Biography Timeline
(view as short autobiographical essay)

Short intro: Rev. Franklyn Schaefer has been an ordained minister in the United Methodist Church, serving in the United States for more than 20 years.

  • Even though Pastor Frank has three gay children, he never considered himself an activist until his Church denomination put him on trial for presiding over the marriage of his son Tim to another man in 2013.

  • The Church jury gave him an ultimatum: either recant and promise to never perform another gay marriage or be sacked (or "defrocked").

  • Pastor Frank's decision was to stand with his children and the LGBTQ+ community, reject the offer and condemn the homophobic stance of the Church.

  • He was subsequently stripped of his credentials and lost his local church (which he had served for 11 years), though he was later reinstated following a long judical appeals process.

  • As his story was highly publicized, he became a national speaker and human rights activist defending equal rights (including religious rights) for the LGBTQ + community.

  • Pastor Frank's story is told in the 2015 documentary "An Act of Love." He also published a book entitled "Defrocked - How A Father's Act of Love Shook the United Methodist Church."


Media Appearances:
 

Timeline:
 

  • Frank was born on December 7,1961 in Wuppertal, Germany

  • In 1978, he graduated from Realschule Neue Friedrichstrasse

  • In 1980, he earned his Fachabitur from the Fachoberschule Velbert and enrolled in the electrical engineering program at the Fachhochschule Hagen where he studied for 2 years (equivalent of an associate's college degree)

  • In 1980, he married Brigitte Meyer at the Baptist church Rolandstrasse, Wuppertal.

  • in 1983, Frank & Brigitte's son Tim, was born; daughter Deborah was born in 1985, Kevin in 1990, and Jordan Pascal in 1994.

  • In 1988, Frank earned a degree as a professional translator issued by the State of Nordrhein Westfalen, Germany

  • In 1990, after feeling called to the ministry, the Schaefers immigrated to the United States were Frank attended Valley Forge University and, afterwards, Princeton Theological Seminary.

  • Between 1993 - 1996, he worked as a student minister at Morrisville United Methodist Church in PA. In 1994 Frank and Brigitte's son Jordan Pascal was born.

  • In 1996, Frank graduated from Princeton Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity degree.

  • Frank was ordained in the United Methodist church and appointed to the Avon Zion UMC in Lebanon, PA which he served for five years.

  • During his ministry at Avon Zion UMC, Frank started the  Desperate Preacher's Site (Wikipedia article), a ministry that offers a forum for ministers to discuss ideas about each Sunday's lectionary texts (based on the Revised Common Lectionary). The site is located at https://desperatepreacher.com.

  • From 2001-2002, Frank worked as a resident chaplain at Hershey Medical Center while also obtaining a degree in Clinical Pastoral Education from Penn State University..

  • In 2002, Frank was appointed to the Zion United Methodist Church. of Iona in Lebanon County where he ministered for more than 11 years.

  • In 2008, Frank published his first music album under the artist name "Franklyn Schaefer."  His contemporary Country CD "Keep on Smiling" contains 10 songs that express his life wisdom, experience and beliefs. The CD was released during a CD Party at the Zion Iona church.

  • In 2011 he published an EP with 6 Contemporary Christian songs entitled: Love Like An Ocean

  • In 2013 Frank published his third CD entitled: Guitar Reflections: Then & Now which contains 10 instrumental pieces, two of them originals, the other eight arrangements of classical tunes, such as Greensleeves, the Canon in D and Wye Valley.

  • In 2013, Frank produced an original song in the ancient Gothic language, entitled "Atta Unsar" (The Lord's Prayer) under the band name: Gothic Sage. Along with the song, he also published a music video and an educational website on the ancient Gothic people for which he wrote several articles.

  • In 2013, judicial charges were filed against Frank in the Eastern PA Conference of the United Methodist Church  for performing his son’s same sex marriage and a church trial found him guilty and the Church defrocked him on December 19th.

  • In June of 2014, Frank's book "Defrocked" was published by Chalice Press using his artist moniker "Franklyn Schaefer" in order to avoid confusion with the "other" Frank Schaeffer.

  • In 2014 Frank was reinstated into the clergy status of the United Methodist Church following a successful appeal to the NE Jurisdictional Committee on Appeals.

  • On 10/27 a hearing in front of the Judicial Council--the highest court and last instance of the UM Church--reaffirmed the JCOA decision which meant that Frank could keep his ministerial credentials in the United Methodist Church.

  • On July 1, 2014 Frank was appointed by Bishop Minerva Carcaño to a church restart in the student town of Isla Vista, California, where he has been building a ministry now known as University United Methodist Church.

  • In October 2015 An Act of Love made its debut at Mill Valley Film Festival. This documentary, directed by Scott Sheppard/Kate Logan and produced by Pauley Perrette, chronicles the Schaefer family's story of becoming outspoken LGBTQ supporters within the United Methodist Church.

  • Frank also published the following singles: Magnificat (2011), Atta Unsar (2013), In Excelsis Deo (2015), Lord of the Dance (2016), Run Jimmy Run (2018), The Rock (2020) and Ein Ros Entsprungen (2020).

  • In addition to the numerous music publications, Frank also produced 12 Original Ministry Videos along with a few music videos based on his original music.


Music and Video Publications

Albums and Songs

Music Videos (more on YouTube):

Christian Music Videos:

Live Performances:

 


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