[Thomas] Ogletree, 80, is a Yale Divinity School professor emeritus, veteran of the civil rights movement and lifelong member of the Methodist tradition. Ogletree is declining interview requests at this time.<\/p>\n
But, in May, he told United Methodist News Service that as a professor, he rarely has been asked to perform weddings. When his son asked him to officiate, he said he felt \u201cdeeply moved.\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n
He said in a statement released Jan. 17 that \u201cI could not with any integrity as a Christian refuse my son\u2019s request to preside at his wedding.\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is a shame that the church is choosing to prosecute me for this act of love, which is entirely in keeping with my ordination vows to \u201d\u02dcseek peace, justice, and freedom for all people\u2019 and with Methodism\u2019s historic commitment to inclusive ministry embodied in its slogan \u201d\u02dcopen hearts, open minds, open doors.\u2019\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n