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SACRAMENTO–

82 retired United Methodist pastors in the California-Nevada Conference say they will defy the church and performs same-sex marriages if active pastors decline.

Violating the church’s Book of Discipline, which prohibits same-sex weddings performed by pastors on church property, has resulted in sanctions in other conferences within the 13 million-member church.

But Rev. Don Fado – who is retired from St. Mark’s United Methodist Church – says the Book of Discipline also urges  members to welcome gays and lesbians into the church, requiring a moral stance.

“We refuse to treat some people as inferior and second class children of God,” said Fado.

Rev. Larry George, who said he experienced bigotry when he was growing up in the Midwest, said marriage equality is a human rights issue.

“I’m still waiting for someone to explain to me how my marriage can be strengthened by condemning someone else’s,” said George.

If the retired pastors are sanctioned by the church and their credentials are taken away, they could lose their tax exemption for their housing allowance – and possibly their group health insurance.  The California-Nevada Conference in recent years hasn’t taken action against their pastors who perform same-sex marriages, but punishment could come from the national level.