pastor frank schafer and pastor robert jeffries, thank you so much for speaking with us this morning. >> thank you you to both. >> thank you. >> merry christmas. >> you to, too. >> merry christmas you to. >>> for more stories on faith, be sure to check out our belief blog at cnn.com/belief. >>> switching gears, a man who used to be russia's richest sat down exclusive wli cnn to talk about his time in prison for the first time since getting out. >> mchale was released on friday after president putin signed a amnesty decree. he was a major critic of the government and he's been in prison for ten years. charges in which he maintained innocence. he spoke about one incident where he says he was stabbed in the face. >> when i was stabbed with a knife. i was lucky. >> translator: it just -- he tried to get to my eye but got my nose. as a result, the dentist who was there was somebody who was also a plastic surgeon. and carried out the operation on me which means it was virtually not noticeable. >> more of "new day" after the break. a subaru... ...are the hands that do good things for the who

they criticized the church for stripping reverend frank schafer of his credentials. the church also removed him as pastor in lebanon pennsylvania. supporters say it is wrongful for the church to punish him for standing by his son's gay relationship. schafer is appealing the church's decision. >> you know, it took me many years for this evolution of becoming a supporter of lgbt issues. i was not always in support, so i cannot judge anybody, and that's what i'm seeing going on right now within our church, as well. there are people that feel strongly on the other side of the issue, but i'm hoping and praying that they also will go through this evolution, and come to the same place that i have come to, mainly to accept all lgbt members of our church, and their rights. >> the pass tor says he has already been invited to join several other churches. a georgia school board is taking an aggressive stance in an effort to protect students from gun violence. board mens just voted to allowed train security officers to have military style assault rifles, they claim this will make

. >> at the time, frank schafer was assigned there were certain homophobic people that took issue with anyone assigned here. there was an environment of what we could do to get rid of frank and receive a new pastor. >> i received a phone call from my district superintendent back in late march, saying that somebody in my congregation has obtained the license of my gay son's wedding that i performed, the complainant was invited to tell his concerns and share with the bishop, she appointed a clergy person, a colleague of mine to conduct the investigation. at the end of which he proclaims there needs to be a trial. as i am addressing those that consider me an enemy, i want to say to them, i love you. and i will never harm you. >> the trial lasted two days, two long grueling days. i motionly for me. there was 1 point where the crowd got a little bit excited, because one of the cross examiners had suggested that what if this case was about racism. and the woman he was cross-examining said well maybe it should be. and people cheered and the judge said stop. we need to have control in this cou

moments ago, frank schafer reacting to that decision at a news conference. >> i said to myself, you know, i just can't see them take my credentials. what i did was an act of love for my son. i'm here to tell you that i will not give up the fight. i am still a minister in my heart. and i will continue to minister. i will continue to be a voice for the lgbt community. >> well, when he was suspended, schafer had been ordered to stop performing same-sex weddings or turn in his credentials. earlier this week, pastor schafer announced he would do neither. pastor schafer said he hoped the church would change its doctrine, which he called, quote, discriminatory. we'll be right back. how naughty was he? oh boy... [ male announcer ] fedex one rate. simple, flat rate shipping with the reliability of fedex. [ male announcer ] fedex one rate. don'neutralize them odorand freshen.ash. with glad odorshield with febreze. life with crohn's disease ois a daily game of "what if's". what if my abdominal pain and cramps end our night before it even starts? what if i eat the wrong thing? what if? what if i sud