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Spahr found to have done no wrong
in uniting gays
March 4, 2006 Rochester Democrat and Chronicle Staff reports
A Presbyterian minister with ties to the Rochester area committed no
offense when she performed the marriages of two lesbian couples, a church
commission ruled Friday.
The Rev. Jane Adams Spahr, who lives in California but has ties to
Rochester's Downtown United Presbyterian Church, acted within her right of
conscience in performing marriage ceremonies for same-sex couples, the
judicial commission wrote in its 6-1 decision, according to a news
release.
"Today, the Church recognized that God's love is for all — including
lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people," Spahr said in the news
release.
"This historic ruling means that as a minister I can exercise my
conscience to marry two people who have demonstrated their commitment to
love, honor and cherish one another."
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) constitution defines marriage as "a civil
contract between a man and a woman," so when a minister in Washington
state learned of Spahr's participation in the ceremonies, he notified the
Presbytery of the Redwoods in California, which conducted the trial.
A Rochester couple — Connie Valois and Barbara Jean Douglass — traveled to
California to testify at the trial. Spahr officiated at their Aug. 21,
2004, wedding in Rochester, and at that of a same-sex couple from
California. They were also at the trial.
"We affirm that the fundamental message of the Scriptures and Confessions
is the proclamation of the Good News of God's love for all people," the
judicial commission wrote in its decision.
Spahr, a lesbian, was chosen to serve as a pastor at Downtown Presbyterian
more than 10 years ago. A national Presbyterian commission ruled against
allowing her to serve. She runs a ministry called That All May Freely
Serve, which is affiliated with Downtown Presbyterian and Westminster
Presbyterian Church in Tiburon, Calif.
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Copyright 2005 Rochester Democrat and Chronicle.
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