- The Rev. Jane Spahr
UPDATE: Just received word that the moderator of the Permanent Judicial Commission, the Presbyterian Church body trying the Rev. Jane Spahr in church court for performing same-sex weddings, has announced that the commission has reached a verdict. That verdict will be announced at 11 A.M. PST, which is 1 p.m. CST — about an hour from now.
I will post a blog with the results of the trial as soon as I hear.
The Rev. Jane Adams Spahr this week was once again forced to defend in a Presbyterian church court her decision to preside over same-sex weddings.
Spahr was tried and found not guilty of the same offense a few years ago. That time, the church elders serving as the jury said that Spahr couldn’t be convicted on performing a lesbian wedding because it wasn’t a real wedding since it wasn’t legal. This time, though, Spahr is on trial for peforming 16 same-sex weddings during that five-month period in the summer and fall of 2008 when same-sex marriage was legally recognized in California.
Church elders conducting the trial said on Thursday that they would announce their verdict at 9 a.m., PST, on Friday.
Testifying on her own behalf on Wednesday, Spahr, 68, told the court: “This church asks me to be in the closet about my sexual orientation and about my faith. I am a Christian lesbian pastor who marries heterosexual couples and lesbian and gay couples; I cannot lie about either part of me nor would I ask any pastor to do this.”
She could face anything from censure to suspension to being defrocked. Spahr retired from active ministry several years ago.
I’m not sure I understand Rev. Spahr’s reasoning in going through the ordeal of a trial. To make a point? She retired so she’s not trying to keep her job. The court has no legal jurisdiction. Hiring an attorney had to have been expensive and if she wins, she won’t be able to turn around and sue the bastards because of that freedom for religions to do whatever the hell they want no matter whom they hurt.
Understand, I’m religious. I respect religion and feel it has a place in society. I’m going to services tonight after work. But if my religion were to decide they didn’t like something about who I was and were to put me on trial for it, I’d tell them to go get fucked. Can I use that word in Instant Tea? Because I wouldn’t just tell them to kiss my tukhas and plant a tree for Israel. I’d tell them to … well, you get the idea.
So good luck Rev. Spahr but if their rigged jury decides you’re “guilty,” so what?