A retired Presbyterian pastor who spent her career ministering to gay men and lesbians has been censured by her denomination for marrying same-sex couples during the brief time such unions were legal in California.

The Rev. Jane Adams Spahr lost her final appeal before the highest court in the Presbyterian Church (USA), which released its opinion Tuesday. The tribunal ruled that the 69-year-old lesbian had violated the church's constitution and her ordination vows when she officiated at the unions of 16 couples and called them marriages.

A lower court's rebuke of Spahr was upheld, along with the warning that pastors should not represent the marriage of gay or lesbian couples as Presbyterian marriages....

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Filed under: * Christian Life / Church Life • Liturgy, Music, Worship • Parish Ministry • Ministry of the Ordained • * Culture-Watch • Law & Legal Issues • Marriage & Family • Religion & Culture • Sexuality • --Civil Unions & Partnerships • * Religion News & Commentary • Other Churches • Presbyterian • Sexuality Debate (Other denominations and faiths) • * Theology • Anthropology • Ethics / Moral Theology • Pastoral Theology

1. Ralph wrote: On Tuesday, Spahr said she would continue to marry gay and lesbian couples regardless of the verdict by the General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission, the church’s version of the U.S. Supreme Court. “I feel sad for the couples who are going to hear another no” said Spahr, who lives in San Francisco. “I feel sad for the church. My concern is that it will make ministers fearful to do the most loving and right thing.” If she is unrepentant and defiant, she should be defrocked. February 22, 10:41 am | [comment link]

2. Archer_of_the_Forest wrote: I thought Presbyterians had voted to allow Same Sex Marriages? February 22, 12:10 pm | [comment link]

3. Adam 12 wrote: #2: Changes were made to the Book of Order liberalizing standards for candidates for ordination so they are much like TEC. February 22, 1:30 pm | [comment link]

4. Archer_of_the_Forest wrote: Ah, so I guess the Presbyterians are predestined to incoherence as we are. February 22, 1:55 pm | [comment link]

5. evan miller wrote: #4 Doubly so. February 23, 2:40 pm | [comment link]

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