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Backers of gay marriage hopeful after trial
Marketta Gregory, Staff writer
March 5, 2006 Rochester Democrat and Chronicle Friends and supporters of
the Rev. Jane Adams Spahr are celebrating her victory in a Presbyterian
court — but they're doing so with a dose of caution.
Spahr, who has longstanding ties to Rochester, faced trial last week in
the Presbytery of the Redwoods in California, where she now lives, for
officiating at two same-sex marriages.
After two days of testimony and arguments, the presbytery's judicial
commission found that Spahr acted within her rights as an ordained
minister.
The part of the denomination's constitution that says marriage is between
a man and woman "is a definition, not a directive," according to the
commission's 6-1 ruling.
"It's one tiny baby step forward," said Dee Miller, who has attended
Rochester's Downtown United Presbyterian Church since 1975 and watched as
Spahr, a lesbian, was denied a chance to help lead the Rochester
congregation when a national Presbyterian commission ruled against
allowing her to serve.
"It's been just an ongoing process for years," Miller said.
Still, Miller was excited to get a phone call at 11:30 p.m. Friday saying
that things had gone well in court.
Leaders at Downtown Presbyterian expect to make a celebratory announcement
about the trial during today's service.
Spahr expressed gratitude toward the judicial commission and to God.
"This is something I had only hoped I would hear in my lifetime," she
said.
"It's another step on the way to justice and love. It's about a church
welcoming its own."
A handful of other Presbyterian ministers face similar charges for
performing same-sex weddings, but Spahr's case was the first to come to
trial.
However, the ruling doesn't mean the door is wide-open, said the Rev. Val
Fowler, stated clerk of the Presbytery of Genesee Valley, which
encompasses 73 churches and 15,500 members in the Rochester region.
If someone complained about another minister performing same-sex
marriages, that minister could face charges, Fowler said.
The judicial commission would take the Spahr ruling into consideration, he
said, but it wouldn't be bound to hand down the same decision because
cases at the presbytery level don't set a precedent.
"At least that is what I would advise members of my presbytery," said
Fowler.
The same minister who complained about Spahr could file a complaint
against any other minister, he said. And there might be different evidence
in each case.
"I'm a very strong fan of our particular way of government," Fowler said.
"The whole process involves a search for truth."
Downtown Presbyterian still supports the 63-year-old Spahr, who runs a
ministry called That All May Freely Serve.
The group lobbies for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people to be
allowed to serve as ministers in the Presbyterian church.
The topic is supposed to be discussed during a national gathering of the
Presbyterian Church (USA) in June, but it has been brought up time and
time again during the last 30 years, Miller said.
Still, she said, "We remain hopeful."
MGREGORY@DemocratandChronicle.com
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Copyright 2005 Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. |
