CASSOPOLIS, MI -- An openly gay Southwest Michigan pastor has said he was forced to resign earlier this week because he has a partner.

The Rev. Benjamin Hutchison has been a senior pastor at Cassopolis United Methodist Church since January 2013. Hutchison said he legally changed his last name to his partner's last name, Hutchison, in February 2013, and it has been well known and accepted in the congregation that he is gay.

"It's no different than I'm white," Hutchison said.

Hutchison was contacted by the United Methodist Church's district superintendent, the Rev. John Boley of Kalamazoo, on Monday. Boley asked to meet with him and said someone had made it known in the bishop's office that Hutchison has a gay partner.

"He asked me if I did and I said yes," Hutchison said. "By that evening at 7:00 I resigned under the condition of immediate termination. If I wouldn't have resigned, they would have fired me."

Hutchison, 31, said he was surprised and curious why it took so long and why the confrontation happened now. The Grand Rapids native said the church accepts members who are gay, but pastors cannot be gay. The church's Book of Discipline states:

"The practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching. Therefore self-avowed practicing homosexuals are not to be certified as candidates, ordained as ministers, or appointed to serve in The United Methodist Church."

Hutchison said he was hired to help the church grow its congregation. He said he helped grow the organization from less than 30 members to the more than 140 members that are listed in its directory now. He said he also helped the church become financially solvent by closing its $9,000 budget shortfall.

Hutchison said he understood when he took the job it might be difficult for the congregation and he understood it was against the United Methodist discipline.

"I've never been one to speak about gay issues from the pulpit," Hutchison said. "I've talked about inclusivity and God loves all people. The sermon was not about gay people. It was 'God loves all people. God forgives us all and we all need God.'"

Hutchison said the congregation is hurt, angry and upset. They have draped his pulpit and chair in black tulle, which they usually do to mourn a member's passing.

Church member Kevin Hershberger said the district superintendent held an "emotional" meeting with about 80 members of the congregation Wednesday to explain the move.

"His message was, it's in the Book of Discipline that we've got open doors to everybody. We welcome everybody, apparently, except for the pastor," Hershberger said.

Hershberger said Hutchison's work in the community has drawn more members, including himself, his children and grandchildren, into the church. He said he is going to miss his service and the way he plays music.

"It was a performance," Hershberger said of Hutchison's service. "It was so enjoyable to go there and listen. There was a saying amongst the congregation, if someone was new, 'If you liked it this week, just wait 'til next week. You'll like it better.'"

Hershberger said he started attending the church regularly in November, after Hutchison had reached out to him and supported him for an appointment with the county. Hershberger said he and his family had been looking for a church.

"This church was dying when he came here," Hershberger said. "They weren't far from closing the doors. It was real close. He came in, worked on it, got people to come. ... He brought life back into that church."

Hershberger said Hutchison is looked up to in the greater community, not just within the church.

"He's so influential," Hershberger said. "He built a congregation because he went to all of the village meetings and county meetings just because. Everyone got to know him. He wanted to know what was going on. It meant enough to him and that also got everybody to know him."

Hershberger said it was never a secret Hutchison is gay, and it wasn't an issue with the congregation. In fact, the church's marquee bears a message of support for Hutchison.

"I'm straight," Hershberger said. "I knew when we started that he was gay, but he's not in your face about it. He's not asking you to be gay. All he wanted was friends. In Cass, he found acceptance. That means a lot to him and everybody in that church. There's nobody in that church who had a problem (with it)."

Hutchison said he plans to marry his partner, Monty Hutchison, outside the Cass County courthouse on Friday.

Hutchison, who has master's degrees in social work, divinity and theology, said he plans to look for a job as a social worker in a hospital in the Ann Arbor or Detroit areas. He said his dream is to be a professor and obtain a doctorate in clinical psychology.

"I'm still waiting for the shell shock to wear off," Hutchison said. "I'm looking forward to being married to my husband. I'm looking forward to our next chapter together."

Calls to the Cassopolis United Methodist Church and the district superintendent's office weren't immediately returned Thursday. The Methodist Church has released a statement to media stating that the church's clergy and laity will discuss the church's official position on gay pastors at its General Conference in May 2016 in Portland, Ore.

Emily Monacelli is a reporter for the Kalamazoo Gazette. Contact her at emonacel@mlive.com or follow her on Twitter.