A longtime Presbyterian pastor who was acquitted of charges that she violated the church's ban on performing same-sex ceremonies will be back in church court on Friday.
The Rev. Jane Adams Spahr, a lesbian activist who claimed to have performed hundreds of same-sex "marriages," faces an appeal by Redwoods Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in California.
Spahr was acquitted on Mar. 2, 2006, when the Redwoods Permanent Judicial Commission (PJC) determined that Spahr had acted within her right of conscience as an ordained minister when she married two lesbian couples in 2004 and 2005. The acquittal was made on the basis that the PC(USA) views same-sex "marriages" as "improper" but not necessarily "forbidden."
Conservative Presbyterians immediately criticized the decision and predicted a quick appeal.
“We view its’ (PJC’s) action as schismatic and a threat to the very fabric of our constitutional connection," said a statement by the Presbyterian Forum.
The PC(USA) allows pastors to oversee same-sex ceremonies as long as they are not equated to heterosexual marriages. The PC(USA) Book of Order defines marriage as between a man and a woman.
Spahr is hopeful her acquittal would be upheld, according to the Presbyterian News Service.
"I’m hopeful that the same kind of consideration that was done by the presbytery judicial commission will be done with the same kind of careful process which is [the Presbyterian] way,” said Spahr, who is set to retire from ministry at the end of this month, according to PNS.
Spahr's attorney, Sara Taylor, said her client would appeal any punishment which ranges from a reprimand to removal from ministry, despite her upcoming retirement.
The appeal will be heard by the PJC of the Synod of the Pacific and will likely be taken up to the denomination's highest court, the General Assembly PJC.
The Rev. Robert Conover, stated clerk of Redwoods Presbytery, said any decision by the court would disappoint some people considering the issue of same-sex "marriages" has remained a divisive issue in the PC(USA).
“My sense is that our presbytery more or less reflects the denomination as a whole in that we’re relatively evenly divided in our perspective," said Conover, according to PNS. "A significant portion of the presbytery is very supportive of Janie and her actions and a significant portion of the presbytery is not. So regardless of how the case is ruled on, at whatever level, there will be those who are disappointed.”
RSS
The Bible says, "Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion." - Romans 1:26-27 [NIV].
This may be true truthprevails but my question to you is what are YOU gonna do to help these people get out of the pit? Add more coals? It is not enough to point the finger. When are YOU gonna LOVE them by walking along side them to bring them into a saving relationship with Christ?
The Bible says, "Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion." - Romans 1:26-27 [NIV].
This Bible verse is an eye-opener.
Amen pburwell!!! Waspnest I have read some of your other comments for the other news topics and when I did, the thought of the "christians" who heckle the families at burial sites for fallen solders in Iraq saying they deserved to die flashed in my mind. By chance do you belong to that group? Also I want to ask who is Jesus Christ to you...
"But at the same time, God loves the homosexual. 2-Peter says that, " God is not willing that any should perish,But that all should come to repentance."
The very idea someone is called "the homosexual" demonstrates your misunderstanding that this is an act of sin not a lifestyle. God hates those who willfully sin, unrepentant in their sin (unless you think "abhor" means something else?). The evidence of this is how he treats them at Judgment Day, is it not?
Stop candy coating what Jesus Himself plainly stated, "Unless you repent you will perish."
Our Lord called them vipers, snakes and white-washed tombs those who claim Christianity and yet continue in their sin. Repent and Trust.
Here is the straight skinny:
If you have ever lied, stolen or lusted you will be judged guilty by God as a liar, a thief and an adulterer. All the guilty go to Hell and eventually the Lake of Fire that never ends.
But God IS MERCIFUL but YOU must repent. YOU must agree with Him you are desperately wicked and YOU must surrender, asking Jesus to forgive you. Then trust your life daily to the Lordship of Jesus and your eternal soul to His covering. STOP sinning and turn to Jesus for salvation. There is no other Way.
Just cornflake et al. God will condemn those when their time is up. Until that time it is our job to lead those people to Christ. I wonder how many peoples souls would be condemed to hell based upon your current heart? It would seem to me you are more interested in seeing them in hell versus seeing them saved BY THE GRACE OF GOD. I give you Matthew 18:6 . Yes you may say but that verse is for those who have faith. Does it matter? If you cause someone to stumble in trying to reach that point where they can be saved then you can go ahead and put that milestone around your neck. WE ALL CAN PUT THAT MILESTONE AROUND OUR HEADS! Do you not know the Gospel? THE GOOD NEWS? These words of hate and condemnation breaks my heart and I KNOW it breaks God's heart too. Your self righteousness condemns you my friend...
"Hate the sin and not the sinner" - Gandhi (unregenerate Hindu)
"The arrogant cannot stand in your presence; you hate all who do wrong. You destroy those who tell lies; bloodthirsty and deceitful men the LORD abhors." - Psalm 5:5-6
Wow, God hates the actual _people_ who do wrong. Hmm. Another translation is "You hate all workers of iniquity."
"The LORD examines the righteous, but the wicked and those who love violence his soul hates" - Psalm 11:5
"I hate those who cling to worthless idols; I trust in the Lord" - David in Psalms 31
Now before us American Christians start blabbing off quotes from Hindu pagans as if they're scripture maybe we should examine the scriptures carefully. God loves the sinner AND HATES the sinner and so should we. As we develop as Christians we should receive a deep compassion and love for the lost as well as a hatred for the lost and their unashamed, prideful treason against God.
Hate sin ,but love soul.
