Color me confused

Link:

LINTHICUM, Md. - The United Methodist Church reversed itself Friday, deciding to reinstate a lesbian minister who was defrocked after revealing her relationship with another woman.

A church panel voted 8 to 1 to set aside an earlier decision to defrock Irene "Beth" Stroud for violating the church's ban on openly gay clergy.

At the time of the "trial", the media coverege was extensive. Now they simply "set aside" the earlier decision? What the hell?

I'm pleased they reversed the decision, but why did they go through all the trouble to defrock her in the first place?

I guess there's no making sense of religous people..