Conservative Presbyterians Call against Acquittal of Gay 'Marriage' Blesser

Conservative Presbyterians are seeking an appeal of a controversial church ruling that acquitted a minister on charges that she violated denominational law when she wed two same-sex couples.

The decision by the California Redwoods Presbytery Permanent Judicial Commission is “schismatic and a threat to the very fabric of our constitutional connection,” the Presbyterian Forum said in a statement this week.

The Redwoods Presbytery in early March ruled that the Rev. Jane Adams Spahr committed no offense and acted “within her right of conscience” when she blessed the “marriages” of gay and lesbian couples in 2004 and 2005.

Dozens of renewal groups within the denomination immediately criticized the decision, calling it contradictory to the church’s Book of Order, which defines marriage as a gift of God and a covenant between a woman and a man.

“The Redwoods PJC presumes in its verdict to nullify the lawful decisions of a higher governing body,” renewal leaders wrote in a joint statement. “We view its action as schismatic and a threat to the very fabric of our constitutional connection”

According to the Presbyterian Layman, a magazine for conservative PC(USA) members, the Presbyterian Forum took the criticism one step further by calling on the Redwoods Presbytery to appeal the decision.

"Therefore, for the welfare of the whole church, we also encourage the members of the prosecuting committee of the Presbytery of the Redwoods to appeal the decision,” the Presbyterian Forum stated.