Conservative PC(USA) Minister Condemns Lesbian Pastor's Acquittal
by Jim Brown
March 9, 2006
(AgapePress) - - "Another dagger thrust into the heart of the Presbyterian Church USA" -- that's how one conservative Presbyterian minister is characterizing a church court's acquittal of a minister in California, who presided at weddings for lesbian couples in 2004 and 2005.
San Rafael pastor Rev. Jane Spahr stood accused of official misconduct for her performance of the same-sex ceremonies. She testified that, even though she knew the PC(USA) reserved marriage for a man and a woman, she used the language the couples wanted when she presided over the nuptials.
If found guilty, Spahr could have faced anything from a rebuke to dismissal from the ministry. Nevertheless, the 63-year-old minister performed the ceremonies, despite the fact that they were not recognized by her denomination or by the State of California.
And now, a judicial panel of the Presbytery of the Redwoods has acquitted the minister. The panel ruled that Spahr, a lesbian and a homosexual rights activist, was "acting within her right of conscience in performing the marriage ceremonies for same-sex couples."
Pastor Parker T. Williamson, CEO of the Presbyterian Lay Committee, says the ruling in this case is very damaging to a denomination already wounded by its liberal leadership. "We're facing huge budget deficits," he says, "because people are getting fed up with this liberal leadership that has turned its back on scripture."
Many in the PC(USA) have become disaffected over the leftist tendencies of the denominational leaders, Williamson contends, and he says this decision by the Redwoods Presbytery court "simply is one more nail driven into that coffin. We're going to lose a lot of faithful Presbyterians over this."
The church court ruled 6-1 that the section of the Presbyterian Church (USA) Constitution that reserves marriage for a man and a woman "is a definition, not a directive." Spahr rejoiced at the ruling; but even though she was acquitted, Williamson says she could still be removed from the pulpit.
"One thing that could happen," the head of the Lay Committee points out, "is that another Presbytery -- there are 173 Presbyteries in the denomination -- could file a case against this Presbytery and say [the Redwoods panel] didn't interpret the law of the church properly." If such a challenge occurred, he explains, "That, then, would go up to the higher courts."
Williamson is convinced the Redwoods Presbytery panelists' decision to acquit Spahr after she defied both the church and the state to perform the same-sex wedding ceremonies should not stand. By her actions, he contends, the lesbian activist pastor has "blatantly defied scripture and the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church."
Jim Brown, a regular contributor to AgapePress, is a reporter for American Family Radio News, which can be heard online.
