets any of Wisconsin's 424 districts use a host of Google programs, including email, shared online calendars and the geographic imaging program, Google Earth. These programs are already free to the public and the deal didn't cost the districts any money. But the DPI had to negotiate a contract with Google in order to get them as a unique educational package.

DPI spokesman Patrick Gasper says negotiating a statewide contract saved districts the trouble of having to set up their own agreements. He adds it'll save districts money who are currently using software like Microsoft Outlook.

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