“…the commission profusely praised Spahr…even as it upheld three of the four charges against her.

Though clearly regretful, a local division of the Presbyterian Church USA decided Friday to rebuke a Bay Area minister who performed wedding ceremonies for at least 16 same-sex couples during the five months in 2008 in which it was legal to do so…

After a three-day trial that included testimony from 11 of the Bay Area couples the Rev. Jane Adams Spahr married, five of whom live in the East Bay, the commission profusely praised Spahr, 68, of San Francisco, even as it upheld three of the four charges against her.

The commission — seven ordained ministers and laypeople — found Spahr “violated her ordination vows,” while also commending and thanking her “for her prophetic ministry that for 35 years has extended support to ‘people who seek the dignity, freedom and respect that they have been denied’ and has sought to redress ‘wrongs against individuals, groups, and peoples in the church, in this nation, and in the world…’ ”

The panel didn’t uphold a charge that Spahr failed to “further the peace, unity and purity” of the church. “We commend Dr. Spahr for helping us realize that peace without justice is no peace.”

Spahr and her supporters said given that language, the verdict and rebuke send a mixed message.
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Update from Redlands Presbytery:

According to the Presbytery of Redwoods Web site, the PJC sustained three of the four charges in 4-2 votes, and was unanimous in finding her not guilty of the fourth charge. The charges were brought in 2009 and dealt with 16 marriages Spahr performed in 2008 before voters repealed same-sex marriage rights in California.

The sustained charges were that the self-acknowledged lesbian minister:

1. Violated the PCUSA constitution and a previous General Assembly PCJ ruling by marrying a same-sex couple. According to W-9001, a same-sex ceremony “is not and cannot be a marriage.”
2. Persisted in a pattern of disobedience by stating that the ceremonies she performed were marriages of the same sex.
4. Intentionally and repeatedly acted in violation of the authoritative interpretation of the Book of Order (as stated above) established in a previous case involving Spahr, thereby violating her ordination vows (W-4.4003e).

Spahr was cleared on the fourth charge that by “publicly, intentionally and repeatedly” acting in violation of the Book of Order, she failed to further the peace, unity and purity of the church (W-4.4003g).

Read More: http://www.mercurynews.com/samesexmarriage/ci_15916234