Presbyterian Group Rejects Court Ruling, Supports Minister on Gay Weddings
The governing body for Northern California Presbyterian churches has defied the denomination’s highest court and refused to rebuke a minister for performing same-sex weddings.
The Permanent Judicial Commission of the Presbyterian Church (USA) had ruled in February that the Reverend Jane Adams Spahr of San Francisco should be rebuked by her presbytery for performing 16 such weddings during the period in 2008 that same-sex marriage was legal in California. The denomination allows ministers to bless gay unions but not to characterize them as marriages.
But Tuesday, members of the Presbytery of the Redwoods voted 74-18 to reject the ruling and support Spahr, the Los Angeles Times reports. Church officials said they believe it is the first time a presbytery has gone against the Permanent Judicial Commission.
“Today, this presbytery said we’re equal,” Spahr told the Times. “Love and justice became friends here today.”
http://www.advocate.com/society/religion/2012/05/16/presbyterian-body-goes-against-court-ruling-and-supports-minister-gay
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