SPRING CITY, Pa. (AP) -- A United Methodist minister convicted of breaking church law by officiating at the same-sex wedding of his son said Tuesday he is unrepentant, declaring he has been called by God to be an advocate for the rights of gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgendered people. The Rev. Frank Schaefer, testifying at the penalty phase of his church trial in southeastern Pennsylvania, also refused to promise he wouldn't perform another same-sex union -- putting himself in jeopardy of losing his minister's credentials. A day after convicting him, the 13-member jury of fellow Methodist clergy got the case late Tuesday afternoon and began deliberating Schaefer's punishment, following a church trial that has renewed debate over the denomination's policies on homosexuality and same-sex marriage. Rather than beg for mercy Tuesday, the pastor upped the stakes. The church "needs to stop judging people based on their sexual orientation," he said. "We have to stop the hate speech. We have to stop treating them as second-class Christians." A church prosecutor asked jurors to defrock the defiant pastor, saying ordained clergy can't be permitted to break church law with impunity. The Rev. Christopher Fisher said in his closing argument that Schaefer refuses to live by his vows and should be kicked out of ministry. "We should let him go and wish him well," Fisher said. Schaefer donned a rainbow-colored stole on the witness stand and told jurors it symbolized his commitment to the cause. "I will never be silent again," he said, as some of his supporters wept in the gallery. "This is what I have to do." His counsel, the Rev. Robert Coombe, asked for lenience. He told jurors they could help "shape the church we are becoming" and urged them to reject a punishment that is "punitive, retributive or harsh." "The whole world is watching," Coombe said in his closing argument. Jurors have options short of revoking Schaefer's credentials. They could also issue a reprimand or suspend Schaefer for violating a church law that forbids pastors from marrying same-sex partners.