Gay Minister's Church Trial Begins
Lutheran Congregation in Atlanta Strongly Supports Its Embattled Pastor
By Alan Cooperman
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, January 20, 2007

Members of the oldest Lutheran congregation in Atlanta washed their pastor's feet -- and he washed theirs -- in a gesture of mutual support as he prepared to go before a tribunal that may defrock him for living with another man.

The church trial of the Rev. Bradley E. Schmeling, 44, began yesterday behind closed doors at a downtown Atlanta hotel and was scheduled to continue through the weekend. the rest