Presbyterian appeals court reaffirms minister violated church policy by marrying same-sex couples [Updated]

A Presbyterian Church appeals court has affirmed an earlier ruling that the Rev. Dr. Jane Adams Spahr violated the Presbyterian constitution and her ordination vows for marrying more than a dozen same-sex couples during the brief window when it was legal to do so in California.

Spahr, 68, was found guilty in August after a four-day ecclesiastical trial in Napa, Calif. She appealed that verdict to the Permanent Judicial Commission of the Synod of the Pacific, which ruled that she violated church policy, which does not allow clergy to “state, imply or represent” that same-sex wedding ceremonies are church marriages.

“But in doing so, the members of the Synod PJC recognized that there is reason to question the basis for this disciplinary offense against Rev. Spahr,” said Sara Taylor, one of Spahr’s attorneys. “And it recommended that the church clarify its policy on gay marriage.... To date, the church has not formulated a clear and understandable policy.”

The retired Spahr plans to appeal the decision, which was made public Tuesday.

[Updated, 1:30 p.m.: But the Rev. Carmen Fowler, president of a conservative watchdog group called the Presbyterian Lay Committee, praised the ruling.

“The Synod PJC acted responsibly in upholding (the lower court) ruling under the current definition in the Presbyterian Constitution. That’s what their ruling highlights,” Fowler said, that marriage is “between one man and one woman.”]

During her August trial in Napa, 10 of the couples Spahr was charged with marrying gave emotional testimony about how important it was to them to be married in the eyes of the church by Spahr, a lesbian minister who has long worked for gay and lesbian rights.

In an email on behalf of Spahr and her legal team, attorney Scott Clark told those couples and other supporters that “we are disappointed with the decision.”

“We continue to hope and work for the day when the whole church (and these church courts) will celebrate Janie’s faithful ministry,” Clark wrote. “We continue to hope and work for the day when the church will live out the fullness and inclusiveness of the gospel of Jesus Christ.”

-- Maria L. LaGanga in San Francisco

Comments

[JZ]

When will folks once and for all get over the gay/lesbian issue? I would think the vast majority of them are quiet, law abiding citizens, who dont cause any problems for anyone.

Get over it for goodness sakes! With all of the problem and issues not only in this country but across the world, why on earth would anyone try to make life hard(er) for anyone?

Let them stay married.

[michael]

The PC(USA) is moving steadily toward full inclusion, so eventually this case will be moot.

[Zach]

Legally, people ought to get over it, JZ, but churches have their own decisions to make on God's law. It sounds like the church gave her no authorization and Spahr took it upon herself to do things. It sounds like that was a mistake and now she's accountable to those who authorize her to perform the ceremony (though the haters will surely show up here ready to stone her themselves).

[thomas]

JZ - when will you respect differences of views. Apparently never. The only thing important is what you think is important. Well, the world doesn't work like that.

[MY Christ loves me]

Why do gays stay with this church if this church believes that God doesn't want them to be married?

I know this is Presbyterian, but I was raised Catholic, and I left the Catholic Church because I don't need to be where I'm not welcomed. And I CERTAINLY no longer need to donate to any hateful church. As a matter of fact, I believe that churches should have to pay property taxes. They can have all the hate rules they want, but they don't deserve to mooch off of MY community.

[Richard]

LA TIMES REP, Please place my previous comment online. You may be accountable to God for your refusal.

[Hanna]

Honestly, I say that leave the reverend alone. I, personally, am Christian yet I strongly support gay and lesbian rights and marriage. If a man or woman decides to marry another man or woman (respectively), who are we to try and stop them? It is their decision to marry whoever they want, no matter what we may believe in. For those who oppose gay rights because of religion, their marriage is not affecting you in any way; if this lesbian reverend can be accepted by God and preach in a holy place, the church, then surely there is no problem with her marrying a dozen or more couples. She has a different sexuality than me, yet still loves God and is one of His children. We need to start fixing this discrimination now.

[Jenni]

What if I do not belong to their church? Why force one religion's beliefs on all of the rest-of-us. If i wanted to go to your church, I would. Doesn't this deny Freedom-Of-Religion?
So now, America is a country of Freedom-by- definiton, and Democracy -by-definition; especially when we have Religious Truth-by-definition?

Maybe it is called poor governemnt-by-anyone's definition.

[enay]

what would jesus do?

[DrJJJJ]

Secularization of church and state isn't working folks-the results are in and social ills have spiked dramatically-see any data matrix! Gay marriage is an oxymoron! Doesn't mean we hate gays or can't expand domestic partnership rights!

[Dan]

Separation of Church and State! If you are true to your religion, you follow their rules, like them or not!

[DrJJJJ]

God's law is law regardless of how you feel about it! Gay marriage is an oxymoron, always will be! We shouldn't hate gay relationships anymore than simialr types of sin (divorce, etc) and asking for domestic rights to be expanded sounds reasonable/ fair! Gay parades are much more hateful than anything I've seen come out of a church!