Presbytery Votes Not To Discipline Minister Who Married Same-Gender Couples
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Presbytery Votes Not To Discipline Minister Who Married Same-Gender Couples
Redwoods Presbytery voted against censure recommendation of national church judicial commission, affirming the ministry of Rev. Dr. Jane Adams Spahr in performing same-gender marriages
SAN ANSELMO, CA –
In a historic turn of events, the Presbytery of the Redwoods has voted not to discipline Rev. Dr. Jane Adams Spahr, despite the ruling of the Presbyterian Church (USA)'s highest judicial body, the General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission, that they discipline her by means of rebuke, based on same-gender weddings the retired minister performed in 2008.
The original verdict was handed down at a trial that took place in August, 2010, by the local judicial commission of the Redwoods Presbytery. In that trial 10 same-gender couples married by Spahr testified on her behalf. The local ruling sent mixed messages, suggesting that even though Rev. Spahr was a faithful minister, the Church’s rules bound them to find her guilty of violating the denomination’s constitution.
Appeals to higher courts at the regional Synod of Pacific in March 2011 and to the national General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission in February 2012 upheld the ruling made at the local level.
The rebuke was to be delivered at a regularly scheduled meeting on May 15, 2012 after a vote by the Presbytery. Before the vote, however, one of Rev. Spahr’s church lawyers, Scott Clark, made a motion requesting that the Presbytery not impose the disciplinary action.
His motion read, in part:
“…WHEREAS the love of God in Jesus Christ is for all people, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people;
“WHEREAS, The Gospel of Jesus Christ and the constitution require that full inclusion and pastoral care be extended to all members of the
church…
“…WHEREAS, the 38-year ministry of the Rev. Dr. Jane Adams Spahr has been faithful to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to her calling…
“…Be it RESOLVED that the Presbytery of the Redwoods opposes imposition of the rebuke set forth in the decision dated August 27, 2010,
as inconsistent with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (USA), and the faithful life of ministry lived out in
this Presbytery.”
Several of those in attendance stood up and spoke in favor of the motion. Three spoke against.
Rev. Jim Rigby, a visiting Presbyterian minister from Austin, Texas called on the Redwoods Presbytery, to be a “lighthouse to the nation.” Rigby challenged the Presbytery to, “Cross the line and suffer for the values which you hold. To participate with this rebuke will be an act of violence not only against LGBT people but against your own conscience.”
Speaking on her own behalf, and on behalf of the couples she had married, Spahr stated, “This rebuke is not about me. I’m not afraid to be rebuked, but stop rebuking the love of these couples. If we stop this rebuke, we can help stop the violence committed against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in the church.
The vote was held by standing and counting recognized commissioners of the Presbytery who were for and against the motion. The motion carried 74-18. It is not known if there will be consequences for the Presbytery for taking this stand, but the Rev. Robert Conover (the Presbytery’s chief executive) pledged the Presbytery’s readiness to respond in the event any further charges are brought over this case.
Rev. Spahr and her supporters were ecstatic after the ruling.
Sara Taylor, one of Spahr's church lawyers, stated, "The Presbytery made an historic decision to stand with the couples who were married, and to stand with Rev. Spahr's decisions of conscience.”
Beverly Brewster, another of Spahr’s church lawyers stated, “It seems as though this Presbytery is putting together its words and actions. This sends a message to ministers across the country that they no longer have to live in fear of being disciplined when they follow the Gospel and their conscience in providing pastoral care to same gender couples.”
Rev. Spahr stated that, “When couples come to me to help them in getting married, I tell them it doesn’t matter what their sexual orientation is, what matters is the quality of their relationships. I ask them how, as a Church, we can be supportive of them in their relationships. The Church should be at the forefront of blessing and supporting these relationships. Today’s ruling sends a message that same-gender marriages are not to be treated as second class, but that they are to be blessed as instruments of the love of God.”
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