Sorry, but as some who isn't protestant can somebody explain this to me:
The PC(USA) allows pastors to oversee same-sex ceremonies as long as they are not equated to heterosexual marriages.
Thanks
God is very plain about the sin of sodomy/homosexuality...it's an "abomination" to Him, that's what God says. Although we are to love the sinner and hate the sin, we should also do what is in our power to do to STOP their sin as it encroaches in general PUBLIC life! I beg to differ with you, art, the sin of the sodomites DOES effect me, my children and the general public because they ARE MILITANT IN MAKING THEIR SIN GENERAL LAW! They also want to stop us Christians in our freedoms to worship freely and they do what they can with their rich lobbyists to obtain this! The gays scream, give us TOLERANCE", but they do not give it to others, they just want it from us. They want to appease their guily consciences by forcing the rest of us to accept them as "normal", which their practices are not! So, yes, their sins do most certainly effect us on an everyday level! DUH! Have you watched prime time TV lately? They have their token gays on more and more show every year! And now they are teaching Pro-homosexual classes in a Maryland school...how does that grab you?! It's time we who oppose the perverted gay lifestyle rise up and say ENOUGH! No more ground...let's send them back to their closets! Perhaps in the closet, they will reach out to God and receive grace and mercy and get saved and delivered.
My goodness,where does all the bitterness and anger come from.? Homosexuality is a sin against God. Call it marriage or whatever you like,It is still sin in the sight of God.
But at the same time, God loves the homosexual. 2-Peter says that, " God is not willing that any should perish,But that all should come to repentance."
God gets no pleasure from the destruction of the wicked. countless numbers will be lost and go to hell,But God finds no pleasure in that.
And please remember, when these people sin, it is against God that they sin,Not me, and not you. God is the one they offend, The offence is against God,not me.
They have chosen a path that will lead to destruction,But I pray that God will help me to love them as He does. and remember,they have an enemy to, his name is satan. not Christian. Art.
SO...we have a disagreement with truthintheword and cornyflake? How about if we check into the Living Word of God. Homosexuality is an abomination!! Clear and simple. Do we now call God's characterization "hate speech?" C'mon. This "pastor" is completely illegitimate to begin with. She should be removed, defrocked, defunded, and detoured from the valley of darkness where she abides with her same-sex - LESBIAN - folks to the Light, the Truth, the Way - to Jesus Christ, who's already said in His Word - Go and Sin No More!!!
Cornyflake I don't think that anyone meant to upset you I just think they're point was that you are a little harsh with your words. It doesn't leave a very loving impression of Christians on non believers when you speak of cutting someone up and feeding them to the dogs. There are better ways of getting your point across than useing such hatefulwords. I think you got your point across pretty well just not in the best words maybe. I give it to you you know the word of God but I am not sure if God himself would speak in those words to those you are speaking of GOD BLESS YOU THOUGH!
Nerohdam,
I do not condemn Jane with my own judgement, God condemns her in His Word. For He has given her over to her shameful lusts (Romans 1:26). She is an illegitimate pastor to start with (1 Timothy 2:12). She is a false teacher (1 Corinthians 6:9). She is going to hell (1 Corinthians 6:9) and, like Paul, I will that she goes to hell (Galatians 1:8-9). She is like a brute beast, a creature of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like a beast she too will perish (2 Peter 2:12). Why such hatred? Because she is leading others astray. Paul and God will that false teachers go to hell, so I conform my will to what's in scripture. That is why she should be chopped up and fed to the dogs. She is a demon, a daughter of Satan, who defiles the Glory of the Most High God and leads others astray. We should take Paul's example and purge the Church of these fallen minds found in the pulpit.
To cornyflake - I see the Pharasees are still alive and well today.
While I do not accept gay marriage as it is clearly considered wrong by God, your message condemning the lesbian pastor is as equal of a sin. I believe in addition to homosexuality, there is also the sin of lying, pride and a few others that we ALL can be ashamed of. Trust me I FEAR God in the fact that I as in ME will be held accountable for MY actions just as the lesbian pastor will be held accountable for HER actions just as YOU will be held accountable by YOUR actions. Again I state that the perspectives held by the PJC do not resonate very well with me but God will hold the members of PJC accountable on an individual basis and they are the ones that should respect the Fear of God. God's grace extends to everyone. Even the lesbians and gays. Again I don't think a gay or lesbian should openly be a pastor but I don't think they should be "burned at the stake".
You know I am also very disturbed by this it is plainly stated in the Bible that homosexuality is wrong. I can list many verses. Also, I can list verses that it states that there will come a time when people will change the word of God to fit they're life style. The time is now we have ministers riseing that are becoming FALSE PROFITS and they are confuseing struggleing young christians and non christians and makeing them believe that these things are okay by saying we are misinterpreting the Bible when it clearly states what it means. I understand that they themselves or someone they love may struggle with homosexuality. Just because you struggle with it doesn't mean that you should act on it there are lots of things that christians struggle with daily and we do not act on them. We need to get back to the basics of life. Read the word of God believe what it says. Do not waiver in the truth. Pray and ask God to reveal the truth to you through His word and guess what He will. You know why LOVE NEVER FAILS and God is LOVE. HE is TRUTH, and if you seek ye shall find.
Now I have no problem with Female preachers that are preaching the true word of God the bible clearly states that there will be profits and profitess. That means there will be women spreading the truth and in this day and time I believe that God wants to use us all. It is our job to let people know that these lies are being told to those that we love and because of that our loved ones may be found lost when the Lord comes back. Those ministers spreading the untruthes will be held accountable for many people and I wouldn't want that on my head would you?