August 27, 2010
By Edward Terry
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| The Rev. Jane Spahr speaking at a pro-LGBT rally (photo courtesy The Layman Online) |
The Permanent Judicial Commission (PJC) of the Presbytery of Redwoods on Friday found the Rev. Jane Spahr guilty in three of the four charges related to same-sex marriages she performed in 2008. But the PJC’s written decision dedicated more ink to rebuking the Presbyterian Church (USA) than Spahr.
According to the Presbytery of Redwoods Web site, the PJC sustained three of the four charges in 4-2 votes, and was unanimous in finding her not guilty of the fourth charge. The charges were brought in 2009 and dealt with 16 marriages Spahr performed in 2008 before voters repealed same-sex marriage rights in California.
The sustained charges were that the self-acknowledged lesbian minister:
1. Violated the PCUSA constitution and a previous General Assembly PJC ruling by marrying a same-sex couple. According to W-9001, a same-sex ceremony “is not and cannot be a marriage.”
2. Persisted in a pattern of disobedience by stating that the ceremonies she performed were marriages of the same sex.
3. Intentionally and repeatedly acted in violation of the authoritative interpretation of the Book of Order (as stated above) established in a previous case involving Spahr, thereby violating her ordination vows (W-4.4003e).
Spahr was cleared on the fourth charge that by “publicly, intentionally and repeatedly” acting in violation of the Book of Order, she failed to further the peace, unity and purity of the church (W-4.4003g).
In its ruling, the PJC was apologetic for the PCUSA’s position on same-sex marriage and called on the church to re-examine its own “fear and ignorance that continues to reject the inclusiveness” of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. . .
Read the entire article here.