Group calls Spahr decision schismatic and a threat to constitutional connection
The Layman Online, March 16, 2006
Calling it “schismatic and a threat to the very fabric of our constitutional connection,” a renewal ministry within the Presbyterian Church (USA) is asking for an appeal of a ruling in which a minister and lesbian activist was acquitted on charges that she violated denominational law when she married two same-sex couples.
A seven-member California Redwoods Presbytery Permanent Judicial Commission determined March 3 that the Rev. Dr. Jane Adams Spahr committed “no offense” and acted “within her right of conscience” when she pronounced each lesbian couple “bride and bride and partners in life” in 2004 and 2005.
The three-woman, four-man tribunal deliberated five hours March 3 to determine whether Spahr acted contrary to the denomination’s Book of Order, which defines marriage as a gift of God and a covenant between a woman and a man. Spahr challenged the church constitution that allows the blessing of same-sex unions, yet forbids homosexual weddings.
In a statement issued by its board of directors, the Presbyterian Forum calls the PJC action a “destructive and constitutionally flawed decision.” The Forum also endorsed a statement by the Presbyterian Coalition that calls the Redwoods action “a decision stunning for its disregard of Presbyterian constitutional law.”
The complete text of the Forum’s statement, signed by Executive Director Katie Brandt, is as follows:
“The Board of Directors of the Presbyterian Forum has voted unanimously to endorse the statement by the Presbyterian Coalition on the Spahr verdict. We believe that the Coalition is precisely correct when it asserts that the decision is “schismatic and a threat to the very fabric of our constitutional connection.”
“Therefore, for the welfare of the whole church, we also encourage the members of the prosecuting committee of the Presbytery of the Redwoods to appeal the decision under the provisions of D-13.0106b.
“If you agree, we ask you to communicate your support in writing to the Coalition with a copy to The Layman and/or Presbyweb. Further, we also encourage you regularly to remember the members of the prosecuting committee in prayer as they consider their responsibility vis-à-vis this destructive and constitutionally flawed decision.”