An appeals panel of the United Methodist Church has reinstated a pastor who was defrocked late last year for officiating his gay son's marriage and saying he would do the same for other same-sex couples.

In a Tuesday opinion, the nine-person panel overturned a lower church court's decision to defrock Frank Schaefer, of Lebanon, Penn., and restore his pastoral credentials in the church.

"I can't even begin to describe how meaningful this 'refrocking' is to me," Schaefer said in a statement. "I never did understand the severity of my punishment for an act of love for my son Tim. The committee of appeals understood that my defrocking sought to penalize me not for what I did but for what I might do in the future."

Schaefer was initially suspended on Nov. 18, 2013 for 30 days for officiating his son's 2007 marriage to another man and in December was defrocked for saying he would also marry other same-sex couples if asked.

The appeals panel upheld the 30-day suspension and ordered the church to compensate Schaefer for all lost salary and benefits dating from the end of the suspension, or Dec. 19, 2013.

A message was left with Schaefer seeking additional comment.