From the story: The highest court of the Presbyterian Church (USA) has acquitted a lesbian minister with local ties of performing a same-sex marriage, but it is unclear whether the ruling will affect a similar case ongoing in Pittsburgh Presbytery.
The Permanent Judicial Commission ruled this week that the Rev. Jane Spahr could not have performed a marriage -- even though she claimed to have -- because same-sex marriage is impossible under church law. The constitution of the Presbyterian Church (USA) defines marriage as the union of a man and a woman. Read more…
This ruling comes just a little more than a month before the PC (USA) General Assembly meeting in San Jose. According to a letter sent to the Presbyteries from the “Candidates and Inquirers for the Ministry of the Word and Sacrament who are Gay, Lesbian, Transgendered and Queer”, an attempt will be made to reject the Ordination Standards (G-6.0106B) at this year’s General Assembly meeting.
G-6.0106B is the ordination standard in the PC (USA) Book of Order, which serves as the Constitution for the denomination. This section states ”… Among these standards is the requirement to live either in fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman (W-4.9001), or chastity in singleness. Persons refusing to repent of any self-acknowledged practice which the confessions call sin shall not be ordained and/or installed as deacons, elders, or ministers of the Word and Sacrament.”
Should the ordination standard be overturned, look for a mass exodus from the PC (USA) which will do laps around the current loss of membership rate of about one member every 10 minutes.
1 comment:
I'm not sure this is a real response. If a member of the clergy is using the term "Marriage" then I would think the intent of that person should be considered.
Did Spahr attempt to perfrom a marriage reguardless of the validity? If so she sought to personally over rule authority.
I also can not understand how the Presbyterian Church can bless a relationship that would be rejected as valid.
I know this is a painful struggle yet God will gather the faithful together. We should all pray for a positive outcome.
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